We are social beings and we interact with one another everyday. Communication skills are important to me because they are like tools to a carpenter. When a tool used for cutting is blunt, it will not be able to achieve its full potential of making a clean cut and may result in a coarse piece of work. We need to sharpen the tool regularly for it to be useful for its work. Similarly, it is pertinent to constantly develop our communication skills so that it becomes an effective tool to expedite the exchange of ideas and opinions, boost self-confidence and create good impressions while preventing undesirable outcomes.
Effective communication enables others to interpret and understand accurately what we are trying to convey. Each of us has different motivations and expectations when we communicate. Some people speak or write letters to clinch business deals, some to show concern and care and others to educate. The person on the receiving end can only interpret our intention through the words that we utter and our body language. If we do not express ourselves coherently, needless misunderstandings may arise because of misinterpreted intentions and our expectations may not be met. As the world becomes more interconnected and we interact with people from different nationalities, backgrounds, cultures and ideologies in school and eventually in the workplace, miscommunication may become more common if we do not possess effective communication skills.
Effective communication skills are also important to me because having them leaves others with a good impression of us and inevitably boosts our self-confidence. Lecturers and teachers who have crossed my path and displayed effective communication have led me to this realisation. Those who are strict with their use of language and precise with their words tend to be particularly meticulous, organized and clear-headed. Appropriate expressions and body language also bring out their wisdom and high emotional quotient. These are teachers who are approachable and clear in their instructions and who have benefitted students like me greatly. Therefore, I feel that it is important for me to write and speak effectively so as to leave a good impression on others and build relationships, which may pave the way for further collaboration and interaction.
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This is a very good post, Grace! I especially like way you introduce this topic and the value of effective skills with the carpenter/tools metaphor. You also directly explain why such skills are of value to you.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while you mention how having such skills can boost your self confidence, I think you underemphasize the idea that the impression given to others when you have such skills is enhanced, thus increasing the chance that your interaction will be positive.
All in all though, this is a clear and concise response to the assignment.
Thank you for your effort!
Hi Grace,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your post. It is to the point and well-defined. I agree with you in the first paragraph that "we need to sharpen the tool regularly for it to be useful..." Only with regular improvement, one can amass alot of experiences and became a good communicator.
Also, it is true that our self-confidence will be boosted. Not only that, the other person will also feel more confident. This can create more fluent flow of exchange of ideas with both sides confident that one can grasp other person's meaning.
Hey Grace,
ReplyDeleteHaving read your post, I feel it is detailed and shows with relevant examples the different areas in which effective communication can help one's life, in this case, yours.
I especially agree with your point that lecturers and teachers are good examples of people who need good communication skills. This is due to the fact that they meet large groups of students each day and have the responsibility of conveying messages and thus who better than them to be living examples of effective communication skills.
Great job!
Hi Grace,
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is some difference between a cutting tool and communication skill. The cutting tool will not become blunt without using it. However, we should always sharpen our communication skills.
For me, all of my family members and close friends are talking Chinese. It might be awkward for me to start talking English with them, even through the Internet. Maybe that is why I am feeling that I have a very poor English.
By reading through your blog post, I think that you expressed the usefulness of this tool very well. This is a really good post which I could learn from.
Thanks!
Hi Yang Yie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. As Mr Blackstone pointed out today, it's possible to master effective communication skills even at our age. So all hope's not lost! :)I am sure for all of us taking this module, we have either identified our inadequacies in effective communication or have recognised the importance of communicating more effectively in various situations.
I agree with you that the environment we are in affects our command of the language to a large extent. In Singapore for example, singlish has pervaded all strata of society, whether we want it or not. This I feel can be attributed to the multiracial and multilingual society that we live in. Having said that, I believe that we should be the change we want to see in the world. Let us continue to strive towards honing our communication skills so that others may be influenced and inspired to speak well too.
Hey Grace,
ReplyDeleteThe analogy you made to the carpenter's tool is indeed very interesting and impactful. You also made wide coverage on the importance of effective communication which are very true especially your last sentence where the consequence of good communication do not only benefit at the very point of conversation but also for the future. This is very true as people are constantly creating perceptions of people and that such perceptions especially the good and bad ones are long remembered.
Wonderful job!