The phrase “ability to convey information from one person to another” would commonly surface in people’s minds when they define communication. Indeed, many can define communication correctly and communicate with one another easily but how many are able to communicate effectively or appreciate the benefits of it? Probably not many. Those who can convey their message well and listen actively are usually more confident than those who do not master these skills. Therefore, being equipped with effective communication skills, one will enjoy confidence boosts and strengthened relationships.
When I was younger, a misconception I had was that the speaker plays a more crucial role than the listener in determining how successful communication was. It was an incident which made me realize that the role of the listener is equally as important as the speaker during the communication process. I was reprimanded by a friend for being a bad listener. Every time she speaks, I seldom give her the attentive silence a good listener should provide and I would interrupt her speech. The barriers I created hindered effective communication between us. Through Thursday’s class, I realized the difference between hearing and active listening. Back then, I have been hearing my friend’s problems but not processing them.
In today’s sophisticated society, being able to communicate effectively both orally and in written forms is the key to success. Having started to appreciate that, I know I have to begin overcoming my fears. I get very shy and jittery when it comes to presenting to an unfamiliar audience so sometimes I cannot express my thoughts clearly and concisely. Hence, I tend to avoid presentations actively. Finally in this semester, I plucked up my utmost courage to register for ES2007S in the attempt to overcome these fears. I hope that with the skills benefitted from ES2007S, I will grow to become a confident woman and foster strong relationships in both my workplace and my personal life.
