Effective communication is the ability to convey the intended message or idea across to the other party without losing its original meaning, which is what I’m trying to do now and hoping to improve on it!
Effective communication skills are essential tools in the modern world now. On an individual level, no man stands alone and everyone like you and me will need to communicate with others, be it with our family members, friends and colleagues. The inability to communicate effectively is a great problem. You will not be able to put across your intended message and even worse, the listener may even misunderstand what you are trying to say, bringing lots of inconvenience.
On a global level, taking Singapore for example, being a multi-racial society, we are prone to tensions due to miscommunications between different races. We need mutual understanding of each race with different culture, so as to live harmoniously together. In primary and secondary schools, we celebrate Racial Harmony Day, to remind students about the importance of living harmoniously together. We will put up a couple of acts that displays the culture of the four ethnic races. In my opinion, I think that this is also considered a form of communication as it promotes greater understanding between people of different races and thus living harmoniously together. Without such communication, it may greatly hinder our understanding of one another, thus possibly leading to racial riots and strikes, which is detrimental to the society.
I think that developing effective communication skills is really crucial in the society now. In just a matter of few months when I graduate, I’ll have to step out to the society and seek for the right job. The very first step will be how to draft my resume so that I will leave a good impression for the employers. Subsequently, it will be how to effectively communicate with my fellow colleagues so as to get work done.
I really look forward to improve my communication skills as I do know that I’m facing some difficulties during my expression of words and this will definitely hinder my communication with others. I hope to grow and learn together with the class and enjoy the times we spend together!
Effective communication skills are essential tools in the modern world now. On an individual level, no man stands alone and everyone like you and me will need to communicate with others, be it with our family members, friends and colleagues. The inability to communicate effectively is a great problem. You will not be able to put across your intended message and even worse, the listener may even misunderstand what you are trying to say, bringing lots of inconvenience.
On a global level, taking Singapore for example, being a multi-racial society, we are prone to tensions due to miscommunications between different races. We need mutual understanding of each race with different culture, so as to live harmoniously together. In primary and secondary schools, we celebrate Racial Harmony Day, to remind students about the importance of living harmoniously together. We will put up a couple of acts that displays the culture of the four ethnic races. In my opinion, I think that this is also considered a form of communication as it promotes greater understanding between people of different races and thus living harmoniously together. Without such communication, it may greatly hinder our understanding of one another, thus possibly leading to racial riots and strikes, which is detrimental to the society.
I think that developing effective communication skills is really crucial in the society now. In just a matter of few months when I graduate, I’ll have to step out to the society and seek for the right job. The very first step will be how to draft my resume so that I will leave a good impression for the employers. Subsequently, it will be how to effectively communicate with my fellow colleagues so as to get work done.
I really look forward to improve my communication skills as I do know that I’m facing some difficulties during my expression of words and this will definitely hinder my communication with others. I hope to grow and learn together with the class and enjoy the times we spend together!
I like this post. You define effective communication and you explain how it's important on a societal and individual level. You also place its importance within the context of "race" relations and social harmony.
ReplyDeleteOn that issue, I have a couple questions: Why do you suppose that communication between different social groups might have a tendency to be difficult? What's the basis for such potential communication breakdown?
Thanks for your effort!
Hi Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI liked how you brought back fond memories of racial harmony in school many many years ago. I believe such a programme is still on going today. I agree that it's good effort on the government's part to incorporate it into our education given that we are a multi racial society. However I believe that the level of degree of which the multi racial celebrations are emphasized on vary from school to school..
Like my school which was an all chinese school, racial harmony, to us only meant dressing in different clothes from the different races. There was hardly any putting up of displays or performances unlike in JC where every performance ensured that each racial group had an item for show!
And don't worry about not being able to express yourself properly or having problems using the right words and like you mentioned it actually makes the situation worst or more problems arise when the other party misunderstands what I'm trying to say. I try to do a mental check on what I want to say so that I try to make less blunders and cause miscommunication! So don't worry you aren't alone! We can always work to improve it together! (:
Hi Mushu,
ReplyDeleteI am from Group 9; Brad recommended your blog so I decided to drop by. =D
I like the way you explain the importance effective communication by moving from a macro view (Singapore society) to a micro level (personal).
You have defined effective communication as being to convey a message without lsoing its original integrity. However, I feel that effective communication should include listening as well. There will be numerous situations where we an appropriate response are expected of us. This response must be construed based on what we hear and observe. Hence, maybe you could consider how listening can be a part of effective communication as well?
The post has a good flow and relevant examples of why effective communication is important to you were provided.
-Daniel-
Group 9
http://chubbytut.blogspot.com
Indeed, no man stands alone and the inability to communicate effectively is a great problem. I also agree that in Singapore, much sensitivity is needed in the many inter-racial interactions that we have, so that tension or riots would not be breaking out from time to time.
ReplyDeleteBack in my JC days, there were those inter-racial events as well. Once, the chinese boys even joined in for the traditional indian dance. It was light hearted and very fun to watch.
I think you have done a good job and brought out well your points in the post.
Cheers!
Roy
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the school plays a crucial role in showing us the importance of maintaining racial harmony. Besides celebrating racial harmony day, the school is a very good platform for us to interact with other races and allow us to understand them better.
Personally, I did not have much interactions with the other races when I was in primary and secondary school because my school was mostly Chinese, even my neighbours were all Chinese. Therefore, I had a cultural shock when I entered Junior College with a class of Chinese, Malays and Indians. But it was through Junior College that I made good friends with the other races, allowing me to understand their culture better.
I feel that in order to create a 'connection" with your reader or listener, it is important to understand their culture, beliefs and values to prevent offending them unintentionally. This could also be applied to the youths, elderly, physically and mentally disabled.
Gestures, tone of your voice and facial expression could help in expressing your words more accurately if you are talking to the person face to face. It did help me occasionally=) We can all work on this together=)
Hey Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your point - no man stands alone. Looking at the statistical data ,the world population now stands up to 6.7 billion and for sure without effective communication, this whole world will be a total chaos!
As you have mentioned, ineffective communication will cause misunderstanding, which I may add, leading to loss of time and resources. Thus, in my opinion, it is very important to listen intently at the same time as you communicate. By doing so, we can prevent the misunderstanding which may be unintentionally created.
Hi Blogging buddy,
ReplyDeleteThis is the second time I read through your post. I really amazed that you can view effective communication in individual and global level. Unlike me, I just view through my own perception!!!!
I really like the idea of Racial Harmony Day which can create awareness to the youth so that they can understand the culture, believe etc of other races. These understandings play important roles in effective communication and aid in avoiding conflict.
Yup, it is true that effective communication plays important roles in our future career. A good resume and curriculum vitae are stepping stone for us to find our ideal job as these can help leave good impression to the interviewers. Besides, it also aid in office politics as effective communication can allow us to convey our messages more effectively and to minimize conflict as well.
Really looking forward to know you more throughout this module and hope we enjoy this fun and fulfilling modules!!!!=)
hi michelle :D
ReplyDeleteReally good example of racial harmony in Singapore which is undoubtfully the result of effective communication between government and its people as well as among members of different ethnicity. I think it is indeed amazing that in Singapore one really see people respecting each other's religion and customs while living together in peace. I guess the promotion of English as the common language has definitely aided to the effective communication.
On a more personal level, i totally agree with you that the ability to convey your idea to another person without distorting its original meaning is VERY important at our futre workplaces :D
Dear Brad
ReplyDeleteThanks for the commendation. As per your question, I think that different social groups may have a tendency to find it difficult to communicate effective because of the different cultures and values that each group believes in. Like for an example, suppose social group A vales kinship and family ties to a large extent but social group B does not agree and may belittle the importance of the values. Social group B may thus pass unfriendly comments which may be hurtful to social group A, thus having a strain on the two social group’s relationship. If such a situation magnifies to the whole social group, it may result to racial riots thus being detrimental to the society and economy of the country.