I was at an small-medium enterprise interning and my task for that period was to help my company with a project with our client at another marketing company. I had to go over to work at our client's company for ad-hoc tasks given by our client on a daily basis. The project manager was actually in the team for only a few months and all communications between my client and colleagues had to start from scratch. Communication between my colleagues and clients was mostly through phone or emails. Miscommunications arose as a lot of things required face-to-face clarifications and I was the person sandwiched between them. I tried to clarify things with them, however, being an intern, our client seems not to trust me in a lot of things.
While I was reflecting on it, I realised to build a good rapport with our client, we need to be confident when we communicate. Communication is mutual, both parties are required to respect each other and should find means to gain each other trust in order for a communication to work out. Listening is part of the building block of good communication. There was an Argentine proverb that goes "Who spreads, sows; Who listens, reaps." Listening was actually a way to show our respect and more important to prevent miscommunications.
Choosing the correct form of communication channels is also important. Given today's technology, people tend to choose emails and phone as a form of communication. However, I think meeting face-to-face to elucidate confusions is sometimes more effective and we should not abandon this form of communication for convenience.
The way we communicate determines the quality of our lives.With effective communication skills, I believed work can be done less erroneously and more productively. As a result, frustrations and unhappiness in work place can also be reduced. I believed every good leader begins with the ability to communicate effectively with his team mates and hence I chose this module this semester hoping to gain all the essential skills of communication and that I can put into good use in my workplace in the near future.
While I was reflecting on it, I realised to build a good rapport with our client, we need to be confident when we communicate. Communication is mutual, both parties are required to respect each other and should find means to gain each other trust in order for a communication to work out. Listening is part of the building block of good communication. There was an Argentine proverb that goes "Who spreads, sows; Who listens, reaps." Listening was actually a way to show our respect and more important to prevent miscommunications.
Choosing the correct form of communication channels is also important. Given today's technology, people tend to choose emails and phone as a form of communication. However, I think meeting face-to-face to elucidate confusions is sometimes more effective and we should not abandon this form of communication for convenience.
The way we communicate determines the quality of our lives.With effective communication skills, I believed work can be done less erroneously and more productively. As a result, frustrations and unhappiness in work place can also be reduced. I believed every good leader begins with the ability to communicate effectively with his team mates and hence I chose this module this semester hoping to gain all the essential skills of communication and that I can put into good use in my workplace in the near future.
