Communication Assessment

Internal Communication: I think that due to the large size of the organization I work for, the internal communication may not come across clear. Mass emails that state objectives or rules to follow can be easily misconstrued. Meetings are helpful in which ideas can be exchanged, opinions can be shared, and concerns can be brought to the table. Sometimes emails can be helpful when a person is afraid or has trouble with approaching situation, there are times an email can be helpful in getting those situations across.

Downward Communication: The downward communication is pretty effective and I think probably is in most companies. The people who are in charge usually are the ones to set the standards and I think that the needs that they communicate to the people who work for them are usually heard. They may use other supervisors to address what they may want which is an efficient way of getting through employees.

Communication In Meetings: Communication in meetings is not always what it should be. Many people are afraid to state their concerns because they may not want to "make waves" or "bad blood" in the company or with their fellow co-workers. An option to make communication work in situations where people are afraid to mention concern would be a suggestion box. This makes the person anonymous, however, still brings the issue to the table without pointing fingers or making others uncomfortable.

Feedback: Feedback from my employer in regards to my performance seems pretty standard. When everyone is doing above and beyond the call of duty, they get praised for it which is appropriate. If everyone is doing less than what is acceptable, they get a verbal warning. If this is not effective then they may get a written warning. Even when that may not be effective, they may get suspended. This of course is only happens in extreme situations. In most scenarios, the feedback from the verbal warning is enough to communicate to the employee that he/she is doing something wrong or inappropriate.

External Communication: I am unsure how this kind of communication works in my organization. Possibly in business type settings, advertising could be a way of external communication towards it's customers: the kind of messages they may send to their customers to persuade them in buying their products.

Cultural/Gender Communication: This is important because men & women and people of different cultures have different ways of communicating with each other. I think that culture's that are not dominant in the workplace suffer because they are not taken into account for. In my place of work, among my coworkers, I am the only non-spanish speaking person. They may not realize how uncomfortable it makes me when they all speak spanish around me, however, I know that they are not intentionally trying to make me feel uncomfortable. They are, however, the dominant culture in my place of work. Language is not the only barrier in different cultures. Whether the culture is a high or low contact culture can effect the way others in a company react or perceive others. When I first started working with a male employee who was from a high contact culture, I was very uncomfortable around him. I could have easily taken his "high contact" as him trying to make advances toward me. Now, I know that it is just part of his culture to be a little more "touchy-feely" than me.

Electronic Commnunication: In this day and age, electronic communication is a growing part of our culture and has become much more efficient than actually physically speaking to a person. However, emotions and tone are not considered very much when relying on things like emails, and things can be easily misconmmunicated. Email is very important in my organization due to it's size. There are too many things going on, and too many people to address, for our organization not to have email as a form of communication. It is one of the best means to contact someone quickly in my workplace.

Nonverbal Communication: Nonverbal communication can be similar to email or a gesture given to you by a supervisor. In working with students with disabilities, I use several types of nonverbal communication. Sometimes, sign language is the best way to communicate for those who are hard of hearing or for those who have speech problems. Giving a student a certain "look" when he/she is not on the appropriate task or to remind him that he/she needs to pay attention.

Written Communication: Everyday we use written communciation in our workplace. As mentioned, emails are a vital part of the workplace in this day and age. Notices in our mailboxes reminding us of events going on, or even private matters which cannot be addressed in an email because it may be to impersonal.

Interpersonal Communication: I think interpersonal communication can either make a company stronger or weaker. Sometimes, people have better interpersonal communication with some and not with others. This can effect group cohesivenes. Problems with interpersonal communication can be with issues that need to be resolved with those who do not like conflict and those that are not easily approachable.

Visual Communication: The visual communication in the workplace can be as simple as posters that boost company morale. Or what to do when you think you are being sexually harassed, or what to do when someone next to you is choking. They are all not necessary, however, they are helpful in several ways and may communicate to the employee that their employer cares about their well being.