There are many communication concepts that are important to our everyday interactions. Each concept is arguably just as important as its counterparts. However, there are certain ones appearing more important than others. Whether one is speaking formally or informally barriers to communication, communication policies and strategy requirements, and organizational communication are all important to understanding one another, as well as conveying our own method. Each concept contributes its own facets and allows for a deeper understanding of communication and one another. Each idea serves its own purpose within the contexts of communication. Individuals of all walks of life can benefit but I hope to take what I learn and apply it the most to my future aspirations as a lawyer.
Understanding barriers to communication is very important to communication with others. If there is a block in communication there can be a breakdown, preventing messages to be conveyed at all. According to Robert L. Heather and Jennings Bryant, authors of, “Human Communication Theory and Research: Concepts, Contexts, and Challenges,” there are seven barriers to communication. Physical, perceptual, emotional, cultural, language, gender, and interpersonal barriers exist and can block the flow of communication if not rectified (45). Some are easier to spot than others. Physical barriers, like doors being closed or individuals walking outside, or gender barriers such as a man speaking to a woman about something overtly masculine are easy to see. Cultural and language barriers are also easy to spot. Some forms of communication that are appropriate in one culture are considered disrespectful in another. It is normally impossible for an individual of one language to convey complicated information to an individual who speaks a different language. Emotional barriers can sometimes be easy to spot unless one party is not self-aware and is unable to understand that they are cannot sympathize with the other party. Emotional barriers can also apply if one individual gets too angry to continue communicating openly or too upset to receive messages properly (56). Interpersonal barriers are often the most difficult to see because they are barriers we give ourselves. Overcoming a poor self-image in order to express ourselves can be difficult, sometimes impossible (57). All of these barriers would render communication useless if not broken down. Fortunately, because I am aware of these barriers, I can apply this knowledge to my future work as a lawyer. If a client is trying to speak to me about their situation, I can avoid putting up any of these barriers myself. In turn, I can gently help them avoid putting up any of these barriers, ensuring that I can help them to the best of my abilities.
Those seeking the services of professional individuals, such as lawyers, benefit particularly from communication policies and strategy requirements. Communication policies ensure, according to Heather and Bryant, that there is already a specific guide on how I will communicate with my client (78). It is also a guide instructing the client on how they will communicate with me. It takes the guesswork out of formalities for people unfamiliar with the circumstance and guarantees quick, satisfactory service. Strategy requirements insist that individuals, especially of a professional nature, have a strategy when delivering information to clients (92). This will be of particular importance to me, as a lawyer, because many concepts involved in law may not be easily understandable unless posed in layman terms. A strategy requirement will safeguard the client from complicated legal jargon. I will be required to have an easy way to deliver information to the client in any given lawful situation.
Organizational communication is complicated but essential to communicating with others. George Cheney tells us that organizational communication is many things: the examination of organization’s connection and its relation to different people, as well as a criticism or analysis of communication in an organizational context (71). Essentially, organizational communication provides an understanding of how humans communicate in organizations, while setting a standard of expectations for how to communicate within an organization (79). Each organization needs to know how to convey its message appropriately and professionally while relating to its market. This is crucial especially when it comes to public relations and streamlining ideas. If employees operated under different communicational rules, there could be a communication breakdown (82). This could result in an organization crash. Setting organization-wide standards helps companies work better. As a lawyer this will be an important aspect of communication for me because, depending on how I use my degree, I will be able to work for limitless organizations. Whether I begin my own firm, or work for an already existing organization, organizational communication will tell me how to communicate for the company, as well as within the company.
In sum, though all areas of communication are crucial to our interactions, some are more important than others. Communication barriers can prevent individuals from communicating messages at all, which makes communication superfluous. Communication policy and strategy requirements allow individuals to set standards they must operate under, allowing professionals to relate complicated information on a simpler level. Organizational communication certifies that employees of an organization will all communicate within the same set of rules which will help the flow of ideas within any given company. These three communication tools are important to everybody, and will help me when applied to my future career as a lawyer.
References
Cheney, George, et al. Organizational Communication in an Age of Globalization: Issues, Reflections, Practices. Chicago: Waveland Press, 2010. Print.
Heather, Robert L. and Jennings Bryant. Human Communication Theory and Research: Concepts, Contexts, and Challenges. London: Routledge, 2009. Print.
