Communication
- Workplace Communication
- Four major types of communication in a workplace:
1. Lateral Communication – refers to messages that are passed within the same hierarchical level
Example: When board members have meetings among themselves about certain issues, this is called lateral communication
2. Upward Communication – refers to messages that are passed from a lower level of hierarchy to a higher level
Example: When a staff member notifies the leader about difficulties of performance, that kind of message is called upward communication
3. Downward Communication – refers to messages that are passed from a higher level of hierarchy to a lower level
Example: When implementations of goals or strategies are passed from the supervisor to the employees, the memo is then called a downward communication
4. Grapevine Messages – informal messages that are often based on rumours or gossips
Example: The management is thinking of blocking Facebook in the office. It is not yet finalized but the employees already know about it and are sharing opinions among themselves. The news about the blocking of Facebook is called Grapevine message.
- General communication guidelines:
1. Be respectful of a colleague’s time
Example: Respond to a request as soon as possible or notify the colleague if the request is not possible or the time it will be possible
2. Be respectful of a person’s territory
Example: Do not invade another person’s desk space unless explicitly invited in
3. Follow the rules for effective electronic communication
Example: If Facebook or twitter is not allowed in the office, don’t use it
4. Discard your Facebook grammar, spelling, acronyms and smileys
Example: If you email your colleague or superiors in the workplace context with abbreviated words, it is very likely that they will think that you do not respect them
5. Use the appropriate medium for sending messages
Example: When someone in the workplace sends you messages through email, answer through email
6. Avoid touching except in shaking hands
Example: Do not put your arms on another person’s shoulder as this can be seen as sexual harassment or being overly familiar
7. Be willing to communicate
Example: Listen and pay attention to other’s comments
8. Understand the variety of purposes the grapevine serves
Example: Listen to grapevine news but do not immediately assume that every message that comes from the grapevine is true
9. Be mindful of all your organizational communications
Example: Do not joke about someone that may not take the joke good-naturedly as it may still reach him or hear either through direct communication or through grapevine messages
10. Treat everyone politely
Example: Even if the intern you meet is new, be humble, do not be rude and do not act superior.
- Networking Relationships – Relationships in which you use the other person to solve certain problems
Example: Keeping in touch with the colleague whose brother works for an auto company can be useful when you’re looking for low-cost auto insurance
- Mentoring Relationships – Relationship in which the mentor teaches the protégé things or rules that will help the protégé achieve certain goals
Example: A supervisor teaches an intern everything he or she knows that the intern may find useful once he or she is officially employed in the company
- Romantic Relationships at Work
- Advantages
1. You have the same training so you will never run out of things to talk about
Example: When an agent talks about a low QA, a fellow agent will naturally know that it means the other is feeling rather sad since QA means Quality Assurance and getting low scores on it would be bad
2. You probably share the same goals so conflicts about this can be avoided
Example: Since you are both working, you are both interested in financial security
3. Work feels easier
Example: You look forward to being with your special someone in the workplace so you don’t mind the long hours you have to work
- Disadvantages
1. Gossip
Example: When lovers in the office are not talking to each other, the other employees may talk about them
2. Competition between lovers
Example: When lovers are in the same hierarchical level and promotions are open, the competition for the position might cause tension between the lovers
The Dark Side of Interpersonal Relationships
- Jealousy
- Components:
1. Cognitive – you think and worry about possible scenarios that are not yet happening
Example: You suspect your partner of being interested in another person even if that person
2. Emotional – you feel betrayed when your partner is with another person
Example: Your partner is talking to another person. The feeling is the emotional jealousy
3. Behavioural – the act you take when you are jealous
Example: Checking the messages on your partner’s phone
- Dealing with Jealousy:
- People have different ways to express jealousy. Some of these are nonverbal like crying or using the silent treatment and some are verbal such as threatening the partner or being sarcastic
- Bullying – repeated abusive act towards another person
- Example: Frequently insulting a person and making fun of him or her
- Dealing with Bullying: Take action – whether by speaking up for yourself or for another person who is bullied
- Violence
- Types:
1. Verbal or Emotional Abuse – Frequently and consciously humiliating a person
Example: An employee makes fun everyday of another employee’s accent
2. Physical Abuse
Example: Throwing things at a person
3. Sexual Abuse – touching a person intimately without explicit consent
Example: Touching a person’s butt
- Dealing with it – Seek professional help
Works Cited:
“The Newest Communication Tool for Your Relational Success.” Science Blurit. Blurtit Ltd, n.d.
Web. 13 Sept. 2014.
Lunenberg, Fred. Formal Communication Channels: Upward, Downward, Horizontal, and
External. Houston: Sam Houston State University, 2010. PDF
