Face-to-face communication is a method of conveying and retrieving information through straight interaction between the source and receiver. In this case, straight indicates that there are no communication devices such as letters, phones, computers, letters or telegrams are used in the communication process.
In the contemporary world there are many methods of communication whose suitability’s varies according to occasions. This has been made by the technological advancements that are currently higher than ever before (Winger, 248). Modern communication technology is wonderful but it has its restrictions. If a person indeed wants to reach indulgent in altercation with others, there is nothing better than face-to-face communication. It further helps an individual to clarify issues and seek any clarification where necessary. This has been proven after invention and innovation of other methods of communication but ostensibly nothing has replaced the worth of face-to-face communication (Kathleen, 03). Factually, when one communicates through face-to-face communication, the intensity and understanding of the message being conveyed is reinforced by non-verbal cues such as facial expression and gestures which constitute about 90% of how people communicate.
According to Deborah M, “Faces provide visual communication signals that need to be interpreted to facilitate human interactions” (281). These signals may take several dissimilar forms. What makes face-to-face communication more interesting and effective in conveying messages is the fact that during the communication process, one needs to look at the interlocutor to notice and consequently untangle the range of urbane inter-personal signals that are in use. However, it is very important that these signals are well interpreted or else the entire communication process and the quality of the intended message will be compromised.
Face-to-face communication provides the best human interaction. “As wonderful as electronic devices are, they can never fully replace the intimacy of and immediacy of people conversing in the same room” (Kathleen, 04). Face-to-face communication has been found to be very operative especially during decision making in businesses and other organizations. It allows the people communicating to learn the deep intent and feeling of each other and the quality of the information being delivered is therefore high. This is the reason why managers and other leaders make important decisions either after the failure or success of face-to-face communication as might be required from time to time. Kathleen states that face-to-face communication is here to stay whether people like it or not since it has proven to be the best method that can be used to convey a variety of important information and ideas (02). Any attempt to replace it may will ultimately prove to be a complete failure.
Additionally, face-to-face communication has proven to be the best method of communicating due to the many restrictions and drawbacks of the other methods of communication. Messages that are conveyed through other Medias such as letters and telegrams can easily be misjudged by the recipient who may in turn react wrongly to the message and result to more obliteration or damage. However, if this is done through face-to-face communication any misapprehensions between the source and receiver can be rectified instantaneously hence averting any negativities that would otherwise have been associated with interpretation of the message (Deborah, 290). It appears therefore that during face-to-face communication, the two communicating parties are in a form of partnership. Deeper secrets can be conveyed through this method of communication since there are no intermediate parties involved hence the confidentiality and secrecy of the information is upheld.
Research indicates that more than 90% of phone users who call each other frequently at one point or another finally share the same room or location. Additionally, close to 70% of people who call each other at least once in a month ultimately meet and share the same location a scenario termed as co-location (Calabrese, 01). This implies that phones are used in coordinating and harmonizing face-to-face meetings in which face-to-face communication transpires. The use of face-to-face communication ensures that the meeting is successful and any relevant information is delivered or obtained. Face-to-face communication is therefore the mainstay of communication (Calabrese, 06).
Another factor that makes face-to-face Communication a method of language and an effective and efficient way of communicating is the fact that immediate feedback is obtained. One delivers the message and immediately receives the feedback from the listener. This therefore reduces the time that is wasted in waiting for feedback. Considering this basic fact, one can therefore contentedly clinch that face-to-face communication is a faster method of communicating. Additionally, it is less costly when the parties are close together since there are no travelling costs that are involved in the entire process (Kathleen, 05). However, it may prove very unsuitable when the parties are far apart. But even when this is the case, best professionals feign face-to-face Communication by cleverly using the technology at their disposal.
Face-to-face Communication has also proven to be the best method of communication in situations that involve conflicts, emotions, priority setting and money matters. When people are extremely upset, it is almost impossible to cool them down from a long distance. If people are in a conflict, the conflict can best be solved through face-to-face communication since that is only when one will be able to understand the inner feelings of the individual and deliver verdict as required (Kathleen, 06). When people are in distress, interpersonal contact is more appropriate than electronically transferred messages (Winger, 248). When businesses or other organizations are making priorities, there is need to meet somewhere and chat the way forward so that everybody can be held accountable for their contribution in making the priorities or decisions. Furthermore, assets such as money are of great value hence very subtle. When making a request for may be a loan, a person must appear in person and negotiate the terms of the transaction.
Recent psychological and neuroscience discoveries are very momentous since it offers intuition into the physical processes that trigger perceptual functions such as meaning, attention and self-awareness (Winger, 251). These discoveries have investigated how the mind works and throw into sharp focus the concept of communication. Modern work of evolutionary psychologists offers some acumen into the enigmatic surrounding the working and role played by the mind in the communication process (Winger, 251). The mind is made of modules that selectively decide what to retain and what to discard. Our past too comes into play in a very important way. A one-on-one interaction provides an experience to the communicating parties and this experience as well as the information received is not likely to be forgotten. The closeness created during communication creates a strong bond that closely holds the parties together and their behaviors too are influenced. Winger Alan says that, “Much of what we do now is a reflection of cognitive behavior that involves the use of language as the means of processing information needed to achieve an end goal” (251). That information is better conveyed and the end goal achieved if the interlocutor and the receiver are in the same room. Being in the same room simply implies that face-to-face communication is in effect.
There is no doubt that communication cues provide important information in the communication process. Nonetheless, at times it is important to avoid direct gazes. Holding a mutual face gaze carries a cognitive load due to the fact that rich information is provided and in certain circumstances there is need to reduce this cognitive load and complete other tasks (Deborah, 281)). Gaze aversion is important especially when communicating with people who are at a high rank, older than the interlocutor or receiver or the activity involved is cognitively strenuous. Gaze aversion allows one to free themselves from that tension associated with holding face gazes and allow for information processing since mutual gaze merely functions to detect visual signals. Direct gazes hamper the ability to communicate thus making the speech to be jumbled, disjoint and derailed. Taking this into account, it is therefore important that at times one exercises gaze aversion (GA) if not comfortable with the direct gazes that are supposed to underpin the intensity of the message being delivered (Deborah, 286).
As elucidated above, face-to-face communication is of great importance in developing language. Despite the much technological advancement, nothing has been able to replace it and it continues being the best way to communicate and offers language the forward impulsion that is necessary. Face-to-face is used in conveying inner emotions, feelings, passing confidential information and any information that is considered to be of great value and sensitive.
Works cited
Calabrese, Francesco, et al. "Interplay Between Telecommunications And Face-To- Face Interactions: A Study Using Mobile Phone Data." Plos ONE 6.7 (2011): 1-6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.
Deborah M. Riby, Gwyneth Doherty-Sneddon and Lisa Whittle. Face-to-face interference in typical and atypical development. Developmental Science 15:2 (2012), pp 281–291 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2011.01125.x.
Kathleen A Begley. "face to face communication pdf Tafuta na Google." N.p., Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Riby, Deborah M, Gwyneth Doherty-Sneddon, and Lisa Whittle. "Face-To-Face Interference In Typical And Atypical Development." Developmental Science 15.2 (2012): 281-291. MEDLINE Complete. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.
Winger, Alan R. "Face-to-face communication: Is it really necessary in a digitizing world?" Business Horizons (2005): n. pag. Print. http://elearn.jku.at/wiki/images/4/4a/Winger.pdf
