There sits a bright yellow paperback book in the corner of my bookshelf. One may easily mistake it for a children book from the casual font on the cover. A closer inspection of the front cover would reveal 5 large words in bold: How to Talk to Anyone? How to Talk to Anyone is merely an example of the countless books on communication which have been written and published over past decades. This obsession with improving one’s communication skills is not only evident in books. Courses on communication have been immensely popular of late - we don’t have to search far for a course on communication, do we?
There are different styles of communication and each is suited for different settings. Each setting demands its own distinct “rules”. Break too many “rules”, and you’re out of the game. In the workplace, the need to say the right things is crucial as it might result in a job application being turned down.
I decided to read ES2007S: Professional Communication because I believe that that I can be equipped with the essential skills of a master communicator. These include choosing the best channel of communication, reading body language, being sensitive to other cultures, writing business proposals, letters and emails, interview skills as well as confidence in giving a presentation (all of which and more will be covered in ES2007S). As mentioned earlier, there are standards which are upheld in the office. In this highly competitive 21st century society where job loyalty is no longer as valued, failure to adhere to such standards is seldom tolerated.
ES2007S provides a comprehensive exposure to meeting the diverse expectations of the 21st century workplace. A typical employee is expected to be equipped with basic skills such as typing emails. Moreover, most employers expect a certain level of competency at giving presentations.
Being a more effective communicator will also help me express my ideas in a more coherent manner – an area in my life that still has much space for improvement. I sometimes face difficulty trying to construct an argument because my points often lack the proper flow and organization of thought. The writing element of this module will surely be useful in helping me make clear and concise arguments.
I firmly believe that the practice from ES2007S is necessary to develop me into a more effective communicator because I can read How to Talk to Anyone a thousand times and only be filled with head knowledge.
Great point about theoretical knowledge, Zhi Sheng. Communication comes only from practice..
ReplyDeleteI remember an instance when I had just lost my third consecutive public speaking competition when I was 10 years old. My cultural activities coordinator was just about to give up on me and pick others for such competitions when my vice principal requested for another chance. She called me aside and said - 'Rohan, whatever you do to prepare for your next competition, make sure you practice in front of the mirror'.
That piece of advice made all the difference in the world. Hence, I'd recommend a mirror above any communication book!
Dear Zhi Sheng,
ReplyDeleteI like your conclusion. Indeed, communication, alike debate or public speaking, is a skill and skills can be lost without practice. This module definitely provides an encouraging platform for us to build on our communication skills.
I just realised I commented on the same part of your post as Rohan and that is your conclusion. Probably that is why it was always emphasized that the introduction and conclusion of a piece of writing or a speech should be strong and able to strike a deep impression in the reader. Afterall the human mind retains most imformation about the beginning and end of everything.
Hello there!
ReplyDeleteI like your conclusion. I find it a good punch to end your blog post by.
Anton Chekhov once said ‘Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice’. No matter how much we read of effective communication from books and websites, what we learn In theory is totally useless if we do not put it into practice and use it in our everyday lives.
This module gives us the opportunity to learn as well as practice what we have learnt. Let us make good use of it!
-nicole
Hey ZhiSheng, I think I might be in the same boat as you. Often I find it difficult to express myself in writings. This often causes me to make unclear points and therefore weakens my arguments.
ReplyDeleteI agree that practice is of great importance because it is only then that the head knowledge will be able to sink in. So let’s work towards it!
I browsed through the "How to Talk to Anyone" book once at a bookstore. It offered suggestions for different techniques to use in a large variety of scenarios. This brought me to question the importance of sincerity in communication.
ReplyDeleteAll this tricks and techniques may help us improve our communication skills but ultimately, I believe what makes us good communicators is the belief behind the message we want to make.
Thanks for this well-focused post, Zhisheng. I especially appreciate the way you have opened with the nod to your bookshelf. Your ideas are also clear and concise. What surprises me a bit is the faith you (and others) seem to have in ES2007S. Yes it is true, our schedule shows that such and such subjects will be covered. You can also see that we will work through a number of practical exercises, from the resume building, letter writing and interviewing to the research project work and oral presenting. But whether or not you will be "equipped with the essential skills of a master communicator" is another question. That may take years rather than just a semester in this course.
ReplyDeleteStill, I appreciate your enthusiasm, and I can tell already that we have a strong group. Hopefully, you won't be disappointed.
One minor issue that I would like to highlight here: While you focus on the value of ES2007S (much appreciated), the blog post assignment actually requested more of a focus on why effective comm skills are important for you. That is a nuance quite a few students seemed to miss.
Thank you all for your comments! It appears that all of us agree that practice plays a crucial role in molding a person to be an effective communicator.
ReplyDelete@ Brad: Admittedly, I did miss that nuance which you mentioned. I did not quite know how personal the blog post should be and hence decided to err on the side of caution. However, I will try to strike a better balance in future posts.