Why Communication?

My motivation for studying communication is to learn how to be a more effective communicator and to learn how to understand why people do and say certain things.  Everyone has a very different way of transferring a message and I think that understanding communication and the ways people communicate makes you a more efficient communicator.  Guo (2009) states that "Although we utilize various forms of communication on a daily basis, it is not the ability to communicate that we lack, but rather the ability to communicate well and convey our meanings as intended" (p. 8).

The benefits of  understanding the aspects of communication are that you can understand yourself better, be confident, advance in the workplace, be more relaxed, understand others better, and practice self control.  Especially in the workplace, it is important to be an excellent communicator.  A person who can practice all of the elements of effective communication can understand others emotions and goals and employers desire people like that.  I also think that understanding communication gives you benefits in your personal life as well.  I have noticed that the better communication you have with a person (family member, friend, spouse, etc.) the better relationship you have.

According to Trenholm (2008), “interpersonal communication is generally reserved for two-person, face-to-face interaction and is often used interchangeably with the term dyadic communication” (p. 141).  Interpersonal communication is the largest form of communication.  A person can go through life without speaking in public, writing a letter, or talking on the telephone but he or she cannot avoid speaking to a person directly (face-to-face interaction). 

Another form of communication is organizational communication.  Organizational communication in Fundamentals of Organizational Communication is defined as the "process through which organizations are created and in turn create and shape events.  The process can be understood as a combination of process, people, messages, meaning, and purpose" (Shockley-Zalabak, 2009, p.15).  One of the most vital aspects in the business world is organizational communication and how each company uses it to set itself apart from other companies.  Organizational communication is basically the communication throughout the upper and lower levels of a company or organization. 

Communication is so very important because it's the main way we interact with people.  It's vital to be able to give someone a message and have it be understood in the way it is intended to be received.  Knowing about the specific areas of communication, the different forms of communication, the means through which we communicate, etc., helps us to all become better communicators. 
References

Guo, K. (2009).  Effective communication in health care: Strategies to improve communication skills for managers.  The Business Review, Cambridge, 12(2), 8-17.   Retrieved October 11, 2010, from ProQuest.

Shockley-Zalabak, P. S.  (2009).  Fundamentals of organizational communication.  Boston: Pearson. 

Trenholm, S. (2008).  Thinking through communication: An introduction to the study of human communication.  Ithaca College: Pearson.