Science of Effective Communication

Developing effective communication skills is important to graduates as it equips them with necessary skills of being a good leader. The communication process often starts with formulating the message in a common language while taking into account the relationship with the opposite party. Following that, we will then decide the channel to communicate with the opposite party. There are many channels of communications, such as: face-to-face, email, fax, hard copy, telephone and even SMS and MSN which is commonly used by youngsters nowadays to communicate. If something is done wrongly in the process, unpleasant feelings may develop between both parties. Therefore, I see the very need as a technical engineer to pick up such skills to avoid unwanted conflicts- whether as a student, friend, subordinate (and hopefully a superior in the near future).

Many people I know face barriers to active listening. These can be: physiological, environmental, emotional, mental or socio-cultural barriers. In this post, I'd like to touch on mental and socio-cultural barriers.

I have been staying in the school hostel for the past three years, and in my stay, I have seen many mental and socio-cultural barriers between people that actually make some people shun away from others. We all know that hostel residents comprise of both local and foreign students. Some of the local students tend to have a 'one-up attitude' to these foreign students, and tend to judge them poorly just because of their nationality. I have personally interacted with these foreign students and they make the effort to say hi to me when they see me around. This is a rather big contrast against some of the locals living on the same floor. I am glad that I do not have such a mental barrier to overcome, so that I will have less problems interacting with my fellow foreign colleagues in my future workplace.

The next thing I would like to discuss is the value differences that exist among people in hall. It is a fact that different people have different values due to their upbringing, culture, as well as religion. People of the same background and who have similar beliefs tend to clique together because of the comfort of familiarity. Communication is important as it helps people with differences understand each other better. As it is impossible to read another's mind, it is hence important to communicate and voice out opinions, as well as respect each other's differences.

It would not be an exaggeration for me to say that communication is vital to the survival of mankind. It helps us to bring forward our feelings and messages to others. If not done properly, it will lead to MIScommunication. The Youtube video you see below is an example of BAD communication, and how it can occur in ordinary circumstances. (Background information: The Hong Kong man was talking loudly on the phone and a younger passenger tapped him on the shoulder to ask him to lower his volume, and a conflict ensued.)