Personal Development on Communication and Media, Essay Example

Before I entered this course, I viewed communication as merely a process of talking and conversing with people and it does not get any better than that. Nevertheless, as I go through the lessons presented in this course each class session, I am able to gain a bit more about communication each time I try to understand how conversation indeed creates a new picture of a person. To note, the concentration of the personal development I have encountered in relation to the progressive learning gained from this course focuses on three points or forms of communication. One is on public speaking, another is on interpersonal communication and another is on intrapersonal communication.

In public speaking, I have realized that what I talk about could affect my listeners greatly. This way, communication becomes a powerful tool of change. In relation to this, I learned how important it was to be very careful and precise as to what I am conveying to the audience whenever I speak in front of a crowd. The power that is given to a speaker is something more than a sword or any arm that could kill or heal a society. The words that come out of the mouth of a speaker could manipulate situations through influencing the minds of the listeners. Little did I know that when given such an opportunity to speak to a public audience, one is actually given the power to affect change. To note, a part of being an effective public speaker that I have learned to apply on myself is being brief and direct to the point. Back then, I viewed public speaking as a mere sense of exposure. I did it to complete class requirements and nothing more. Now, I take such opportunities seriously that I take the time to prepare for them to make sure that whatever it will be that I would be talking about in front of my audience would have a great impact on them and their ways of living. Thirdly, one important change that I have noticed on myself when I handle public speaking tasks is that I have developed personal interest to my listeners. I make it a point that I am being heard and that I talk about what my audience would likely be interested in. I see to it that the topics I choose would be of great interest to my chosen audience hence making it easier for them to relate to the information I am sharing with them.

In the field of interpersonal communication, I have learned three particular elements that I think improved the ways by which I share my ideas with others. One is the process of thinking thoroughly of the topic or the issue at hand, two is the consideration I am supposed to give to the one I am talking to and three is the fact that interpersonal communication is based on interpolation and exchange of ideas between the people trying to have a conversation. Whenever I am engaging in casual talks, I often find myself talking nonstop until I bore the one I am conversing with. This attitude on communication has changed greatly as I learned the basics of interpersonal communication through this course. Listening has been one of the greatest improvements I have gained from this course. I learned that interpersonal communication requires one to listen to others, to hear out what they have to say and be able to react on such opinions or concerns accordingly. This is apparently a very important attitude towards communication especially when dealing with organizational issues. Boardroom talks and meetings are grounded on good and effective interpersonal communication skills of those who are included in the conversation. Being able to develop a better sense of controlling myself when I engage in interpersonal communication created a larger door for me to become a good communicator in groups as we handle tasks as a unified unit and not as separate individuals.

Intrapersonal communication on the other hand was a rather new idea that was presented to me during the course. I never considered talking to myself as a form of communication. I thought that to communicate, one has to actually have someone else to exchange ideas with. Nevertheless, intrapersonal communication does provide me with the proper foundation on how I should actually share my ideas with others. For instance, when preparing for a public speech, I find intrapersonal communication as an effective tool in establishing my ground in completing the said task. Reading my outline aloud and practicing my lines in front of the mirror allows me to criticize my appearance and the way I deliver my speech. Writing down my thoughts on the other end is also a helpful form of intrapersonal communication that allowed me to express myself better not for the sake of others being able to read what I write, but for myself to reflect on my thoughts and my emotions.

Overall, the lessons I have learned from this course did not only teach me to communicate better, it also allowed me to grow into a more mature individual who does not only think of himself when talking, but also sees through the concern of others to make sure that they are also engaged well in the conversation taking place. I realized that the personality I am showing the people I am conversing with would be the image that would be retained in their minds therefore allowing them to identify me based on my actuations and attitude in talking. This learning taught me to be more conscious and cautious as to what I say and how I say it. I could then point out that from this particular pattern of learning that I have personally developed as a better individual only in talking with others but also in establishing connections with them.

References:

Barnlund, D. C. (2008). A transactional model of communication. In. C. D. Mortensen (Eds.), Communication theory (2nd ed., pp47-57). New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction.

Mehrabian, A. (1972). Nonverbal communication. Transaction Publishers.

Heyman, Richard. Why Didn’t You Say That in the First Place? How to Be Understood at Work.

Robbins, S., Judge, T., Millett, B., & Boyle, M. (2011). Organisational Behaviour. 6th ed. Pearson, French’s Forest, NSW p315-317.