The act of communication is often taken for granted, yet taking into consideration what affects the speed of information delivery, its accuracy, and its perception is essential for understanding the message and being understood. Improving communication is possible by analyzing the environment and external factors that affect the dialogue, specifically, its clarity and pace.[1] By gaining a proper understanding of the described factors, one can gain significantly higher control over communication noise and improve the quality of a conversation.
A Case of Communication Noise
In the modern urban environment, avoiding communication noise is virtually impossible due to a wide range of potential noise sources. Considering some of the more recent cases involving communication noise, I might want to mention an instance of psychological noise that I have recently observed when communicating in an online environment. While discussing a contemporary political issue, I must have touched a nerve with some of the participants since I had to face several very strong opinions expressed in a nonetheless strong language. Since the conversation quickly turned to personal attacks, the emotional context in which it occurred could be described as very heated and leaving little room for objective reasoning.
In relation to the seminar, the experience outlined above incorporated very little critical thinking, which, unfortunately, was eventually observed on both sides. Several critical elements of thought, particularly, the point of view and assumptions, were driving the conversation, whereas interpretation and inference were mainly absent.[2] As a result, the presence of psychological noise made reasoning nearly impossible since the main purpose was mostly reduced to the psychological gratification of winning an argument.
As the experience detailed above has shown, I will need to develop reasoning skills and the ability to control my emotions in order to advance in the development of respective communicational skills. By learning to transfer from intrapersonal communication to interpersonal one, I will gain the ability to convey my ideas more effectively. Moreover, with the described skills, I will develop the capability of active listening and engaging with the viewpoint of the opponent.
Impact of Individual Interpersonal Communication Skills on Intrapersonal Communication Skills
When discussing communication-related issues, one would typically imagine a dialogue between at least two people, which is the exact representation of an interpersonal conversation. However, the phenomenon of intrapersonal communication as the inner monologue and the ability to identify oneself is also worth keeping in mind as one of the crucial aspects of communication. Interpersonal communication shapes intrapersonal one directly since talking to others implies gaining new knowledge, broadening the scope of one’s perspective, and accepting new ideas. Moreover, conversing with others may introduce an individual to how he or she is viewed by others, which implies significant changes in one’s intrapersonal communication.[3] Therefore, the two aspects of communication mentioned above are deeply interrelated.
Conclusion
Profound knowledge of the factors that shape the communication process is vital for building a positive dialogue and discussing a specific issue productively. For this purpose, a detailed analysis of the external factors that shape the communication process is needed. A personal experience has shown that the presence of psychological noise affects the perception of people’s opinions and engagement in a positive conversation very difficult. To address the specified issue, one needs to develop greater control over one’s emotions and build an appropriate communication skillset. In addition, it is crucial to remember that interpersonal communication skills shape the intrapersonal ones due to the changes in the perception of self. Thus, communication with others may lead to a shift in one’s evaluation of oneself and a more profound understanding of how one’s communication skills could be improved.
References
K. J. Avadır, “Occurrence And Types Of Interference In The Language,” Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, vol. 4, no. 20, pp. 93-99. 2017.
S. Keller, F. Tschan, G. Beldi, A. Kurmann, D. Candinas, and N. K. Semmer. “Noise Peaks Influence Communication in the Operating Room,” An Observational Study. Ergonomics, vol. 59, no. 12, pp. 1541-1552. 2016.
T. Deveci and R. Nunn, R. “Intrapersonal Communication as a Lifelong Learning Skill in Engineering Education,” Journal of Higher Education, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. ,68-77. 2017.
Footnotes
- K. J. Avadır, “Occurrence And Types Of Interference In The Language,” Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, vol. 4, no. 20, pp. 93-99. 2017.
- S. Keller, F. Tschan, G. Beldi, A. Kurmann, D. Candinas, and N. K. Semmer. “Noise Peaks Influence Communication in the Operating Room,” An Observational Study. Ergonomics, vol. 59, no. 12, pp. 1541-1552. 2016.
- T. Deveci and R. Nunn, R. “Intrapersonal Communication as a Lifelong Learning Skill in Engineering Education,” Journal of Higher Education, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. ,68-77. 2017.