We learnt three main things this week -basic theory of
communication, verbal communication skills and non-verbal communication skills.This course has already changed my understanding of communication, despite
the fact that we still have 10 more weeks to go.I found that the ability to communicate effectively is very important, not
only in the business world, but also in our daily lives.
Why is effective communication important for me?
I took the course cs1231 during my first semester in university. It
required students to form teams of four and handle difficult projects.We did not do very well, mainly because we were busy trying to
persuade other team members to accept our own ideas.Looking back, we could have avoided that if we communicated properly. We
were barely a team at that time, and could have done better with effective
communication, which improves the integrity and solidarity within a team.Hence, our working efficiency can definitely be very much improved. In the
business world, unity is strength. Effective communication skill is a tool that
everyone should acquire.
Another thing I noticed in the ES2007s class was that students were more
willing to express opinions, rather than listen.That made me think about the differences between es2007s and other
classes. Effective team leaders - Mdm Radhika in this case - have immense
influence on their teams. Effective communicating is not only about expressing
ideas clearly, but also creates healthy bonds between team members.I used to think that leadership is a characteristic that certain people
have and others do not. But after examining successful business examples, I
realised that anyone can be a qualified leader through good communication
skills.
As an engineering student, my field of study revolved mostly around
grades, and I used to discount the importance of communication as a result. But
now I realise that good communication skills are very important, much like
creativity or intelligence.
The last thing to take note is that communication skills are important for all team members - not just the
leader, for it streamlines the delivery of messages.As members of a group, we are not all giving orders. Receiving them is
equally important. A team player should learn how to listen before he speaks.
To me ,communication skill is something important but I did not acquire. I believe by finishing this course, my fellow classmates and I will have a different view about communication.
