Communicating Effectively

After watching "The Art of Effective Communication", I realize how using different forms of communication and relaying the same message can strike the person you are communicating with differently. The three forms of communication that was used are email, voicemail, and face-to-face communication. Each one struck me differently as I read, listened, and watched.

When I read the email, I thought the email was professional and business like. Jane asked Mark to provide her with the material and when she would be able to receive it. She even gave him an option on how to get the information to her.

While listening to the voicemail, I found it to be a little sarcastic. Especially when Jane said, "I know you have been busy, and possibly in that all day meeting today." Although, it does sound business-like, but it does demanding.

When I watched the face-to-face communication, it seemed pleasant, but business-like. Jane expressed exactly what she needed. It came across as her being sympathetic to Mark's busy schedule with letting him know she need his report as soon as possible. Her facial expressions let Mark know that she wasn't being nasty or unsympathetic.

I think the best form of communication to convey this message would have been face-to-face. It's obvious that Jane and Mark has to work together as a team and face-to-face contact shows that Jane know he has had a busy day and they could work together to get the work done.  They can know come up with an immediately solution.

I have learned from this exercise that it is important to establish the communication methods and how often communication should take place with team members.  If the communication had been often maybe Jane and Mark would not have been in this situation.

Reference
Mutimedia Program: "The Art of Effective Communication"