Communication Styles Essay Example for Free

Communication Styles Essay What is Communication and Communication Styles? Communication according to Webster Dictionary is defined as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior (Merriem-Webster). Communication can be verbal and in this day in age text and email. Communication styles are the behaviors in communication that are observed by others. This paper will discuss communication, the four types of communication styles, why communication styles matter and how to improve on them. Four Types of Communication Styles The four types of communication styles include passive, passive aggressive, assertive and assertive. Below you will find the definitions of each: * The Passive Style: Communication is done in an apologetic, timid manner that leads to being disregarded by others. * The Passive Aggressive Style: This style is similar to the passive style in that they hide their real thoughts in feelings but in turn will express these thoughts and feeling indirectly through often negative actions. (e.g. talking behind backs, causing conflicts indirectly, â€Å"getting even† in an indirect manner) (Dr. D. A. Williams and Dr. M. Carey). * The Aggressive Style: This style is characterized by an individual being argumentive, threatening, fighting, and having a tendency to interrupt during conversing. Individuals who communicate in this style have no problems with standing up for themselves and communication just how they feel. * The Assertive Style: This style is the healthiest and most balanced communication style. This style is characterized expression of feelings, self-pride, and self-regard, while at the same time being considerate of others (Dr. D. A. Williams and Dr. M. Carey). Communication styles that can lead to problems are: the aggressive style, the passive style, and the passive-aggressive style (Dr. D. A. Williams and Dr. M. Carey). The disadvantages to the passive communication style you are unable to express your true thought and emotions in the fear of rejection, being misunderstood. These types of communicators often go throughout life feeling out of control, depressed, anxious and little self esteem because they are unable to effectively able to communicate their needs. These types of communicators are often taken advantage of by others because they come off so timid. Those who have an aggressive communication have a tendency to alienate others because of their aggressive style of communication. The aggressive communicator uses belittlement, humiliation, and overall overbearing demeanor to control a conversation and get their message across. Passive aggressive communicators also alienate others. They are often left feeling resentful and powerless because they do not communicate their feelings and allow them to bottle up resulting in anger, stress. Often time’s passive communicators cause conflict with those in their lives because they tend to communicate negative feelings sublimely through their actions. Individual who use an assertive style is far more well adjusted because they have the ability to effectively communicate their thoughts and feelings while considering the feelings of others. Why Do Communications Styles Matter? Having the ability to communicate effectively is very important. The style or way in which we communicate effects the relationships we have throughout life and how others view you. In order to succeed in a career one must be able to communicate effectively. More than ever before, the ability to communicate well determines an employees ability to thrive in todays workplace (Kapusta, M. Ph. D). These people are always in demand (A prime example of this is the recent debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama. During the first debate Romney often interrupted the moderator and the President; he seemed to be communicating in an aggressive style. Those in the media reported that he was not looked upon well by some because of it. Improving Communication Skills In order to improve on your communication styles one must identify your communication style, identify problematic situations, and given you have some areas that could be improved, practice changing your communication skills style (Dr. D. A. Williams and Dr. M. Carey). Many are just not aware of or never even thought about what their communication style is. If you realize that you communicate in a more aggressive style just simply try and be more aware of your tone, body language, and listening skills. If one is educated on this subject and understands the components of all four of the communication styles as with anything else, practice makes perfect. Conclusion As previously stated your communication style can either enhance or negatively affect many aspects of your life. Being able to communicate effectively will avoid conflict and misunderstanding with those around you. Beyond just being aware of your personal communication style and practicing to improve there are several other ways in which you can improve in this area. There are classes available in public speaking and communication and interpersonal skills. So be self aware and ask for feedback from others, your relationships and even your career depends on it. References Dr. D. A. Williams and Dr. M. Carey. Getting the Most Out of Your Interactions with Others.: Use effective communication. Retrieved from http://www.med.umich.edu/painresearch/patients/Communication.pdf Kapusta, M. Ph. D. Why Communication Matters. Retrieve from http://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/PDFsandForms/OCC/WhyCommunicationMatters.pdf Merriem-Webster Dictionary. Communication Definition. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common \

The Exploration of Hernando de Soto Essay example -- American America

The Exploration of Hernando de Soto In 1539 Hernando de Soto and five hundred adventurers began on a journey of exploration that would take 4 years and would travel through 10 states in the southeast United States. His goal was to discover a source of wealth, preferably gold, and around his mines establish a settlement. During his travels through La Florida he encountered numerous groups of native peoples, making friends of some and enemies of others. His expedition was not the first in La Florida; however, it was the most extensive. In its aftermath, thousands of Indians would die by disease that the Spaniards brought from the Old World. De Soto would initially be remembered as a great explorer but, would be later viewed as a destroyer of native culture. However, in truth de Soto was neither a hero or a villain but rather an adventurer. De Soto was born somewhere around the year 1500 in Jerez de los Caballeros in Extremadura in what is now Spain (Milanich & Hudson 26). Contemporaries of de Soto would include Cortez, Balboa, and Francisco Pizzaro with whom he would share a great adventure. De Soto's ancestors had been part of the reconquista and as aristocrats many had been knighted for their part in driving the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula (Milanich & Hudson 26). Hernando would have played no part in the expulsion of the Moors; however, family legacy would have played no small part in developing his frame of reference. It is thought that by the time do Soto was fourteen he was on his way to the new world. In 1514 de Soto sailed with the new governor of modern day Panama. Six years later he was a captain who because of his part in military action against the Indians of Panama had earned the right to own Indian Sl... ...e seen as an adventurer or an entrepreneur trying to make good on his investment. Works Cited: Milanich, Jerald T. and Charles Hudson. Hernando de Soto and the Indians of Florida. Gainesville: U. of Florida P, 1993. Milanich, Jerald T. and Susan Milbrath., ed. First Encounters: Spanish Exploration in the Caribbean and the United States1492-1570. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1989. Shipp, Bernard. The History of Hernando de Soto and Florida. Philadelphia: Lindsay, 1881. Varner, John G. and Jeanette Varner., trans., ed. The Florida of the Inca. Austin: U of Texas P, 1951. Verano, John W. and Douglas H. Ubelaker., ed. Disease and Demography in the Americas. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992. Viola, Herman J. and Carolyn Martolis., ed. Seeds of Change: Five Hundred Years Since Columbus. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1991.

Value Management

Q. 1 Using your emerging knowledge of Value Management (VM), critically appraise the report and make suggestions as to how the VM study might have been run differently / more effectively. A Value Management report is the basis to a well-constructed project in the sense that all parties involved or potentially affected will be content with the final outcome. It is vital to understand and elaborate on the key aspects that determine a value management study in order to gain an agreeable conclusion. Often these guidelines are met, yet comparatively and with no due culpability, some guidelines are overseen. The causes of these significant errors are often mistakes and rarely intentional however they greatly skew the findings and lead to inevitable issues raised in the future. The Value Management Workshop Report, dated 26 November 2009, is focused on the Road and Traffic Authority’ (RTA) Mount Victoria to Lithgow Project. It incorporates many of the procedures and strategies that are set out in a report titled Total Asset Management, September 2004, which has been developed by New South Wales Government Treasury’s Office. This particular documents basis is value management guideline. In order to construct an argument as to how the Mount Victoria to Lithgow Project workshop could have been run differently and more effectively I will juxtapose these two documents. There are two main criteria that will be focused on; the stages of a Value Management and when such stages should be initiated and pre workshop planning and what it should comprise of. For a major project/program, several Value Management studies may be needed, for example at the service planning stage, the concept development stage, at the construction stage, at the operation and maintenance stage and, ultimately, at disposal’. (Value Management guideline, 2004) There is no question that the 6 major stages of a project listed above require a Value Management Plan. In this particular instance the concept development stage is the main focus of the RTA report. Concept development should include the scope of the project, what the project a ims to achieve and the general reasoning behind such a development. The general concept of this proposed project can be described as ‘light’ meaning that the reason for undertaking a public infrastructure project, estimated in excess of $275 million excluding the three phases included in the Mount Victoria section, is a little unclear. It is stated that ‘The highway upgrade work that has already been completed [on The Great Western Highway] has led to improved travel times for motorists and a safer road environment for all motorists, pedestrians and cyclists’. RTA: Mount Victoria to Lithgow Project, 26 November 2009) The New South Wales Governments plan to upgrade state roads, is therefore a green light to develop and upgrade new roads as the RTA deems fit. There is no thought or mention of rejuvenating existing infrastructure, which would be presumably economically healthier and time efficient. Although such a consideration may have become immediately redundant once ousted, there should have been ample opportunity for consi deration by all members of the workshop, which in fact there wasn’t. It is effective to conduct pre workshops programmes in a smaller group to develop issues that can be readily raised in the major Value Management workshop. Identifying issues early rather than over the two days of the workshop will give organisers and sub sequentially the members of the workshop the ability to address and answer problems with relevant facts, current data and more importantly directly. This would be a substitute of ‘ball park’ figures and broad/ assumed answers that would have been put forward if pre workshop programmes were not conducted.

Heroes in Literature