THE HUMAN COMMUNICATION
Communication belongs to the most basic of our experience.
The subject is essentially social and the man is formed, is configured as such from the relationships established with other men. Therefore we are going to say that the subject is the emergent of a complex web of links; and communication, consequently, occupies a fundamental place in the possibility of establishing relationships and links with others.-
Our social, work and family organization would not be possible without communication. Furthermore, we should think that if this possibility of communicating did not exist, especially in the moments after birth, we could not subsist, thinking that man is born in a state of total defenselessness and that at this moment he could not even satisfy his minimum and basic needs..
There is an interrelation between what is communication and learning ”. In other words, there is an interdependence. Communication follows the learning track and vice versa. We are not born knowing how to communicate, but we must go through a process of learning communication.
So we say that we go through a process of learning communication, but to learn it is essential to be able to communicate and communicate effectively.
We conceptualize communication as the means that allows mutual actions between people. Communication exists when one person influences the behavior of another, even without speaking. The more senses involved, the better communication will be.
In information theory, an Emitter and a Receiver are conventionally designated and are represented graphically by a double arrow. This indicates that you can only speak of communication, in the strict sense of the word, when the R has the opportunity to react to the sender's message.
Communication involves the transmission of ideas, of thought, of skills. The E is the one that emits the message, and the R is the one that receives or deciphers it. There is an encoding and decoding. For that communication exchange we talk about feedback. And for this exchange to be understood by the people participating in this process, it is important that there is something in common, this is the code so that these subjects can understand each other.
Communication comes from the Latin word "COMUNIS" which means to put something in common.
Code is simply language. It is the social product shared to varying degrees by the members of a society and is part of the cultural system. When we talk about language we not only refer to spoken language but also to the language of gestures, body posture, etc.
We do not bring this code inside, we are not born with a code but we must learn it, and in learning these codes we go through individual experiences. The appropriation of the code is particular, singular and unique for each person, but always within what is socially in force. For example, before lycra was not used, the banlon was used; if we named it now nobody would understand it. So the code varies according to the times, the social strata, the places. There is a base code with which we move and communicate, but there are also specific codes that have to do with the activities we carry out or the position we hold; for example the code of a doctor or an athlete.
When one does not share the same code, misunderstandings can occur. Pichon-Riviére said that "communication is a context that includes a means of signals that all those who communicate must know how to encode and decode in the same way, since otherwise misunderstandings will occur".
An element that we must take into account when we communicate is the context. The context is the medium or environment where communication takes place. This will give us information to give the precise meaning to what we are observing.
There is a relationship between the code and the context since it acts selectively to know what words I can use, what gestures I can have, what body attitude, etc. For example: We don't talk or act the same way at home as we do at work.
In a communication situation, everything that goes from one person to another is Information. This information can be sounds, smells, images, etc. Communication to be transmitted requires a channel. In the case of two people talking, the channel is the air through which images and sounds move. When we use another code such as writing or telegraph, the means of communication are the channels.
Everything that goes from one person to another is information. Within this information we can distinguish what the Message is and what the Noise is. The message is what we focus on our conscience, or what we pay the most attention to. If we take the example of what the figure is with the background, the message is what is cut out as a figure on the background of the noise (For example: while we are giving this talk, outside the course people feel that they come and go, for what we can say that the talk is the message and the people outside the noise). Many times the noise can be transformed into a message.
Noise decreases the correspondence between the message sent and the received receivers. There are external noises that can interfere with our communication and there are also internal noise situations that have to do with situations or problems of a different nature, for which the person is thinking and that allows them to hear some things and others not. For example: when a person has an economic or affective problem and he has it permanently in his head, if someone talks to him he doesn't really listen to what they say.
In addition, there are situations of denial of information when someone says something to the other person that touches their particular internal problem and produces anxiety or fear; therefore it denies the information.
"Paul Watzlawick" gives a group of laws for communication which he calls PRAGMATIC AXIOMS:
"NO COMMUNICATION IS NOT POSSIBLE." It has to do with the fact that when one thinks of communication, one thinks of conscious, voluntary, intentional communication, where the message transmitted to the other is "I want to communicate with you." For example we are sitting on the bench very angry with our arms crossed without saying a word. If they speak to us, we don't respond because we don't want to communicate. Actually with our body posture or not answering we are communicating that we do not want to communicate. In general, in the family it is said that there is no communication, or that there is no interaction between parents and children, and in reality what happens is that communication is incomplete, insufficient. It is not that there is no communication but sometimes that due to situations of indifference, of disagreements with the other,the message we receive is not the message we expect or want.
"IN HUMAN COMMUNICATION, WE CAN DISTINGUISH AN ANALOGUE LANGUAGE AND A DIGITAL LANGUAGE." Digital language is that of words (spoken and written). It is called digital because it has only a conventional relationship between the sign and what it represents; for example: there is nothing in the word "fork" that represents a fork. Analog language is the language of gestures, of body posture, of the use of space, of distance, of time, of tone, decay, context. It is called analog because it has a relationship of similarity between the gesture and what it represents. The boys' onomatopoeic language (“tu-tu” for example) is also part of this language.
Sometimes there can be coherence between analog and digital language and other times there can be contradictions. In general we privilege digital language, but there are situations where we primarily attend analog language, for example, if a person says "I love you" beyond the use of these words, they will be attentive to the tone of voice, gestures, closeness, etc.
An interesting element to work with respect to analogue language is the use of distance, of the space between the people who communicate. For example, the distance between two people in a relationship is not the same as between two who do not know each other. The use of space and distance gives meaning to our communications. This is learned from the cultural point of view, for example, Latinos use much shorter distances than Saxons. Another important element of analogue language is the gaze. There are glances that accompany and others that paralyze.
"IN ALL HUMAN COMMUNICATION, A LEVEL OF CONTENT AND A LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP ARE DISTINGUISHED." The content level has to do with the information that we transmit and what we do through digital language, through the word. The level of relationship is transmitted through analog language, that is, through the use of distance, space, gestures, body posture, etc. I convey to the other how communication should be understood.
"THE SEQUENCE SCORE". In general we have a tendency to see things from our point of view. We understand that the conduct of the other is the cause that we are differently. For example when we see a silent man and a chatty woman. If we investigate each one of them, the woman says "I am a conversationalist because he is so quiet that he never tells me anything, and if I don't ask, I won't find out what's going on"; And if I asked the man, he would say "I am silent because my wife drives me crazy with questions and talks to me all day." We have a tendency to punctuate the sequence of interaction and communication; that is, to see one situation as a cause and another as an effect of the previous one.
"COMMUNICATIONAL EXCHANGES MAY BE SYMMETRICAL OR COMPLEMENTARY". In symmetries, each one of the people who communicate tries to equal the reciprocal behaviors, be it goodness, badness, strength or weakness; they try to catch up. The complementary ones are characterized by having a maximum difference. The behavior of the two people who are related are different but they are hooked, they are complementary, for example the boss-subordinate relationship.
Symmetric and complementary exchanges are not in themselves good or bad. The ideal is that at times we can have symmetrical communication exchanges and at other times, and at least in different areas, the complementary ones.
COMMUNICATION IN THE ORGANIZATION
Good communication in groups is a fundamental aspect for the good development of an organization. However, it is very difficult to achieve this goal, especially at the beginning of a group. This happens because each person has their own discourse or need and for this reason there are often parallel monologues that generate confusion and bewilderment.
The natural process of group communication is that initially each one speaks from their own needs, expectations and using their own codes. The new situation is usually anxious for the unknown, however, it is necessary that understanding gradually take place and communication become increasingly clear and effective. For the possibility of good communications to exist, the positive attitude of the members to interact or work with others (TELE) is essential.
In this way, we observe that communication in the organization is the responsibility of all its members, who establish different types of relationships. Each link determines different ways of communicating. (For example vertical, horizontal, oblique, external, formal, informal, personal, group communications)
Communication is established at all times and in all processes of working life, but involves different efforts and characteristics according to each particular situation. For example, the “interview” situation is a fundamental moment of communication, where all the elements of it (message, code, context, feedback, etc.) will be of vital importance to your result.
How to help good communication
A successful communication process has the desired effect on the receiver. Confusion is often the consequence of poor communication, and leaves the recipient lacking in understanding. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account:
THE COMPETENCES
It is a simplification to think that to construct a message, the sender only needs to know a code that refers to certain references. There are many other competencies that play in the production of any statement and in its decoding. These competences are:
- linguistic and paralinguistic, which bring together the knowledge that the subjects possess of the communicative language, which is the one used by an emitter when choosing between the linguistic qualities that he knows, the one appropriate to the communicative, ideological and cultural situation, where the knowledge that each individual has about the world and the value systems with which it is located in front of it.
THE BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION
When there is disinterest in communication, or the message is unpleasant to us, labor relations are hampered, generating distorted forms of communication:
- One-way communication or no return: it is one in which no feedback is obtained, or if there is no, we do not take it into account. Saturated communication: it consists of sending different messages, to the same person, about the same or different topics. Verbose communication: They give so many details about the message that they end up making it incomplete or unclear. Aggressive communication: it is the consequence of a lack of empathy on the part of the sender. Communication out of code or level: it occurs when it is not taken into account if the code is Understandable to the recipient, for example when technical jargons or difficult abbreviations are used. Untimely communication: it arises from the lack of opportunity in the transmission of the message. Insufficient communication: the message is so concise that it does not transmit all the data. Double message:transmits a concept that leaves the possibility of interpreting another. Choppy communication: it is the consequence of permanent interruptions, such as phone calls or unexpected visits. Some studies maintain that both are two of the most important factors in the loss of time of the members of an organization.
FEEDBACK
It should be understood that broadcast message does not necessarily imply received message. Message recipients often do not ask for clarification of the message they received, which contributes to confusing communication. Therefore, message senders must clearly conceive what they want to transmit and then ensure that the message has been correctly understood. This can be done through questions or requesting an answer.
HOW TO LISTEN
This is a fundamental principle that opens the possibility for dialogue in an Institution, either with its members or with people outside of them.
With this principle it is possible to reconcile different opinions and ideologies, in search of mutual understanding.
Not knowing how to listen generates bad relationships and leads to vices such as "the divination of thoughts", that is, assuming that the person feels or thinks, often putting aspects that belong to ourselves.
It is essential to show people that you want to hear them, making the speaker feel comfortable and can express their opinions clearly.
THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNICATION
It is essential to arbitrate the appropriate means for effective communications to exist within the organization. Therefore, communications should be planned according to the characteristics of the context in which they take place.
The culture of the organization will be the one that facilitates or not the adequate development of communications, showing the appropriate codes and channels to use, through its communication policies and strategies.
COMMUNICATION PLANNING
The responsibility of planning, organizing, directing and controlling projects and actions that optimize human relations, corresponds to the Human Resources area. In this way, special attention must be paid to the development of communications.
It is essential that the communications of an organization generate benefits for it.
All communication implies costs and benefits for the sender and receiver. By costs we understand the efforts that this will demand in terms of time, resources, personal commitments, etc. The benefits are the positive consequences that will result from this interaction. Therefore, communication must be planned on the concrete and real elements that the specific organization has.
To plan and maintain effective communications, different techniques are applied:
- Planning techniques: they are applied before the moment of communication and collaborate in planning the communication strategy. To use them, it takes into account who will be the receiver, what are their filters, objectives and interests, what is the best code, what will be the most appropriate means, how to transmit the message more clearly and what is the context of the communication. For example: for a selection process it is decided to implement structured interviews, Human Resources audits, email Maintenance techniques: they are applied during communication to ensure effective communication. For example: the “TWO FEET” technique, whose name is made up of the initials of seven specific techniques, which represent a philosophical position regarding communication. Having TWO FEET in communication,it means having all the senses put into it.
- D: maintain the two-way communication O: observe non-verbal clues and listen carefully S: achieve assurance of an exact understanding P: ask open-ended questions I: give hints of acceptance E: express again S: be silent
Achieving good communication facilitates the relationships established with all members of an organization and in all its processes. In addition, it is a priority aspect in making good decisions, since it allows knowing the reality of an organization and its needs.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- BIRKENBIHL, Chapter 3. "Communication in the Seminary". Madrid, Auditorium 1978.QUIROGA, Ana. Approaches and Perspective in Social Psychology. Developed from the thinking of Pichón-Riviére. Bs. As, Editions Five. 1997. 5th Ed. Speech by Lic. DIEZ, Laura. “Consequence of communication based on Paul Watzlawik's Theory of Human Communication and The Pichon-Riviere Group Process.” 1995Publication of the MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND EDUCATION. "Basic concepts to approach the teaching of the language from the communicative approach". In: New School Magazine. N ° 17, January 1995.BELOHLABEK, Pedro. Archeology of the Future.de la TORRE, Hugo. "Effective communications". In Mercado Magazine. Management Concepts and Tools. Notebook No. 7. March 1996.KOONTZ and WEHRICH "Administration, a global perspective", Ed. Mc. Graw Hill, Ed. 25Nation Journal,Supplement Jobs; P. 12; Sunday, January 16, 2000, "Friendly interviews to analyze achievements and failures"
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To finish, through the following videoconference, from the Business and Management School, you will be able to complement your learning on organizational communication, three topics are covered: (1) structuring communication in the company; (2) how to make managerial communication more efficient; and (3) communication in times of crisis.
