Explain how technology has impacted communication. Provide an example of how technology has influenced how you communicate.

                                                             Source: Google Images

Libby Larsen quoted,

“The great myth of our times is that technology is communication.”

According to (Drago, 2015) Technology has become an integral part of the way that people communicate with one another and has increasingly taken the place of face-to-face communication.

Technology has enabled billions to connect more easily but, they are being apart from real world and are too immersed in this digital world.

Technological advancement has both good and bad effects on communication.

People can get easy access to someone and can communicate with each other. Because of its speed, it is very useful in emergency situations. Business and customer get great benefit from it.

Technological advancement has given plethora of device like mobile phones, laptops equipped with email, text messaging, instant messaging, social media. These have turned into time saving devices. As an example, with emails, Facebook, we can talk to a person located far away, make friendships. Teaching has been proved more effective with technology.

According to (Ariana and Mirabela, 2014)Several media technologies include animations, videos, social networks, picture, podcasts, blogs, drawings, simulation  has enhanced the way of communication and interaction in class.

People tend to talk much in phone and through text because of technology instead of having face to face communication which has resulted social isolation. People are lacking social skills like non-verbal communication skills due to lack of face-to-face communication.

Majority of communication practices include text messaging, facebook, facetime, email. We get access to people very easily in no time.

This video shows both good and bad aspect of technology on communication

References:

Drago, E. 2015, ‘The effect of technology on face-to-face communication’, The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communication, Vol. 6, No.1 .

Monica-Ariana, S., & Anamaria-Mirabela, P. 2014, ‘THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON VOCABULARY LEARNING CASE STUDY-FACEBOOK’, Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 120-130.

 

 

What makes a good public speaker?

Public speaking is the process of communicating with the audience in order to inform or entertain them. We encounter public speaking in a variety of areas like the job interview, giving a presentation in seminar, wedding speeches.

There are many qualities of a good public speaker. According to Stephen Lucas (2003), language, skills, using visual aids, avoiding plagiarism, avoiding ethnocentrism, eloquence, and knowing the audience are the most important qualities.

Knowing the audience is the most important aspect of public speaking. Ormond, cited in How to Conquer Public Speaking Fear states:

The essence of public speaking is this: give your audience something of value.

The speaker should present what the listener wants to. This can be done by knowing the interest, background, and situation of the listener.

Speakers should possess excellent skills to present themselves. They should focus on the main aspect and make the content properly secured so that they will not deviate from the purpose of speech. They should have excellent delivery skills to amuse listeners by using reasoning, examples, visual aids, eye contact, jokes, body language so that the message is passed easily and the audience will remember it for a long time.

In context to eye contact (Scott,2015) states:

Let your attention move between each quadrant with the relaxed purpose of a bumble bee flying between flowers

Avoiding ethnocentrism (Lucas 2003) and plagiarism is also equally vital in public speaking. Speaker should not be biased and give equal emphasis to every culture and its practices. They should not present other works and research quoting them as their own.

In a nutshell, public speaking is challenging but an important skill.

This is my audio clip on What makes a good public speaker…

United States president Obama is a good public speaker as shown in this video.

References:

Lucas, S 2003, The Art Of Public Speaking,10 ed., New York,USA, Mc-Graw Hills.

Scott, N 2015, ‘8 ways to be a better public speaker in 2015’, Director, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 4.

What are ‘soft skills’? Why are they important in business?

 

 

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   Soft Skills are the combination of interpersonal skills, personal qualities, career attributes and social skills which includes abilities like communication, co-ordination, working under pressure and solving critical issues on workplace. These are the skills developed overtime through personal experience and reflection. Soft skills are often overlooked but they are important in day-to-day activities.

According to Schulz (2008 p 147) some of the examples of soft skills are:

Communication skills

Critical and structured thinking

Problem solving skills

Creativity

Teamwork capability

Negotiating skills

Self-management

Time management

Conflict management

Cultural awareness

Common knowledge

  It teaches people what to do and how to behave in particular situation. As we now today’s job market is becoming extremely competitive. So employers seek the candidate who are immensely productive from the early stage. Soft skills shape personality of individual and enables social competence and has equal importance besides hard skills. It prepares people to show business etiquette, graciousness, proper sense of humor, proper leadership for tackling technical and conceptual problems through creativity and innovative solution.

It qualifies people how to prioritize task, correct mistakes and learn from previous experience. Absence of soft skills can sink the promising career of someone who is equally competent in professional and technical skills. As an example people with soft skills can easily handle the problems in work place.

Work place can be sometimes a bit frenetic. Problems may occur due to contempt and criticism on behavior, working ability. With soft skills they can make and receive repair attempts not allowing the communication to worsen through proper communication skills, problem solving skills along with safe and meaningful discussion on the topic.

Hence, soft skills play vital role in workplace for effective and efficient use of knowledge and experience. It improves our way of interaction with our colleagues, managers and the customers. It teaches us to be co-operative and responsible for the duty.

In this video, speaker presents importance of Soft Skills

References:

Lazarus, Arthur Sep/Oct 2013, ‘Physician executive’, Soften Up: The Importance Of Soft Skills for Job Success, vol. 39 issue 5, p40-45,6p.

Marcel, MR ,2012 Dec 12, ‘Business communication quarterly’, Exechttps://businesscommunication5278.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/what-makes-a-good-public-speaker/utive Perceptions Of The Top 10 Soft Skills Needed In Workplace, vol.75, issue 4, p453-465, 13p.

Schulz, B, June 2008, ‘NAWA Journal of Language and Communication’, The Importance of Soft Skills: Education beyond academic knowledge.

Succi, Chiara 2015, ‘Sociologia del lavoro’, Towards A Comparison Between Employers And Graduate Students’, issue 137, p244-256,13p.