Week 3

This communication journal began by stating effective communication skills are increasingly becoming an essential component to both individual and organizational success. It also considered important components to effective interactive communications, such as creative insight, sensitivity, vision, shared meaning, integrity and the importance of culture. The first entry concluded with my belief that there is no single most important element. Rather, each are important and must coexist for effective communications.

The second entry continued the theme of effective communications, offering seven behaviors of effective multi-cultural managers (Deresky, 2013) and sought personal examples or role models of individuals others thought had these characteristics.  

This week, I discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in organizational leadership and decision making.

According to a 2014 Forbes magazine article, "emotional intelligence is the foundation for a host of critical skills—it impacts most everything you say and do each day. Emotional intelligence is the single biggest predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence." The article continues, by stating "emotional intelligence is the 'something' in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results."

A 2010 article in The Harvard Business Review described a study of brain imaging. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan of managers reacting to fictional strategic and tactical management dilemmas, summarized their findings by stating "Of course, IQ-based reasoning is valuable in both strategic and tactical thinking—but it’s clear that managers integrate their brain processes as they become better strategists."

Individuals are emotional beings. Moreover, leaders, managers and individuals work in teams. Emotional intelligence is a capacity I am still learning, and makes sense to cultivate, given the benefits of improved personal, organizational and team performance.

I don’t believe individuals are born as rock star communicators, rather qualities (IQ and EQ) can be learned. I observe the corporate world valuing hard IQ skills, such as financial, project, marketing, or engineering disciplines, but not the same emphasis on softer EQ skills.

My desire is to communicate effectively. An understanding of effective attitudes, characteristics, individual styles, and techniques assist in this challenging effort.

References:

Bradberry, T. (2014). Emotional Intelligence - EQ. Retrieved 5/19/2015 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2014/01/09/emotional-intelligence/

Caceda, R. Gilkey, R. Kilts, C. (2010). When Emotional Reasoning Trumps IQ., Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2010/09/when-emotional-reasoning-trumps-iq 

Week 2

Building on the theme of effective communications, I created the following discussion and question for my classmates:

(Deresky, 2013) suggested a model for effective intercultural communications, offering the following seven behaviors of effective multi-cultural managers:

1. Respect (conveyed through eye-contact, body posture, voice tone, and pitch)2. Interaction posture (the ability to respond to others in a descriptive, nonevaluative, and nonjudgmental way)3. Orientation to knowledge (recognizing that one's knowledge, perception, and beliefs are valid for only oneself and not for everyone else)4. Empathy5. Interaction management6. Tolerance for ambiguity7. Other-oriented role behavior (one's capacity to be flexible and to adopt to different roles for the sake of greater group cohesion and group communication)

Which women or men, in current or recent history, whom we all may recognize, have these qualities?

I asked this question because I believe in modeling behaviors we wish to see in others. However I also asked this question so that I could identify role models, and see specific examples of these behaviors in action.

The responses I received from classmates was rewarding. One of my favorite compliments was that of “looking out” (a reference to classmates as future business leaders, and examples to consider).  This was part of my intent in posing my question – I was hoping for relevance and something of value. Several classmates commented specifically on the importance of empathy, the distinction between the two, and their importance. Other classmates provided individuals they felt exhibited these qualities. The list (at the time of this blog post) includes: Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson. I appreciate the diversity on this list, yet would like more examples. Specifically women. I have read quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt, and appreciate her words. I will make a point of searching videos of her delivery and communication style.

References:

Deresky, H. (2013), International management: Managing across borders and cultures (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall

Seymour, P, (2015), Retrieved from online class discussion Web site: https://courses.cityu.edu/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&forum_id=_1026226_1&nav=discussion_board_entry&conf_id=_142810_1&course_id=_110496_1&message_id=_7090363_1#msg__7090363_1Id

Week 1

The purpose of this communication journal, or blog is in partial fulfillment for the requirements of BSM 304, Effective Organizational Communications. This journal will consist of weekly posts relevant not only to the material covered in this class, but also serve as a reference and tool for me to understand and improve my own personal and professional communications. The context is provided through the instruction and course materials, however my content will also be informed by information from primary research, public sources, alternate perspectives gained from discussions with classmates, professional experiences and personal observations.

Effective communication skills are increasingly becoming an essential component to both individual and organizational success. Having established the importance of effective communications, I was challenged with following question: What components of the interactive communication process do you feel are most important?

The process toward my response included a review of the required textbook, and additional materials provided for this class and assignment, as well a review and reflection upon my own past work efforts and deliverables.

The components of communication skills include “creative insight, sensitivity, vision, shared meaning, and integrity.” (O’Hair, Friedrich, Dixon, 2011, p.20). The authors maintain these are essential elements for a diverse, globalized business environment.

I agree that each of these elements are essential ingredients to effective organizational communication.

I believe integrity, or trust must be present in order to creatively communicate a vision whose meaning and result is shared and understood by everyone.

Upon reflection, I felt a critical element was missing from the previous list, and added the importance of culture as crucial to an interactive communication process.

Peter Drucker is credited with the quote “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” My interpretation of this quote is that despite our best intentions, efforts, and actions, without an understanding of the underlying culture (and an effective, nuanced application and use of cultural dynamics), communication strategies and tactics, will simply not be effective. Examples of this dynamic are evident throughout history, as well as current business, economic, regional struggles, religious and secular political events worldwide.

Considering each of these factors; creative insight, sensitivity, vision, shared meaning, integrity and the importance of culture, I do not believe there is a single most important element. Rather, I believe each are important and must coexist for effective communications.

References:

O'Hair, D., Friedrich, G. W., & Dixon, L. D. (2011). Strategic communication in business and the professions (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Seymour, P, (2015) Retrieved from online class discussion Web site: https://courses.cityu.edu/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&forum_id=_1025193_1&nav=discussion_board_entry&conf_id=_142810_1&course_id=_110496_1&message_id=_7058629_1  

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/culture_eats_strategy_for_breakfast/