Sample Paper on Peer Communication in the Workplace
Introduction
Communication is an avenue through which meaning, thoughts and opinions are shared. This can be necessitated in the form of speech or symbols; the intention is to ensure that one understands. It is one of the pillars in workplace ethics because it comes naturally on a daily basis as people cannot effectively accomplish tasks without proper communication. Notable communication in workplaces has been witnessed between employer and employee, supervisor and staff. In business organizations, peers speak to each other, to some extent communication with customers and thus without which no tasks can be accomplished.
It has been revealed that successful work accomplishments heavily depend on good communication (Debasish & Bhagaban 75). Besides, effective communication between peers in an organization plays a critical role in aligning individuals to business objectives. Consequently, it has been agreed that in order to work effectively, peers must be able to communicate competently between themselves (Debasish & Bhagaban 78). Effective communication is therefore central in ensuring that a company accomplishes its tasks. Likewise, communication must effectively be decoded, encoded and provided at the right time.
Effective Communication between Peers
Studies have established that peers should take personal responsibility for effective communication and thus must be open-minded to change behavior and accommodate views of others (Fielding & Fielding 40). Furthermore, peers involved in communication between them must seek to understand other views and opinions and not simply jump into conclusions. This may result to conflict between peers that may negatively impact on business activities. It is worth pointing out that effective peer-peer communication can be beneficial if both parties accurately understand information being communicated (Fielding & Fielding 55).
Expressively, peers should avoid reacting defensively in situations of disagreements or when criticized by others. Effective peer communicators must always learn to monitor and avoid defensiveness. However, this may require certain degree of commitment and responsibility; the best practice would be to question issues before responding. This ensures that a peer has adequate time to understand and attempt to manage responses. Elements of social interactions should also be integrated in communication sessions between peers. This is despite most of the interactions taking place within the confines of workplace setting. It is important to take advantage of the opportunities of social interactions and how they can help improve working relationships.
Further, peers should be accommodative and thus welcome diverse viewpoints. This makes it easy for people to understand other viewpoints and can be effective for peers to fully learn to be open-minded, listen and respond appropriately to opinions of others. Lastly, it is critical for peers to be honest and direct as this will prevent gossips and character assassination.
Benefits of Peer Communication in the Workplace
Research studies have opined that verbal and non-verbal between peers is important in workplaces (Nikoi & Kwasi 120). This is the reason major companies allocate budget provisions to train their employees on effective communication and relation to business activities. Moreover, communication professionals agree that it is important for employees to know how communicate appropriately through reports and emails (Nikoi & Kwasi 62). First, effective communication between peers helps to diversify company activities and functions. It helps to eliminate barriers that may impede performance such as cultural confusion and misunderstanding.
Second, it helps peers to keep abreast with current business operations especially globalization. It is imperative for employees to learn on how to effectively communicate with international stakeholders and partners. Different cultural orientations require that employees are trained on how to communicate in ways that may not insult cultural beliefs of others. It means that a business organization that wants to globalize its operations must effectively train its employees and peers on how to go about communicating in the best way possible.
Third, effective peer communication can assist a company to develop effective team through team building. Trust is an important element in an organization; this can only be achieved through enhanced communication. Resulting teams are important in improving productivity, integrity and responsibility. This makes it easy for peers to correct one another because of open communication and fundamental relationship established.
Lastly, peer communication boosts morale since employees often appreciate good and accurate communication coming from management and other peers. This enhances job satisfaction, and thus an employee is able to efficiently perform duties as there is flow of clear information and consultation necessitated by communication. Studies have established that failure to communicate effectively in an organization may lead to confusion and frustration among peers (Nikoi & Kwasi 77).
Conclusion
Peer communication is important in workplace setting because it necessitates transmission of accurate and useful information. However, peers need to be trained on how they can effectively communicate with their colleagues to alleviate problems arising from confusions and misunderstandings. Subsequently, communicate should be timely so as to aid decision making process in the organization. Suggestively, it is important for management at workplace to keep lines of communication open and encourage peer-to-peer communication within the organization; this will enhance productivity and efficiency.
Works Cited
Debasish, Sathya S, and Bhagaban Das. Business Communication. New Delhi: PHI Learning,
- Print.
Fielding, M L, and M L. Fielding. Effective Communication in Organisations: [preparing
Messages That Communicate]. Lansdowne, Cape Town: Juta Academic, 2005. Print.
Nikoi, Ephraim, and Kwasi Boateng. Collaborative Communication Processes and Decision
Making in Organizations. , 2014. Internet resource.