Introduction
Verbal messages are messages that are transmitted orally from one party to another. Oral simply means word of mouth. As part of the overall course objectives, I decided to make deliberate attempts to uplift my ability to convey my verbal messages after having realized that I had a deficiency in this area. Effective verbal communicators can identify the right messages for the right occasion.
They also can adequately deal with obstacles that are associated with the ineffective delivery of verbal messages. This means that success on my side can only be said to have been achieved if I am in a position to not only learn how to come up with the appropriate messages for each occasion but also be able to identify and eliminate the barriers that are part of the ineffective communication pathway. This leads to an overall successful communication experience that is necessary for success in any area of life (Adler. & Elmhorst 2009, p.27). Management is the best example of a field that makes use of effective communication skills.
Theoretical Background
The area of effective verbal communication has been studied by numerous scholars who have made different suggestions on how it can be carried out effectively.
In the process of trying to uplift my verbal communication ability, the principle that not everything is important is vital. The 80/20 rule is there to guide us in reminding us that in most life situations, only twenty percent of the players score eighty percent of the goals (Koch 2001, pp.1-4). Put in another way, the impact of twenty percent is usually eighty percent, thus rendering eighty percent of the players largely useless. The idea here is to identify useful actions that have maximum impact in uplifting my verbal communication skills.
M.M.Bakhtin and L.S.Vygotsky have been credited with the theory that puts the whole concept of verbal communication on a pragmatic path (Akhutina 1975, p.19). According to these two icons in the psychology of speech development, verbal communication is developed as a function of the societies in which we live. This is relevant in that it is not possible to develop a certain behavior in our verbal communication if this is not part of our environment or it is not required by the surroundings. In my effort to improve my verbal communication ability, practical approaches have the role of enabling me to pick the real facts in communication behavior pertaining to certain situations.
The situation-specific argument in the development of verbal skills is emphasized as an important aspect of verbal communication by Butterfield (Butterfield 2009, p.14-17). He makes the argument that in a workplace, it is necessary that workers develop verbal communication skills that are relevant and appropriate to the workplace. The agreement with the pragmatic theory is that both are focused on the needs of the environment in which the individual finds himself or herself (Devito 2003, p.23). Again, in the process of my activities, verbal skills such as addressing a crowd are in focus.
Another closely related communication theory is the constructionivist theory which gives credence to the notion that intelligent people are capable of higher forms of communication (O’Keefe& O’Keefe 1982, pp.147-156).In my ability to process information lies the success of my action plan. In other words, the quicker I am to grasp the threads of verbal communication the faster I am to excel in verbal communication.
The above theory seems to be connected to the competence theory which stresses the ability of an individual to recognize, process, and respond to messages (Spitzberg & Cupach 1984, pp.13-17).In my case, watching the students listening to me or listening to my model speaker serve as the source of the information that I need to process and therefore be able to communicate well.
The fourth theory that is worth mentioning here is the social penetration theory. It states that with increased social interaction, communication becomes deeper and better (Altman & Taylor 1975, pp.3-7). This is a highly relevant theory that applies to social systems in a very realistic manner. Mixing with the students and trying to understand them definitely betters my ability to reach out to them with my verbal messages as I will be in a position to know what works and what does not work. These theories cover the larger topic of communication as well as the smaller area of verbal communication.
Methodology
In my bid to improve my verbal communication skills, I came up with a plan of action that entailed the steps outlined hereunder:
Identification of problem areas
I made an honest assessment of my verbal communication abilities. I noted my strengths and weaknesses and decided on the areas that needed improvement. These are the areas that I kept in mind as I went about utilizing the theoretical support on verbal communication that I had gathered as outlined above.
Other Activities in the Action Plan
Other activities that I carried out include the identification of good speakers and watching their behavior. I also listened keenly as a way of trying to polish up my listening skills since listening is a crucial part of verbal communication especially in areas where responses are needed after listening to other people’s speeches. I did more practice by listening to the news and trying to remember. As a real trainer in speaking, I participated in role-playing and tried to speak out as clearly as possible.
I also mingled with a group of people who are not my normal friends in most of my informal settings and tried to engage them in conversation by paying attention to my choice of words and message composition. Presentation and delivery are done best when the needs of the audience are understood and met (Reynolds 2008, p.72). The target was to try and come up with the appropriate message for each person I was talking to in the setting. Finally, I gathered the courage to speak to a slightly huge gathering in my college as a way of practicing and ensuring that my body language, which is a key element in verbal communication, is appropriate.
Findings
Theories on verbal communication are many with different emphasis on the verbal communication process. The Bakhtinian approach of pragmatism in both verbal communication ability development as well as the deliberate learning carried out later in life to meet situational needs seems compelling. In my identification of the best speaker and listening to him, I found out that he had a message that was meant for the occasion (Berkun 2009, p.66).
The views expressed by the other theories such as the competence theory and the social penetration theory are relevant too in that being intelligent contributes to efficiency in communication and getting acquainted with the audience enhances communication respectively. The closer I got to the formal group that I spoke to the more I was able to express myself clearly. The better illustration of the social penetration theory is that I was able to talk to fellow students much better than any other group based on the fact that I am used to most of the students. It is a society I have penetrated.
On listening to the news, I realized that I was able to get more information when my attention was fully directed at the person delivering the news. Disruptions always divided my attention leading to my inability to get a full grasp of what was being said. Also, my cognition or ability to grasp details faster proved vital. This is where the constructionivist that recognizes cognition as crucial comes into play (O’Keefe& O’Keefe 1982, pp.150-153)
In the role-playing exercise, I was able to master the art of proper articulation after repeated practice. At first; it was not easy to do the speaking in the best possible way. But attention to the message, understanding it, and then bringing it out in form of words made more sense. Doing the speaking as many times as possible made the articulation more refined. Did getting used to my fellow role players matter? Understanding my colleagues definitely made a difference and improved my verbal communication ability. This is also captured in the social penetration communication theory (Altman & Taylor 1975, pp.9-11).
Spending time with an audience that is not part of my normal informal groups was a ground for training in getting the right message for the right people. I managed to get the right message for most of the members of the audience. The address to college students also required me to select the right message, have the confidence to stand before a huge group, and share my message. My body language also made the students believe what I was saying as shown by the reaction as I was delivering my message.
Analysis
In the case of listening to a good speaker, more information is gotten when total attention is paid to the person speaking. The first step to being a good verbal communicator is being a good listener. Good speakers as shown by the speaker I listened to are able to design the right messages for their audiences. They also know how to use body language to reinforce their words. The end result is that they are able to have maximum impact on their audiences.
On listening to the news, I found out that total attention is also required if the message is to be understood. This is vital in cases where one is required to respond after listening to a speech by someone. Any distractions that lead to the division of attention lead to a situation where the message is missed and therefore the ability to respond or communicate a point is hampered.
Addressing Formal Audiences Requires Proper Messages
My experience with an audience that is different from my informal friends made me to realize how proper message are necessary if we are to be listened to. In such cases, the members of the audience have expectations that must be met by the speaker if he has to achieve his or her objectives (Mayer 2001, p.54). Like in all the other cases, body language is equally important. Elements of body language that are important include eye contact, upright posture and a firm handshake in cases where it has to be done.
Talking before College Students
In my address to college students, I discovered that body language makes the listeners (the students) get convinced that I am fully aware of what I am saying and I am ready to be part of it. This underscores the significance of proper body language (Pease & Pease 2006, p.12). This makes it easy for them to believe me and therefore keep on listening (Steele 1997, p.56). This of course is only possible after the right message for the occasion has been designed.
Reflections on My Efforts throughout the Semester to Master Verbal Communication
Given the efforts I have made in trying to achieve proficiency in conveying verbal messages, it would be a surprise if I did not make any progress. I can confidently say that I have gained much from the theoretical background from class and my own research. The practical undertakings I have exposed myself to such as listening to good speakers, attending conferences, listening to news, role playing and addressing college students have given me invaluable experience in what is required as far as proper delivery of verbal messages is concerned. The fear I had when standing before people always made me forget all the information and adopt improper body language.
The role of body language is something that cannot be ignored in effective verbal communication (Lambert 2008, p.23). This is currently not the case given that I have managed to overcome my fear. I have the ability to come up with the required message for any audience that I may want to address and I always make an attempt to employ a complimentary body language as a way of completing the communication.
The guiding principles in my search for proficiency in conveying verbal messages are based on pragmatic ideals. The dictates of the environment have to be considered. For example the attempt to eliminate barriers or obstacles to effective communication is borne out of the practical need to be understood and get the intended action done.
It is too early to declare myself completely able to communicate verbally despite the achievements that I have made. As a recommendation to myself, I will need to keep on practicing so as to ensure that the theoretical knowledge gained and the practical experience obtained remain in me as a way of getting even more confidence in my delivery of verbal messages.
Conclusion
As shown by the report, I have made remarkable progress as far as gaining the ability to convey a verbal message is concerned. The practical exercises that I have undertaken have played a key role. The need to communicate is practical and therefore is deliberately formed to suit the circumstances. Since I cannot declare total perfection in the field of verbal communication, I will have to continue working hard in a bid to achieve the highest possible standards. The management role of communication is so crucial that everyone must have the ability to communicate if management is to be successful.
References
Adler, R. & Elmhorst, M. (2009). Communicating at Work: Principles and Practices for Business and the Professions (10th ed.) New York: McGraw Hill.
Akhutina (Ryabova), T.V. (1975). Neurolinguistic Analysis of Dynamic Aphasia (Mechanisms Underlying Production of a Coherent Grammatical Utterance). Moscow: Moscow University Press.
Berkun, S. (2009). Confessions of a Public Speaker (1st ed.).New York: O’Riley Media.
Butterfield, J. (2009). Illustrated Course Guides: Verbal Communication – Soft Skills for a Digital Workplace. (1st ed).New York: Course Technology.
Devito, J. (2003). The Interpersonal Communication Book, (10th Ed).New York: Allan and Bacon.
Irwin, Altman & Taylor, Dalmas. (1973). Social Penetration: The Development of Interpersonal Relationships. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Lambert, D. (2008). Body Language 101: The Ultimate Guide to Knowing When People Are Lying, how They Are Feeling, What They Are Thinking, and More. New York: Skyhorse Publishing.
Mayer, R. (2001). Multimedia Learning. New York: Cambridge University Press.
O’Keefe, Delia. (1982). The Constructivist Approach to Communication. Human Communication Theory. New York: Harper and Row.
Pease, A & Pease, B. (2006). The Definitive Book of Body Language. New York: Bantam Books.
Reynolds, G. (2008). Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (1st ed.).New York: New Riders Press.
Spitzberg, Brian & Cupach, William. (1984). Interpersonal Communication Competence. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Steele, D. (1997). Body Language Secrets: A Guide During Courtship & Dating (1st ed).New York: Steel Ball Pr.