Chapter One “Communicating at Work” from the book Communicating at Work: Strategies for Success in Business and the Professions discusses the immense role that communication plays in professional life, exemplifies critical principles of communication, essential elements of knowledge of the communication model, as well as considerations of effective communication channels to use in different situations. Besides, the chapter describes how formal and informal networks of communication operate in specific professional contexts, which enables to create a strategic plan of personal networking to accomplish organizational goals. Finally, the chapter applies ethical communication concepts to various ethically challenging situations.
When choosing one of the key terms from the chapter for reflection, the concept of identity management has caught my interest. The term denotes the practice in which a person presents themselves in ways that allow producing a preferred image and a distinctive sense of self. The authors ask readers to take their time to make a list of ten words or phrases that describe them the way they want to be perceived in their professional life. Thinking about this, I have come up with the following list of characteristics for which I would like to be known as an employee:
- Reliable.
- Kind.
- Organized.
- Problem solver.
- Respectful and supportive of others.
- Good communicator.
- Has a positive outlook and attitude.
- Ethical.
- Visionary.
- Inspirational.
According to the chapter, the ten attributes on my personal list essentially represent the professional identity that I want to create in my professional life. However, what is crucial is understanding my communication patterns, both verbal and non-verbal, which are used so that others understand my identity. For example, while I want to be perceived as someone with a positive attitude and outlook on life and work, I have caught myself being quite negative several times. This means that my efforts to project a positive attitude quality are ineffective, and I should pay more attention to my attitude. While there is no need for me to be constantly positive about everything, which is quite unrealistic, I should instead focus on why I have a negative attitude sometimes and determine whether it is justified. Besides, I should be more attentive to the reactions that other people have when I have a negative attitude toward some things. It is easier for people to critique something together, and if others do not share my negative attitude, it can also mean that my perception is incorrect or unjustified.
Being equipped with knowledge about identity management can help tremendously in the future career because most of the communication is strategic, and people create messages for achieving their identity goals all the time. Because strategizing is something that can also operate subconsciously and rely on emotions, it is essential to be aware of both negative and positive responses that I may give in certain situations. While striving to be a good communicator, I can exhibit excellent communication skills one day and poor communication skills another day. This means that identity management is rather a process than an end goal, and it is important to always be mindful of it in professional communication. Overall, the chapter sheds some light on the importance of strategic communication in professional life because it allows one to enhance one’s personal identity, understand how to manage relationships, and be more effective at work.