Introduction
Communication refers to connections that allow access between persons or places. A good communicator is one who understands diversity in the people they communicate with, and as such apply their communication skills to achieve good understanding (Lencioni, 2009). The Myers and Briggs Foundation website provides a good platform for electronic communication because its information suits different users.
Noticeable heterogeneity is quickly developing into a common phenomenon among various workplaces and teams. One of the primary duties of a human resource department in any organization is the promotion of diversity and effective communication strategies (Lencioni, 2009). Therefore, it is the responsibility of a human resource manager to create awareness and sensitivity among all employees regarding various forms of diversity.
Effective communication reduces the negative effects of interdependence within teams and workplaces (Lencioni, 2009). The Myers and Briggs foundation has very useful links that provide information on how to identify and understand different personalities within a team. Understanding various personality traits in a workforce goes a long way in embracing various communication strategies for organizations. Electronic communication involves the exchange of information through devices such as computers, radios, telephones, and televisions (Lencioni, 2009).
Experiences of using Electronic Media through the Myers & Briggs Foundation
The Myers & Briggs foundation uses electronic media for various activities such as communication, professional training, commerce, and nonprofit services. Experiencing the use of electronic communication in the organization presents both negative and positive experiences. This happens due to the psychological aspects associated with using something for the first time or with someone new. The experiences have taught me that to communicate effectively in the organization, there ought to be some altercation and battles involving disquieting moments of divergence and mystification (Lencioni, 2009). From the organization, I was able to learn about the effects of interdependence within an organization due to various diversity management strategies. I had numerous experiences, both positive and negative while using the electronic platform of the Myers & Briggs Foundation.
The use of electronic media has dominated modern living to the extent of infusing the cultural identities of most people. Electronic gadgets such as radio, television, computer and cell phones are slowly replacing the role of parents and community members in child development (Meredith & Shafer, 2010). Young people are spending a lot of time on electronic media, thus receiving a lot of exposure that creates a lot of negative energy in them. For example, exposure to violence in movies and video games often leads to violent behavior and negative personalities on the part of the viewer. Psychological theories argue that exposure to negative things such as violence often has damaging effects from the onset of exposure up to periods after the experience (Meredith & Shafer, 2010). However, electronic media has improved communication across the world. Electronic media has led to the emergence of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which have allowed people to converse over immeasurable distances with larger audiences (Henderson, 2006).
Another positive experience gained from the use of electronic media in communication was vagueness. The experience of communicating using electronic media allows a user to create a fuzzy profile (Bateman and Snell, 2011). This is impossible while using offline modes of communication, as they do not allow for hidden identity. For example, if I am not as physically attractive as I wish to be, I can easily eliminate the chauvinism of face-to-face communication through a concealed personality on electronic media. Electronic communication can, however, be very challenging to an organization, especially when it comes to employee input and productivity. With social networking becoming popular in modern communication, most organizations are facing an uphill task of keeping their employees off the social sites (Bateman and Snell, 2011). Despite social media playing a pivotal role in improving the efficiency of service provision by most organizations, it is still a challenge and obstacle to employee productivity. Another challenge I experienced from using the website was the inability to convey essential elements of communication such as facial expressions and body language (Henderson, 2006).
One of the principal elements of communication methods that preceded electronic media was miscommunication. For example, communication through a messenger often results to passage of contradictory information between recipients. A messenger can easily forget crucial information of a message being conveyed, or at times misunderstand the message and deliver it with a completely different meaning from the intended one (Bateman and Snell, 2011). Unfortunately, this challenge is likely to recur with the use of electronic media due to a lack of physical human interaction. Physical interaction is a principal element of effective communication as it allows for elaboration whenever there is some misunderstanding (Meredith & Shafer, 2010). Crucial communication indicators such as eye contact and observation of body language help a lot in assessing the reliability of information delivered.
Conclusion
Effective communication in an organization applies different methods that include the use of memos, emails, phone calls, and company publications. In a poorly managed organization, poor communication presents numerous barriers that have a negative influence on key processes such as decision-making. To achieve effective communication, creating harmony with the audience is pivotal in ensuring that all categories of communicators are considered, and their needs addressed. The Myers & Briggs foundation provides a good platform for electronic communication and education.
References
Bateman, T., & Snell, S. (2011). Management: Leading and Collaborating in the Competitive World. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lencioni, P. (2009). Teamwork, Leadership and Suffering. New York: Cengage Learning.
Meredith, J., & Shafer, S. (2010). Operations Management for MBAs. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.