Explain why developing effective communication is important for you?
Personally, effective communication forms the basis and essence of everyday life. This is especially so in NUS which aspires to embrace a global community with students from all walks of life (be it race, culture, religion or nationality). After 2 years here, i believe that effective communication is one of the platforms that pivots one to greater social and academic heights. From lectures and laboratory work to team sports and hall activities, i have noticed that most of my peers that have risen to leadership positions have mastered the crux of effective communication enabling them to gain favor with their juniors, peers and superiors.
Being in the Science faculty, laboratory work and group reports has formed a part of my academic requirements. Due to the technical jargon that we have to use to communicate everyday, it is imperative that we are clear, concise and accurate in putting forth our experimental results or the troubles that we face in the experimental process. The occasional lack of this has caused me to face many misunderstandings when data communicated was not interpreted as i had meant. However, the work process was expedited when there was a clear communication channel between my group members which resulted in a happier work environment. Effective communication is especially important in the lecture settings. I have noticed that lecturers who are effective communicators are able to engage the students into the topic he is lecturing on. I think that this is very important as students would be mentally and psychologically active in understanding the topic which would greatly aid them in their exam preparations. In contrast, lecturers who are unable to engage the students often fail to communicate the essence of the topic across, leading to a loss in interest of the students in the topic and students may have to spend more time reading up to gain understanding of the subject.
My attachment as a cancer research assistant at John Hopkins Clinic has enabled me to interact with cancer stricken patients. This opportunity has enabled me to witness the importance of nonverbal communications as patients often do not understand the medical terms doctors use and thus rely on the doctors facial expressions and gestures to infer their disease condition. I have noticed too that doctor's often use touch to reassure or comfort patients and this correlates with that stated in the textbook 'The Science of Effective Communication in the Workplace', which refers to touch as being therapeutic and communicating involvement and warmth (pg 23, chapter 1). These doctors have learnt to establish effective communications with the patients and from this I infer that it is not just the ability to establish communication but also to develop the correct channel of communication depending on the audience you are interacting with. With these patients, it would be useless if the doctor was clear and precise in the medical terms he used as they have no understanding of it. Instead, the use of nonverbal ques was necessary to communicate effectively with these patients.
Thus, developing effective communication is important in strengthening social and work relationships in this rapidly globalizing economy. By developing effective and diversified methods of communications i believe that it will enable me to be adaptable and effective in my work environment as well as stand me in good stead with my peers and superiors.
Reflection on Learning
16 years ago
4 comments:
I'm not a scientist and haven't worked on collaborative lab work since I was at secondary school but I can fully appreciate how essential it is that data and results are understood by co-scientists and the dire consequences if there is a glitch. Your remarks about John Hopkins are interesting but I sometimes wonder if doctors underestimate a patient's ability to understand their condition. After all, there is a lot of pseudo-science in the media nowadays and thay could understand their sickness in a qualitative way at least.
Teacher-Fiona
Hi Hui Ming,
I fully agree with your point on effective communication being important in lectures. In addition to your point, I would like to add that personally, i find lecturers who are able to carry out a lecture effectively deemed as more approachable. They tend to give students an impression that, with the ability to engage a class of hundreds, they will (definitely) also be able to communicate with their students personally. After all, their work involves them interacting with students.
I also found your short excerpt on the internship experience very heart-warming. I feel that people often overlook the impact of affection when they try to get their point across. Technical terms in medicine can impose fear in patients yet a touch to reassure will clarify all doubts.
Hello Mrs Richardson,
There are alot of avenues which patients can turn to for better understanding on their illnesses. However, I believe that the doctor plays a very important role in guiding the patients intake of medication and proper nutritional diet to aid in the recovery process. This is useful in countering the flawed advice that the media or other health promotion programes may provide.
Hui Ming
Hello Pei Yu,
Yes I agree that lecturers who can effectively communicate and explain the content of their lecture are deemed as more approachable and may also be seen to exude the 'warm' personality.
Hui Ming
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