Communication model for mass communication - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theCommunication model for mass communication. Answer: Diagnosis and Reflection The purpose of the report is to analyse the different communication skills that can be used by individuals for improving the level of communication. The focus of the report is on the set of skills that are required for gaining success at a professional level. The report analysis certain tools that help an individual to understand own flaws and make rectifications based on those flaws. Apart from this, the report provides a literature review that highlights the possible solutions to the issues related to communication. Models related to communication are also discussed that provides a detailed analysis of the methods of communication. The report provides a self-reflection of the researcher that deals with ways to improve the communication techniques. I have taken the assistance of five diagnostic tools that can help me to determine the level of communication that I possess. These tools can help me analyse my communication skills and make rectifications based on the results. As stated by Cardon (2015) communication tools is essential in order to identify any type of error of an individual. The rating given while solving the questionnaire provides an understanding of the areas of improvement that is required. It helps in understanding the personality of the people by solving questionnaires that help in identifying the level of confidence that an individual possesses. The five tools that have been used in this case include: The Non-verbal Immediacy Scale Self-report (NIS-S) Self-Perceive Communication Competency Scale (SPCC) Confidence level while making presentation Soft skills test Verbal Communication test These skills are essential as it helps me to understand the areas in which I need to develop myself and the style of communication that is adopted by me. Every communication tool has a different set of questionnaires that help in the assessment of these factors and make rectifications based on the results of the questionnaires. For example, the Non-verbal Immediacy Scale-Self-analyses are used to understand the positive nature of the individuals and the manner in which they perceive other people. In similar fashion, the Self-Perceive Communication Competency Scale is used to analyse the communication skill that is required in various situations. It has been seen that the reaction and the communication style of people changes in every situation (Argenti, 2015). The third tool is used to assess the confidence level an individual possess while making presentations. This tool helps in understanding the confidence and the relaxation level of an individual while making a presentation. The fourth tool that has been analysed is known as the soft skills test. In the modern days, it is one of the most important tools as it helps in assessing the level at which one can analyse people (Shwom Snyder, 2015). It is important in every profession to have a skill that can help in the conversation with people for effective purposes. The fifth tool is the verbal communication test that helps to understand the ease with which a particular task can be carried out without the help of other people. The tools that have been used have produced different results that have helped in a proper analysis of my skills. The clarity of the analysis has helped me to understand the communication level that I possess. For example, after conducting the test on Non-verbal Immediacy Scale-Self it has been seen that my positive feeling towards people is low. The score that I received that is 78 indicates the low level of trust that I have on people. Thus, it can be concluded that I have a tendency to not trust people and feel that they may not influence me in a positive manner. This is one of the reasons behind my low score in this test. As suggested by Tuna, Gulez Gungor (2013) trusting people or feeling a sense of positivity towards the people is an essential factor particular in a professional field. The test suggests that I need to improve this skill (Refer to Appendix 1 for test result). The second test that I undertook is the Self-Perceive Communication Competency test. This test is used to understand the competency level required to communicate at every aspect of life. These aspects include public, meeting, group, dyad, stranger, acquaintance and friend. My test result varied in the competency level after every aspect. The lowest rating that I got was in the meeting aspect while my overall rating was 65.8. This indicates that I have a medium competency level and that other people can easily distract me. A higher value of competency level indicates that the self-perceived communication of the individuals is strong. In my case, I need to be guided by other people but at the same time, I can be competent enough to make decisions in any of the aspects of life and profession (Refer to Appendix 2 for test result). The next test that I undertook included the understanding of my level of confidence while making a presentation. This is an important aspect in a professional field as most business meetings and deals are done with the help of making a presentation. In this test, the scoring pattern ranged from 14-70. My test results showed that I secured a score of 48. This indicates the fact that my presentations will be appreciated for only a brief moment. I have a typical average presentation style and people can appreciate with at the same time criticising it due to lack of clarity of the messages (Refer to Appendix 3 for test result). The next test that I had undertaken is the soft skills test. This test helped me to understand the level at which I can manage people. This is important particularly for applying for jobs at the managerial level or being a leader of a group. The skill level in this test ranges from 16-80 and my test result was showed to be 54. This is again an indication of the mediocre nature of my communication skills. This indicates that I tend to remain under pressure in critical situations by like to work and collaborate with groups (Refer to Appendix 4 for test result). The fifth test is the verbal communication test that indicates the level at which I need to depend upon my co-workers for carrying out a particular task. The test scores range from 20-110 and my score was 104. This indicates that I am willing to work with other people but I have to refine my skills to match the skills of my co-workers. The areas that I need to improve include paying attention to non-verbal cues, accurately paraphrase work and ability to remain calm during challenging situations (Refer to Appendix 5 for test result). After analysing the results of the tests, I can analyse my drawbacks and work on improving the skills. For example, I need to work on three aspects of the verbal communication that can help me to be more successful in future. The ability to remain calm during challenging times is important to ensure that I can handle the situations smoothly. Apart from this, I also need to improve my NIS-S level, as I need to trust people more often. This can be considered as a contrast as based on the analysis of the verbal communication and the soft skills test I tend to work well with other people. Hence, I need to ensure that contrasting characteristic of my communication level is solved effectively. In this regard, two incidents can be described that failures of my communication. The first issue that I encountered was my inability to understand the non-verbal cues. The incident occurred during a programme in which my companion was asking me to move an object by providing hand signals as verbal communication was inaudible at the time. The situation occurred about a month ago in which I was to move a stray nail that was left on stage due to some casualness. My inability to understand the gestures made to me had a negative effect as one of the performers suffered serious injury due to the stray nail. This caused a lot of commotion and I was reprimanded for my incompetence of understanding non-verbal gestures. This incident made me realise the importance of non-verbal communication and the reaction that I need to provide during such challenging times. The second issue that occurred was during a presentation at my institution. I was unable to present a presentation that can create a lasting impression in the mind of my assessors. This created problem in my grade as the average marks that I received was not enough for a quality result. The presentation lacked clarity and the information provided was based totally on general research. Hence, it is another aspect that I need to work on so that I can make better and more detailed presentation in the future. This is important for me in the future, if I am to be manager or leader someday. Hence, I need to develop both the skills for a successful career growth. Literature review Concept of communication and its issues McQuail Windahl (2015) stated that one of the most convenient ways of transferring information, feelings and thoughts from one place to another is communication. People need to communicate with one another in order to ensure that their thoughts are cleared and that they can add a sense of purpose in their lives. Communication can be done either by verbally transmitting the messages or by non-verbal communication. Both are a common form so communication, however, the non-verbal form is used in situations that prevent the occurrence of verbal communication. The verbal communication, on the other hand, is more common as people can use words to communicate any messages. To understand the areas in which communication can be improved tools are developed that provide clarity of the situations. According to Hampf and Mller-Pohl (2013), it is important to understand the flaws so that proper communication takes place at the local and global level. One of the most forms of communication flaws is the ability to understand sign languages (Peleckien Polajeva 2016). Most people fail to understand the sign languages mainly because they are not trained on that subject. However, the basic gestures can be understood clearly and actions can be taken by understanding the sign language. The issue highlighted in the first example provides an idea of the inability to understand sign languages. It is an important form of development that an individual need to make as in most occasions verbal communication is not possible between the people. The second issue that I faced was my lack of confidence to provide a proper presentation. Popp, Raneburger Kaindl (2013) observed that making a proper presentation is an important form of communication medium, as most people cannot express their feelings in words. Pictorial presentation of thoughts can help people understand the messages that are provide to them and accordingly they can provide responses. To solve the issues it is necessary for individuals to maintain the manner by understanding the nature and importance of the messages. Hence, certain models can be used that highlight the manner in which transferring of messages can take place between individuals. Models related to communication According to Chaney and Martin (2013), communication needs to be developed between the individuals so that flaws in understanding do not take place. In this regard, it is essential to develop certain models that can help in addressing these issues. One such model of communication that can be used is Belos model. Belos model provides evidence that the sender and the receiver need to be alert so that they can intercept the messages with ease. Commonly this model is referred to as the SMCR model as the factors that are required for the effective transmission of messages is analysed with the help of the common components. The factors include a basic understanding of the messages that are required for the proper transmission and interpretation of messages. The channels used for maintaining communication includes the assistance of the basic senses of human beings (Evans et al., 2017). These include sight, hear, feel, smell and taste. The five senses need to function together for the proper transmission of messages and for the development of an individual. The skills required for intercepting the messages need to be such that the receiver and the sender need to operate together in a manner so that organisations do not have any problems with depicting the messages. Thus, it can be said that proper training needs to be provided to the people before delegating the tasks to encode or decode messages. One of the advantages that Belos model provides is the fact that the messages are precise and consist of codes. This is an advantage as the receiver can easily decode the comprehensive nature of the messages. The short messages can be easily understood and responses can be provided using any one of the channels of communication. Another advantage of this model is that it can help in the development of interpersonal communication skills. Practically this model can be applied to individuals seeking to improve their communication pattern at every level. For example, decoding the messages and presenting them to the people requires proper presentation skill. The skill level of every individual is analysed in a manner so that people can develop proper communication technique and ensure a successful career in the future. However, despite the advantages, Thill Bove (2013) stated that Schramms model could be used more effectively than Belos model for communication. Figure 1: Belos model (Source: Evans et al., 2017) To develop an effective system among individuals it is necessary to identify a proper source of communication. This source of communication can provide a systematic manner in which developments can take place in the communication system (Rentz Lent, 2013). To understand the communication systems in a proper manner it is necessary to use the Schramms model of communication. This model is effective as it helps to identify different segments that can be related to different components of communication. These components are important to maintain a steady flow of messages from a sender to a receiver. The sender transmits cryptic messages to the receivers so that the messages cannot be hacked by other people. The receiver then decodes these messages and the proper message is revealed. This form of communication is effective as organisations involved in such communication styles use internal facilities. Hence, Fleisher Bensoussan (2015) considers this as an ultimate model for communicatio n purposes. Schramm considered communication as a continuous process. Communication is one of the essential tools that people use to survive. Hence, the aim of the model is to ensure that communication between people is maintained in an effective manner. In this regard, it can be said that the model developed by Schramm can help in maintaining communication in every sphere of life. The benefit of this model is that this can help in developing the listening ability of individuals. This is mainly because the messages are provided in an encrypted manner and it is important for individuals to understand the message clearly so that it can be decoded in a proper manner. This model provides a continuous flow of messages from both ends and it is essential that the people taking up the roles of receiver and sender posses he abilities to be effective business scenarios. Figure 2: Schramms model (Source: Peleckien Polajeva 2016) Conceptual and behavioural skills needed Individuals need to apply theoretical as well practical knowledge so that they can develop their skills. The theoretical aspect can help in the understanding of a topic in a broader manner. A detailed analysis of a particular topic can be done so that individuals can gain in-depth knowledge about a topic. Similarly, the practical aspect can help in the development of experience. In the modern world, it is necessary that individuals remain experienced in different fields so that they can get proper jobs at organisations (DiSanza Legge, 2016). These can help individuals to understand the level of improvement required so that they can gain success in the business. The development of professional skills can help in understating the issues that individuals face. Thus, to mitigate this it is necessary to maintain both verbal as well non-verbal communications. The lack of skill of the individuals can be solved by practical implication of the models and carry out analysis using the communication tools (Argenti, 2015). It can be said that interpersonal communication between the individuals can be maintained with the help of proper analysis of the models. The emotion of people often forms a negative factor, as the mind is a strong organ in the human body. Hence, it can be said that misunderstanding can create a huge problem in the workplace. Sadia et al., (2016) is of the opinion that people with strong emotional competence and proper listening skills can have a successful career in business. This is mainly because both these characteristics are helping individuals to develop talents that can help in the development of a career. It has been seen that leaders and managers need to deal with the problems of the employees. Hence, it is important to maintain a proper soft skill so that the employees can be encouraged. The demand for the employees needs to be understood before taking any decisions that may hamper their progress. Communication issues can be solved by being confident and remaining aware of the surroundings. Learning non-verbal communication is not essential for most people, however, understanding the simple sign languages can help in the growth of an individual in a proper manner. Hence, it can be said that the manner in which people tend to develop the communication abilities depend upon the qualities possessed by the person. The communication skill tests can help in identifying the flaws, however, rectifying the flaws need to be done by the individuals using proper techniques. Action Plan After analysing the issues that exist in my method of communication, I have developed an action plan that can help me to continue to work effectively for my improvement. The action plan clearly identifies the issues and focuses on the ways to rectify it. For example, in order to develop a proper presentation, I need to develop my observational skills so that I can incorporate real-life experiences and relate it to the topic. I have been maintaining a journal entry that can help me to keep a record of the activities that I am undertaking and the development I have encountered in the past 6 months. Reflecting on my actions and progress can help me plan for a future course of action. Hence, the journal entry can help me to assess my talents and set up a timeline within which I aim to improve myself. To develop my talents I need the guidance of an experienced teacher. Hence, I had sought the help of Violet Dhu, to help me in improving my communication abilities. Mrs Dhu has over 15 years of experience dealing with people suffering from communication issues such as the inability to talk properly and confidently, remaining focused on one topic and so on. She is a Diploma holder in the professional field and had agreed to help in an eight-week communication-counselling course. The professional advice of Mrs Dhu can help me to identify the flaws that I have more vividly and help me to develop my communication skills. Apart from taking training classless from Mrs Dhu, I need to consult books that can help me to develop my communication skills. These books can be either purchased or referred to from any library and the internet. For the improvement of my skills, I have started reading books that deal specifically with communication issues. Some of the books that I have been reading include Active listening 101: How to turn down your volume to turn up your communication skill written by Emilia Hardman, 2012. Communication Apprehension, Avoidance, and Effectiveness by Richmond, Wrench and McCroskey, "Power Listening: Mastering the most critical business skill" written by Bernard, T. Ferrari, 2012. By reading these books, I have managed to understand the manner in which I can communicate with others. I can address my flaws such as the flaw in a presentation in order to ensure that I provide a quality presentation of any topic that leaves a long impact on the people. Apart from reading books, I have al so taken of evaluative classes that can enhance my knowledge and skills even further. I have taken up courses such as Diploma in Communication Management and Skills in managing people effectively using communication techniques. The advantage of these courses is that my issues of not trusting people or being nervous in challenging situations have been solved effectively. Activity January February March April May June Make a journal entry of the progress and activities Find a professor to guide me in my course Gain access to relevant books required for improvement Take up courses that provide authentic manner of communicating with people Table: Gantt chart (Source: Created by author) Reference Argenti, P. A. (2015).Corporate communication. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Cardon, P. 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