COMMUNICATION NOWADAYS

SOFTSKILL ASSIGNMENT #5 (Individual)

HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS COMMUNICATION POSITIVELY & NEGATIVELY?

Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior (https://www.merriam-webster.com/). We can communicate with people directly or indirectly. When we want to deliver information directly, we can meet them and speak our thought face-to-face.  Meanwhile, when we want to deliver information indirectly, because of some reasons, we can communicate through words to explain our ideas. Nowadays, we can communicate to other people in easy way like using communication technology. 

Communication technology is a media which uses the technology for communication.  It has revolutionized the way people communicate. Besides, it also has improved our lifestyles and changed the face of the entire communication process in today’s world. As in yin and yang that shows everything in life always have two sides, there are positive and negative impacts of communication technology:

A.   POSITIVE IMPACT

1.     Most of the business depend on technology for communication. It because communication technology has many benefits to organization such as: (1) cost saving by using instant messenger instead of normal telephone, (2) cost saving for paper by using email instead of letter, (3) video conferencing instead of travelling to meetings, (4) e-commerce web can access to larger, even worldwide market, instead of sales catalogues, and (5) Flexible response, which means organizations with good communications can respond to changes quickly such as handle customer relations and improved supply chain for goods and services.

2.     Communication technology create long distance communication become easier and faster. Gone are the days when you have to send the physicals letters and wait for days to get them delivered, or visit phone booth just to make a call to your friends. Now there is instant messaging and video calling options like email, WhatsApp and much more to deliver your message quickly. Thus, communication nowadays has no barrier.

3.     Communication technology has helped in mass communication. An email or newsletter can be sent to multiple people at the same time-saving effort and time. It is specially used in offices by increased frequency without calling a meeting requiring printing of the materials into a saving money by emails and it is also used in colleges as a mode of communication to do group homework.

4.     Communication technology make new friends, gain new interests, and build relationship. Communication strengthened relationship, so people can always keep in touch with their friends whenever and wherever they are.

B.   NEGATIVE IMPACT

1.     The cost of using communication technology may cause a number of problems for organizations.  A lot of hardware and software is expensive, both to purchase and to maintain. Besides, the system usually requires specialist staff to run it. These extra costs should be offset by the positive effects of using communication technology, but if an organization gets its cost-benefit analysis wrong it may lose money.

2.     Near yet far, which means although communication technology connect people who are far, however it makes people who are near become far due to the reduce of interaction. People seem busy with their gadget to communicate with people who are in other place, and they ignore or do not pay attention with someone who is talking in front of them. Therefore, technology can have risks of reducing person-to-person interaction which lead people to feel isolated and unhappy because they do not get the chance to meet and talk with other people.

3.     A misunderstanding often happen when communicating by technology. Because we express our thought using words, therefore if we do not deliver our thought with proper words or language the other people will not understand the meaning of the message itself. It also can lead to a problem due to incorrect and misleading information and ruin the relationship.

4.     Communication technology can impact on interpersonal communication. This can lead to lacks essential interpersonal skills (the ability to express the ideas and thoughts to others face-to-face). A major reason for this tendency is increased frequency of communication through texting.

In conclusion, as you can see, technology affects communication positively and negatively. The positive points of the technological elements of communication cover up the negative points. It all depends on how we use technology; use the communication technology wisely and don’t abuse the technology for malicious motives. If this happens, technology will then prove to be a complete boon to mankind!

WHY LISTENING IS SUCH A BIG CHALLENGE FOR MOST PEOPLE?

Speaking is easy; listening is difficult. Many people actually just remember a little of what they are said to them. In the course of a lifetime, so much time is spent mastering hard skills, but little time is spent polishing essential soft skills or interpersonal skills. Listening is one of them.

In everyday life, people always complaint about their job, their assignment, and speak about their life goals but they don’t want to listen other’s advice because they feel like they are Mr. / Mrs. right. Besides, many people don’t want to listen other people because of boring topic. If someone starts on a long monologue about something that is not interesting, people tend to be hard to concentrate and keep attention. Because when people talk about something that is not interesting, it takes a huge effort of concentration to process their words, focus on them and not everything else on the environment. Technology is one of the culprit in this factor. When we use social media, there is so much going on, so it’s difficult to focus on what people are saying to us, especially when the topic is not interesting. Moreover, people don’t want to listen if the topic they are talking is out of the topic. Some people feel bored when someone who talks to them, but he/she talks for a long, long time, loses what he/she was originally talking about.   

It's hard to listen. We want to do our own thing and not listen to someone talking. We used to leave conversations when people talk about something we are not into. Some people even don't hang out with other people because they don't want to hear some boring stories.

But if we are talking about ours, then we will do the same thing in return by listening to what they say. I think that is polite and I think it's selfish to expect everyone to listen to what you want to talk about, but you never do the same for them in return. I have been brainwashed into taking into consideration others' needs and feelings, and I think we should feel guilty if we are all take and no give. Though I suppose, as long as you don’t expect others to listen to you either, your attitude is fine.

Think of listening as a skill that must be mastered. Nobody is born knowing how to read and write. These essentials skills are mastered by constant practice. Similarly, listening has to be learned the same way. One way to remember what people say is to repeat back to them what they are saying, so that the thought is understood and remembered. It also can prevent misunderstanding. However, don’t expect to become a good listener overnight. It takes time, patience, concentration and hard work. You can start by slowing down. Just because everything around you is happening quickly doesn’t mean you have to follow suit.  Apply the brakes, focus and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you hear. In short, just remember although listening is such a big challenge, but when you listen to someone, you also appreciate other people as the way you appreciate and love yourself.

*ASRI JUL MEGITA (11614748) - 3SA01