I believe that there is inherent good in others. However,
working with people can make this hard to see, especially when disagreements
arise. Over the course of this module, it has been a challenge to uphold my
belief when required to cooperate with different individuals, all carrying
different working styles and viewpoints. I began my first blog-post stating
that communication was the solution to many disagreements, and through ES2007S,
this stand has developed.
Although we classify communication into professional and
personal, its purpose is still unchanged – to build bridges between people. By
seeing professional communications as a means to utilise people and achieve
optimal functionality, we begin to view people as mere numbers. This is where
viewing people’s inherent good is most essential, yet it may be the last thing
one considers when the pressure of tasks and deadlines build up. When teammates
disagreed with my opinion, it was instinctive to reason that they were against
me. Only when benefit of doubt was considered, and effort was taken to clarify,
did many of the potential disagreements fade. Hence, it was a humbling process
to relearn this counter-intuitive fundamental principle.
Presentation skills were another aspect that ES2007S
equipped me thoroughly with. Presentation is ordinary conversations with
people, in a formal setting. This concept enabled me to reshape the methods
used when presenting. I am naturally comfortable conversing with people in
non-formal settings, but self-inflicted pressure has always hindered me during
presentations. Viewing presentations as conversations has enabled me to enjoy
the process, allowing me to better relate with the audience. To me,
presentation needs to be personal. Audiences can differentiate speakers who are
convicted, from speakers who go through the motion. There is no perfect method
used to deliver. What matters greater would be the message that is spoken.
Ultimately, the goal of presentation is to persuade. How then, can the audience
be persuaded if the speaker is not convinced himself?
The module may be coming to a close, yet I believe that learning
the art of communication is a never-ending journey. Cliché as it might sound;
this lesson is one that I feel is of utmost importance. The very moment one believes
he has attained perfect communication skills, is when he shuts himself off from
the rest of the world. People are a community; and so, i believe that to be people, is to learn how to communicate.
*To Shu Wen, Ankita, Yee Sheng, Isabelle, JJ, Jerry, Yu Mengm Ren Fei, Nigel, Tony, Charlotte, and Mdm Radhika, Thank you for making this module a most memorable one! =)
