Feature Communication Articles
- Articles Index
- Become A Brilliant Conversationalist: Using Probing Questions Guide
- Credibility: Knowing The Difference Between "Understanding From The Outside" and Understanding From The Inside
- Finding The Sweetspot Between Overly Positive and Overly Negative
- Communicating With Or Managing The Overly Positive Or Negative Employee
- Are YOU A Social Media Bore? Probably!
- Why Is There So Little Questioning Used In Social Media Conversations?
- When The People Who NEED The Feedback Are The Least Likely To "Hear" It
- Why I Don't Thank People For Leaving Comments On My Social Media Content
- Gallery: Graphic Meditations On Verbal Abuse and Verbal Violence
- When And How Praise Can Be Toxic
- It's Not What You Say. It's What You Do NOT Say That Makes a Huge Difference with Conflict and Communication
- Focus On Communication In The 2016 Presidential Campaign
- Improving Communication Via The "Less Is More" Principle
- NEW Instructional Video: Delivering Bad News And Minimizing Backlash
Communication Topics
- COMMUNICATION HOME
- The Power of Language Tutorials
- Communication General Questions
- Assertive Communication & Listening
- Communication Styles
- Practical Communication Techniques, Tips, and Advice
- Communication That Creates Conflict - Eliminating Firestarters
- Communicating With Groups and Public Speaking
- Non-Verbal and Paraverbal Communication
- Social Media & Technology
- Communication, learning from goofs, gaffs, and oopsies!
Relatiionship Killer Crossword Puzzle
Challenge yourself and learn about destructive communication with this unique free puzzle.
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Special Help: Learn To Communicate With Even The Most Upset People and Customers
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Bacal nails it! While more are messing with the entanglements of Customer Satisfaction which leads to no where...he addresses the specifics head on and focuses on the greater picture and ultimate goal of the Customer Experience which leads to Loyalty. Excellent job! (Macy in Oklahoma, 2013)
One of the best things I learned from this book is how to turn a negative experience into a positive one. Using the tools from this gem of a book I have calmed people down, turned bad situations into good, and kept customers who would have otherwise left us and written ten nasty reviews in their wake. It is so empowering to be able to do that, rather than feel awful and abused. This is a must buy, must read for people who work with customers day in and day out. Do it for your own sanity, and to help improve your own job performance and satisfaction! (E. Meehan, California, 2012)
Anyone who serves the public should have this book. It gives advice for everyone from the order taker at the fast food restaurant to higher level management. It also gives different techniques for different situations (ie retail store, office, call center etc.) I have only had this book for a few weeks and already I have improved my customer service skills. It's a wonderful tool. (Lisa S. NJ)
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Task Vs. Relationship Building Style Well Studied By Sociologists
This particular communication dimension has to do with how much the communication is intended to solve the problem or task a group faces, or if it's more oriented to smoothing relationships within the group.
This dimension is a good example of the "no particular style is always best", principle, because sociologists have noted that groups NEED both in the group, so people tend to take on different roles within the group.
The particular dimension of communication styles affects how individuals express disagreement and discuss conflicts with each other.
Task Orientation/Communication Style
Communication focuses on the task at hand and getting it done. The other person's feelings are secondary. Group harmony is secondary to task completion.
The extreme task oriented person risks hurting feelings by cutting others off, speaking over them, etc, not because they are intentionally rude, but because s/he sees this as the most EFFICIENT way of getting the task done.
Relationship Building Orientation/Communication Style
Communication is focused on relationships. Maintaining group harmony is central. The task is secondary. Task completion must not come at the expense of the group or person.
Can There Be A Mix Of Both In The Same Person?
Unlike other communication style dimensions, it's possible this is not a "one or the other" kind of thing. Some dimensions involve a binary choice - the person chooses one over the other and prefers one over the other.
Relationship vs. Task orientations may in fact be what scientists call "orthogonal". That means that one isn't one or the other, but can use both.
This reflects a very practical reality -- that group functioning, and problem solving work best when there is both a task orientation, and a relationship building component.
Poor group relationships end up slowing down task achievement through inordinate amounts of time spent arguing, squabbling, and dealing with hurt feelings.