Communication Essay, Research Paper

I

have always made the extra effort to express my ideas and opinions as clearly as

I possibly can; idealistically hoping that most people can understand and

embrace them. However, I have just realized, after reading Chapter 6-8 of my

Looking In Looking Out textbook, that I have yet to develop my full potential as

a communicator. Before completing this reading assignment, I did not fully

understand a few critical communication concepts and principles, such as the

ambiguities of non-verbal human behavior, kinesics, proxemics and the process of

self-disclosure, among others. But, most likely, from now on, I will be able to

engage in different types of conversations that can be more rewarding for my

interlocutors and myself. As the years have gone by, I have been noticing that I

increasingly listen more carefully not only to what people say and how they say

it, but also, to what people do not say, knowingly or not. May be I have been

growing older and/or have been learning from my personal experiences. Since,

there have been occasions in which my limited ability to read the non-verbal

content of what people were ?telling? me, did not allow me to achieve what I

had initially intended. For instance, a few years ago, when I was beginning to

sale life insurance on a part time basis, I lost numerous sales because I could

not always discern what the client?s non-verbal behavior was signaling or

showing me throughout the sale?s presentation. In time, by trial and error, I

learned to perceive and react more appropriately, to what my prospective clients

were communicating non-verbally. However, If I had understood, at that time,

what I understand now about the subtleties of kinesics and proxemics, I probably

would have been a more effective and prosperous salesman. Likewise, the process

and management of self-disclosure explained in the textbook has taught a great

deal not only about the subject matter, but also, most importantly, about

myself. Since I was a child, I have been considered a rather extroverted

individual who exercises a high level of self-disclosure with most people.

Generally, my experience sharing personal and sometimes intimate information

with my relatives and my friends has been rewarding, because they have always

seen me as someone who is honest, reliable and trustworthy. Notwithstanding, I

have been in relationships in which I have disclosed too much information about

myself, perhaps too soon, and its results have been detrimental and/or

counterproductive. Now, I realize that in those instances I did not follow the

appropriate guidelines to choose the adequate level of self-disclosure, as

explained in chapter 8 of the textbook. In second thoughts? I have just

decided no to resale my Looking In Looking out textbook. I am sure that I will

need to refer back to it many times in the future.