Communication Inluence And Change Essay, Research Paper

COMMUNICATION, INFLUENCE, and CHANGE

In this paper I will be trying to make the conclusion that communication, influence and change are intrically related. Communication is defined as “the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information. Communication is a vital part in getting a message across. There are many types of communication. The one that I find most influential is verbal communication. I find verbal communication to be the most influential because a person can get his/her point across directly and quickly. I gave an example of this type of communication in my diagnostic essay. In that essay I recalled my first running experience in which my coach bluntly told me what he expected of me. My coach communicated to me what he expected of me and I followed. I found that type of communication to be very influential because he didn’t beat around the bush he came straight out with what he had to say. There are other types of communication like body language but I think that they are very impersonal.

After communication comes influence. Influence is the effect a person, thing or act has on another person or situation. I think that influence is a direct effect of communication. I say this because what one person says to another will always have an influence be it negative or positive. Some positive examples of influence are speeches given by some of the great men of our country’s past. Men like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln,

and John F. Kennedy have had a powerful impact with their speeches. Speeches like Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation”, King’s ” I have a dream” and J.F.K’s “We Choose to go to the Moon” have influenced people in many ways.

There have also been some negative speeches like those of the KKK and occult teachings. Even though their teaching are negative they still influence people who choose to listen to them. These teaching can also have a positive influence on a person by forcing them to speak out against teachings like those. Likewise of the speeches of the speeches of the men I mentioned earlier. Martin Luther King’s speech really influenced people because it caused people to realize that they were being mistreated and forced them to speak out and demonstrate their disapproval.

Change is what takes place after communication occurs and an influence has been stirred in a person. Change is “to become different, to undergo an alteration”. This is true of the situations I have presented. I n each case some sort of influence has brought about a change in a person or a group of people. If I had to choose one of the situations that influenced people the most it would have to be the “I have a dream” speech. I say this because for years and years colored people and others were being oppressed, long after slavery. Not to say that others haven’t spoken out also but Martin Luther King’s speech opened a lot of people’s eyes and caused them to make a change, not only for themselves but for others and for the future. Change isn’t always seen immediately but little things like a town boycotting a bus company will in time cause others around that town to be influenced.

In conclusion I think that communication, influence, and change are very much related. They in some form or another impact us everyday. For me personally I think that every decision I make is influenced. My decision is not only influenced by people, but just the fact that there is an effect to my decision will cause me to rethink it. Change is what comes after my decision. Depending on what type of decision I made the result will be negative or positive. But the communication I receive before my decision is what will make all the difference.