Media is Fun

This is an example of Media writing and show the importance of a target audience.

Imagine being an a fairly health conscious woman, eating anything your stomach was craving, not feeling guilty, AND losing weight and obtaining good health while doing it. 

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Let's Get Technical

This is an example of Technical Writing.  The jargon needs to be put in easy to understand terms so the general public can comprehend. 

Bottle Feeding the Infant- It is a mother’s decision whether breastfeeding an infant or bottle feeding an infant is the proper choice for them.  Often times, woman have every intension to breast feed their child, but find out that it does not fit into their lifestyle.

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Persuasion and Communications

Persuasion is an significant aspect of communications..... How does humor affect this combination?

   A common saying in this day in age is, “Laughter is the best medicine.”  In fact, research has proven that, “Laughter can be explained by the fact that it triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin which are the feel good hormones that create feelings of euphoria, love and happiness” (LeMouse, 2010). 

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Conflict Communication Skills

      When a department manager is faced with an ambiguous employee who is repeatedly receiving complaints from customers and coworkers a one-on-one confrontation is suitable.  With any confrontation adequate communication skills are useful.  To have a productive confrontation there are six basic steps that should be followed.  The steps are preparation, let the person know that a conversation needs to be had, interpersonal confrontation, consideration of the other party’s views, resolve the problem, and follow up (Cahn & Abigail, 2007, p. 97).  If the six steps to interpersonal conflict resolution are used properly then a prolific and flourishing outcome to any conflict is possible. 

            To be the manager in this situation means that it is their responsibility to address the issues with the employee.  The approach to this conversation includes using the first of the six steps of the conflict resolution.  The preparation step allows for the manager to get their thoughts organized regarding the upcoming confrontation.  “Preparation is the most extensive and, in many ways, the most important stage of the confrontation process” (Cahn & Abigail, 2007, p. 98).  Here, the manager can imagine what the interaction is going to be like and prepare for any responses from the employee.  This preparation will allow for success in the steps to follow. 

            After the manager’s thoughts are organized it is best to let the employee know that a conversation is going to take place.  This allows for a time and place to be set, and gives the employee a heads up that there is going to be a confrontation of some kind.  It would be ideal to give the employee a brief overview of what the sit down is going to entail as this will eliminate any feelings of a blind side. 

            After that, it is time for the actual interpersonal confrontation to take place.  “This is the stage where assertiveness plays an important role because you call attention to a problem or issue and give voice to your wants, interests, or needs” (Cahn & Abigail, 2007, p. 99).  At this point the manager has to exhibit clear communication and relay the dilemmas and concerns that have been brought up about this employee. It is important to communicate differently with each and every one of the employees as each employee learns, responds, and communicates in a different way. 

            After the interpersonal confrontation step the employee gets a chance to respond to the issues that have been brought up about them.  It is time for the manager to listen and consider the views of the employee.  Since the employee had forewarning about the confrontation it does not come as a shock.  The employee in this scenario explains to the manager that they have been having some personal problems in their private life and it is clearly affecting their work performance.  The employee gets a little defensive, but feels better in the long run because they were able to communicate to the manager what has been going on in their personal life.  The manager responds will empathy making the employee feel even better.  

            Now that both parties have been able to speak and listen to one another step five comes into play.  The resolution to the problem is a key role in the confrontation steps.  It is important for the resolution aspect to be mutual and understood fully by both parties.  In this particular situation it was expressed to the employee that they would be dismissed from their position if the problems persisted.  The resolution should be put in writing to ensure understanding as well as a future reference (Cahn & Abigail, 2007, p. 104).

            The manager’s job is not over just because they were able to successfully sit down and talk with the struggling employee. It is that manager’s duty to follow up with the employee about the agreed upon resolution and set a time for reevaluation.  The employee then realizes that their performance must advance by the time the reevaluation comes along. 

            Using the six steps to successful interpersonal conflict resolution is an effective conflict resolution technique that would work well in this scenario.  The key aspect to this technique is good communication skills.  If the six steps to interpersonal conflict resolution are used properly then a prolific and flourishing outcome to any conflict is possible.  It is not always an easy job to be the department manager, but with the right skills it can be a fulfilling job. 

References

Cahn, D.D., and Abigail, R.A. (2007).  Managing conflict through communication (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Media Technologies

Media Technologies

           With technology in our society growing as rapidly as it has been over the last decade it is no wonder that media technologies are of great importance.  The largest media technology that I can think of is the internet.  Once the World Wide Web hit our planet the way in which we communicate has and never will be the same.  The internet has been a place for businesses to showcase their products, it has allowed instant communication with a click of a button, and has changed the way in which humans interact. To discuss the internet covers many media technologies including Skype, Twitter, YouTube, and other technological forms of communication.  Many say that the internet runs our lives.  That notion may not be too farfetched when we consider that just about every aspect of our lives can be maintained and accessed from our home computer.  That is as long as it has internet access!                                                                                                   
Social networks are a specific type of media technology.  Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Friendster, LinkedIn etc. have taken over human communication.  The success of these social networks is overwhelming.  They allow for people to reconnect, keep in touch, advertise, and provide entertainment.  Social networks started out as a social thing where people could share what was on their minds and talk with friends and family.  Before long though these types of networks became prime places for businesses to market themselves, for advertisements to take over websites, and for games and activities to take over the otherwise social outlet.  It grow to be a billion dollar idea.  I recently saw the movie, Social Network, where the story of how the ever so popular Facebook came into this world.  It was amazing the watch this little idea that was created in a college dorm room become a billion dollar franchise where over 500 million people partake in its concept currently.  And it is not like Facebook was the first of its kind.  There were already popular social networks out there such as MySpace and Friendster.  However, Mark Zuckerburg, the founded of Facebook, initially made his network exclusive and it had the ‘cool’ factor.  This showed me that a good idea does not necessarily have to be the first of its kind it just has to be different and better than the ones before it.  The success of social networking shows the importance of these media technologies.                                                                             
Media arts are another form of media technology.  Digital arts, graphic design, computer animation etc. are all ways in which technology is communication.  Media art is used on many websites, blogs, social networks, and virtual advertisements.  Take graphic design for example.  We are all familiar with the term but I do not think it is consciously understood how relevant it is in our world.  “Graphic Design is all around us in our society.  It is what drives advertising, attracts us to brands and makes public settings enjoyable or ‘hard on the eyes’” (http://www.piermarketing.com).  I think of Nike; the very popular brand of sporting gear.  Worldwide someone can see the swoosh that is the trademark design for Nike and know exactly what brand it is without any words for confirmation.  It may be a simple design, but ever so powerful.    Furthermore, there is a huge market for digital animation.  Animated movies do a great deal of business, and Pixar is one of the largest franchises worldwide.  Even adults enjoy these movies. The animation is so advanced that the lifelike characters make the movies feel more like reality and less like a cartoon.  Art has become so much more than drawing or painting on a pad of paper will colored pencils or water colors.  Digital art is where our technological advances have taken us.  It has enhanced the aesthetics of our lives and will continue to improve as our technologies get even better.                                                                                                             
Electronic media such as video recording, slide presentations, audio recording and online contents are also a form of media technology.  With PowerPoint, excel, and websites being such predominant forms of communication these days electronic media is very significant.  Professional and academic presentations have never been the same since Microsoft’s PowerPoint came on the scene.  PowerPoint allows for a savvy visual aid to accompany any presentation.  Often time, individuals learn better when they can actually see what they are aurally hearing.  To verbally discuss a graph for instance can be difficult as there are many numbers and details included, but with a PowerPoint presentation a graph can be blown up, highlighted, and easy to comprehend.  Also, without electronic media movies and videos that we watch for entertainment would not exist.  I think it is another aspect that can be taken for granted since video recording is just there.  The amount of detail and elements that go into the filming of a movie, or a music video, or a television show is way beyond my intellectual capacity.  Media technologies are all around us.  They have become such an essential role in our lives yet we often do not even notice they are there.  However, if they were to disappear for any reason, our society would be lost and poignant.  

Importance of graphic design (2010). http://www.piermarketing.com/blog/the-importance-of-graphic-design/       

Communications in Virtual Worlds

This is the first couple paragraphs of a paper I wrote about the significance of communication in virtual forms.  Take a look, and enjoy!

            Technology is such a significant part of our lives that in many ways it has taken over the way in which people communicate with one another.  Individuals can work from home using their computers and phones to excel in jobs that a few years ago required a destination office building.  The use of email can allow us to send messages globally within seconds.  Social networks and blogs allow for people to communicate their feelings to other people without the need of any face time.  And video games within the online world can permit individuals from all across the world to communicate with one another and share personal information all the while playing a game.  With the many advancements of technology in our society virtual environments can encourage communication among different cultures as well as contribute to the breakdown of stereotypes among diverse ethnicities.  Presenting exemplarily communication skills is no longer referring solely to face-to-face communication as technology has changed the way in which communicating can be effective. 

            A huge reason that there is a breakdown in communication among different backgrounds in that there is a lack of knowledge from culture to culture. The lack of knowledge affects ones outlook about other ethnicities.  “With a belief that peace is not the absence of conflict but one's attitude toward it” (Fouts & King, 2009).  With preconceived, negative attitudes about a culture, the possibility of then understanding them diminishes greatly.  The way in which individuals portray things that are different from them is often pessimistic because of the fear of the unknown.  What virtual worlds can do is promote dialogue and communication among people of different cultures all the while sitting in the comfort of their own home.  In an online gaming setting the purpose is not to learn about other cultures, but is instead intended for mindless fun for all those that are involved.  However, maybe this is exactly the kind of environment we need to take the pressure off of learning about another culture and instead let it happen naturally.  There is a chance that we would all be surprised by the realizations and inadvertent awareness that would come from virtual situations.

Let's Communicate

This is not only my first personal blog, but the first blog experience I have ever had in my life.  Needless to say I am a bit out of the loop, but I am hopeful and excited to dive in.  I can see the significance of a blog in a business situation or with a career and therefore the relevance of gaining insight into this communication forum is clear.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.