IKEA: A Case Study Of Interpersonal Communication In The Workplace

Describe how to use different methods of communication to ensure that the work carried out is productive.

To me interpersonal communication describes the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two different people. Joseph DeVito states that “interpersonal communication is inevitable, irreversible, and unrepeatable” due to these things effective communication is a necessary skill for us to function in our day to day lives (p. 20). Therefore, I have created a theory for interpersonal communication that goes as follows; To experience effective communication you must understand: your culture, the other person’s culture, and how to listen effectively. By knowing these three things you can consistently avoid misunderstandings and promote understanding in your interpersonal and intercultural relationships.

There are two different types of conflicts that could happen in a work place which would be functional and dysfunctional. A functional conflicts is a healthy, constructive disagreement between a groups or individual. A dysfunctional conflict is an unhealthy disagreement that occurs among an individual or groups of employees. A functional conflict will leave employees on a positive note it would only bring awareness to both sides of the issue, improvement of working conditions due to accomplishing solution together, solving issues together to improve overall morale, and making innovation and improvements with an organization. A functional conflict is something everyone is known as a win-win conflict. A dysfunctional conflict stem from emotions and behavioral origins, will have a negative impact for both parties that are having the conflict and the company. Dysfunctional conflicts are commonly known as win-lose conflict (Lombardo, 2003). It is not good for you to try and avoid a work conflict, it only making problems bigger. Work conflicts often happens from communications errors such as poor information, no information and misinformation. Another reason why a work conflict could happen because of emotions. Work place conflicts could emerge in any number of forms but there are some general variety types of conflicts that are repeated on the basis such as conflicts with the boss, conflicts with peers, and

Causes of conflict in the work place can be due to various reasons, good examples of these would be

Of course, communication is versatile whether we are at work or in other areas of our lives. At work, however, so much can be at

Team building exercises were engaged in to bring the team members together on a personal level. The exercises and the time together engendered greater loyalty, personal connections, appreciation for team mates, and common purpose. Genuinely caring for team members or co-workers should compel team members to always give their best in the interest of the

For the first time the public was able to watch the political candidates while debating, thanks to television. John F. Kennedy was a young, charming, handsome man. He looked and acted confident. He also was well-rested. Richard Nixon was recovering from a 2 week stay in the hospital. He refused to use makeup to give him a little color. Therefore he looked ill, older and shaky. He did not seem prepared for the debate. All in all, the public favored Kennedy and thought he won the

Cultural differences and personality differences can impact cooperation. Team building is an important aspect of communication. Consider some aspects of culture and personality that may impact how people work together.

Dividing the workers into groups and giving them tasks to perform. The workers should perform the tasks as if they are conducting the real activities of the company

Communication is any behaviour, be it verbal, non-verbal or graphic which can be interpreted by another individual or group (Dwyer 2013). Interpersonal communication involves interactions within small groups or between two individuals in a one-on-one situation, making it an essential part of everyday life, including in the workplace, learning environments and personal settings. Understanding gender differences, the importance of active listening and negotiation strategies as well as being aware of potential barriers are all key aspects of being able to communicate effectively. These are a number of examples of communication processes that I have encountered throughout life, both professionally and personally that I am now able to reflect upon and learn from.

I aim to analyse key theories which examine the effects of conflict within the workplace. Conflict is a part of everyday life, as long as we have existed conflict has also. Rahim (2010) defines conflict as an interactive process manifested in incompatibility, disagreement or dissonance within or between social entities. However, he expands upon the definition stating debating as to whether the conflict is caused by the situation or the individuals type of behaviour. This contests the issue of whether conflict is caused by a particular situation that the employee has experienced or if whether the behaviourism of the employee is to blame. If organisational conflict is not resolved, several negative consequences can occur including increased stress among employees, reduced creative collaboration and team problem solving, disruption to work flow, decreased customer satisfaction, distrust, split camps, and create gossip amongst the workplace. (Moriarty, 2007).

The conflict presented in this case study is between two employees that perceive tension in the

For the greatest success of the business, employees need interpersonal communication to connect with their co-workers. A leadership expert, John C. Maxwell (2010) says: “Connecting goes beyond words.” (p. 41). Physically being in the same room, verbally speaking thoughts, engaging in eye contact, and being able to see nonverbal responses are all important and add to a person’s understanding of the message being communicated and feeling a connection. Overall, communicating face-to-face is more natural for employees. An employee knows who is hearing what they are saying and seeing their nonverbal gestures. The employee can either get immediate feedback whether or not the person understands or agrees or disagrees. The communication does not have to be formatted as it does on paper. An employee should still present themselves professionally, but communicating face-to-face is a process, instead of format.

Conflict is inescapable, having the ability to recognize, understand, and resolve conflicts are important in both personal and professional lives. Myatt (2012) states that conflict in the workplace is unavoidable; if left unresolved, workplace conflict may result in loss of productivity and the creation of barriers that can inhibit creativity, cooperation, and collaboration. It is vital to embrace conflict and address problems through effective conflict-resolution tactics because if not handled appropriately, conflict will escalate. “If not handled properly, conflict may significantly affect employee morale, increase turnover, and even result in litigation, ultimately affecting the overall well-being of

Communication should be clear, concise, and succinct to avoid any room for misinterpretation; Negative nonverbal cues such as, facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language, could discredit the person-to-person conversation. Communication scholars argue that one should not assume that more communication is equated with better communication (Keyton, 2013, p. 154), especially with the added use of nonverbal cues. It is understood that interpersonal communication is important, but whether it changes the landscape of a business for the better is another question, altogether. There are both formal and informal communications in the workplace; Formal, dealing with work decisions and the latter, dealing with friendships and non-work-related banter.