Page 28 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

Project Name: Manual for Soft Skills
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What happens in interpersonal communication involves so much more than
words that we must pay careful attention to people’s habits of relating to each
other if we are to be effective in either studying about or participating in
these transactions.

Group Communication
Not all communication theorists agree on a definition of small group
communication—how many people make up a group, what differences there
are between dyads and other number of people in communication, etc. The field
of group dynamics, however, represents a very interesting and special case
of communication. It involves theories of leadership and management, small
group discussion, and decision-making. A number of exercises and activities
involving group dynamic, group discussion, leadership, and management
principles are part and parcel of any academic setting. There is no way you
can interact in your class without applying or taking into account the prin-
ciples of group interaction. A teacher and an academic consultant play a vital
role in enhancing group interaction and group communication.
Every teacher invariably handles a group of students. It is essential for
him to understand group communication and group dynamics. Teachers
need to pay careful attention to group communication which is a very sensi-
tive issue. Therefore, any issues related to the group as a whole, such as strike
or boycott, is to be handled sensitively. Similarly, when a group of teachers
represents something to the principal, the issue has to be taken seriously and
given due cognizance. Group communication in the academic setting cannot
be ignored in view of its relevance and importance.

Mass Communication

One of the most popular areas of study in the recent times is that of the mass
media—or ‘Communication’, as the term is used in sometimes—to indicate
a broadened view of what was once termed simply as ‘journalism’. At one
time it was believed that audiences were a sort of homogenous group, which
could be reached through a media source. This very simplified view of audi-
ences was useful to some mass media practitioners but did not explain how
complicated the process of communicating and the character of audiences
are. While mass media study is beyond the scope of our chapter, there are
many ties between interpersonal communication and mass communication.
One-way transmission over mass media is no longer the only way to view
information. As the significance of two-way (or interactive) communication
grows, people studying and working in mass media will have to take into
account many of the theories and principles of interpersonal communication;
and merging of such fields of study is not too far away.

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