Page 431 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

Model Question Papers | 419

Sometimes people high on the need for affection are perceived by others as too friendly
or coming on too strong, Affection is closely related to disclosing behaviour, which can
have a great effect on our interpersonal relations.
Some people, on the other hand, prefer to keep others at a distance. They do not like
to become too friendly too rapidly. They do not wish to be too personal with others and
share too much of themselves with people they do not know well. They may have a strong
distaste for closeness and intimacy except with carefully selected people. These people are
usually perceived as aloof, cold, or ‘superior’.
In the case of affection, a mixed group is not the best combination for productive inter-
personal relationships. Cold people and warm people do not mix well. Each type makes
the other uncomfortable, and they find it hard to figure out each other. Neither is able to
satisfy the other’s needs.
Interpersonal communication is satisfying to you when you manage to satisfy your
needs. In the case of interpersonal needs, you depend solely on others for their satisfac-
tion. If others give you the recognition you seek, or give you a chance to exert influence
when you wish to, or provide you with the close intimate atmosphere you like, you feel sat-
isfied and you seek these people again in other interpersonal situations. You tend to avoid,
when you can, that type of interpersonal communication situation where your needs are
generally thwarted.
An understanding of interpersonal needs is essential, not only in facilitating your
insights into group processes, but in helping you predict the situations that will be more or
less satisfying and productive for you.
9. The inability to communicate effectively can create conflict and also impede its effective manage-
ment. Our ability to communicate often degenerates because of barriers. Let us examine what
are these barriers to effective communication and why they lead to ineffective communication.

The Barriers and Why They Lead to Ineffective Communication

The Barriers Reasons for their ineffectiveness in communication.
Criticizing Criticism is often inappropriate and excessive, leading to defensive and/(or)
aggressive responses. It is often justified as a way of getting another to improve
or perform better. There are often better alternatives.
Name calling Labels tend to put barriers between us and others by creating a ‘box’ into which
and labelling we place others. The result is often to distance others from us.
Diagnosing A more sophisticated form of labelling practised often by professionals of
various kinds. It can damage communication for the same reasons as labelling.
Praising Unrestrained praise is often insincere and hollow. It can also be manipulative if
evaluatively the person using it has an ulterior motive. The result is often resentment.
Ordering If ordering is used with coercion, it will create resistance and anger. Responses
can range from sabotage to submission.
Threatening Threatening has the same effects as ordering, but often more pronounced.

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