EDUC- 6145: Week 3 Blog Post

Communication Modalities: Text, Audio, and Face-to-Face

 

 

1.     How did your interpretation of the message change from one modality to the next?

            The sense of urgency becomes more apparent as we move from one modality to the next. An email represents the mode of communication with the least amount of urgency, while face to face communication represents the most urgent form of communication. It is also important to note that availability is a factor in communication modality, for example- in some situations a face-to-face conversation may not be possible. 

 

2.     What factors influenced how you perceived the message?

            An email feels like the least urgent form of communication because it is the least personal. Written communication may be the most difficult way to convey meaning to someone (Upraise, 2022). The absence of body language and verbal cues also contribute to varying levels of interpretation by the recipient. 

            A voicemail or phone conversation allows the recipient to hear your tone of voice which can contribute to a moderate sense of urgency however not being able to see body language keeps the recipient from potentially fully understanding the urgency of the matter at hand. 

            Face-to-face communication allows for the recipient to be physically in close proximity, with verbal tones and body language contributing to the impression of the message. 

            

3.     Which form of communication best conveyed the true meaning and intent of the message?

In many situations the mode of communication is determined by factors out of our control- most of the time. Anybody could agree that face-to-face communication is ideal for conveying urgent and time sensitive information, but the recipient may not always be in proximity to do so. A phone call goes a long way in allowing flexibility of location while providing synchronous communication between parties. Clear and concise communication helps everyone stay on target (Laureate Education, n.d.)

 

4.     What are the implications of what you learned from this exercise for communicating effectively with members of a project team?

            Context is an important element that affects different facets of communication (Upraise, 2022). The table below perfectly depicts what I believe to be true about communication modalities. Every communication situation is going to vary in which modality is most appropriate so it is critical to be able to identify when one modality should be used over another.

            Aside from modality, it is important to understand the receiving audience. Many struggling projects lack consistent communication with all stakeholders (Taylor, 2013). Sending too many details to a stakeholder could delay targets, while lack of clarity in project communication can increase meeting requests and hinder productivity. 

 

 

                        Table 1-Retrieved from https://remcomagielse.medium.com/the-medium-is-still-the-message-6ee98424d29c

References

 

Walden University, LLC. (Executive Producer). (n.d.). The Art of Effective Communication [Multimedia Program]. Retrieved from http://cdnmedia.waldenu.edu/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6145/03/mm/aoc/index.html

Admin_upraise. (2022, January 6). Understand these 5 types of communication at Workplace. UpRaise. Retrieved from https://upraise.io/blog/types-of-communication-workplace/ 

Walden University, LLC. (Executive Producer). (n.d.). Communicating with stakeholders [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

 

Taylor, J. (2013). Elements of a Stakeholder Communication Plan. Retrieved from http://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/15148-elements-of-a-stakeholder-communication-plan/

Magielse, R. (2020, July 20). The medium is (still) the message. Medium. Retrieved from https://remcomagielse.medium.com/the-medium-is-still-the-message-6ee98424d29c