social vs professional media

Communication is the mechanism through which people communicate knowledge to one another through the use of symbols, vocabulary, and actions. Communication improves the ability of individuals to create meaning for one another. It provides a forum for people to share thoughts and express themselves. Both interpersonal relationships depend on contact to survive. Any fundamental communication principles are medium, post, input, voice, and listener. The speaker is the one who conveys information; the message is the information that is conveyed. The medium is the channel by which data is transmitted; examples of mediums include the internet, internet, face-to-face, and television. The listener receives the conveyed information and responds with feedback. Communication is incomplete if the listener fails to give the input.

The study seeks to establish the differences in communication styles and strategies, both in professional and social media platforms in past decade. The paper starts with an introduction that defines some terms, for example, our understanding of communication styles and strategies, professional environment and social media. Further, the study argues the difference in each of the communication strategy and style both in a professional and social media environment.

Introduction.

Professional communication is the conveying of information in a professional environment. It incorporates oral, written, graphics and digital interface. Professional communication defers regarding the field of professionalism. For example, Therapeutic communication applied in the healthcare professions is facilitative, aiming at a specific objective. The understanding of professional communication can be enriched by research conducted by the professionals because they are insiders in their profession.

Social media are computer-facilitated technologies that enable the formation and sharing of information, career interest, thoughts and other customs of expressions through virtual networks and societies. Example of social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, Whatsapp, and Instagram. As cited by Ashley & Tuten (2015), All social media platforms are interactive, user-generated contents and connect on online social networks. The fundamental principle of social media is the capability to share materials with others. To upload contents, users are required to register and create a profile. Depending on the platform and reason for its creation, users are allowed to select whether their entire profile or particular content will be publicly available or only visible to specific audiences. Types of material might be brief status updates, links, images, longer script pieces, audio or video records, publications or resume-linked items.

Communication Strategies.

Non-Verbal Communication Strategies.

Communication strategies are the outlines on how to exchange info. It is of the essence for people to take into account how they communicate. Communication strategies can be visual, verbal or non-verbal. Professional environment incorporates all the approach to achieve the most success. Examples of non-verbal communications are body movements and posture, timing and place, gestures, touch, eye contact, loudness or softness and tone of voice. According to Adler, Rodman & DuPré (2016), Failure to efficiently use non- verbal communication, there is the danger of miscommunication. Most effective human resource managers are experts at analyzing and understanding the non-verbal language in the course of the interview. The better we advance at understanding our body language and that of others, the better we can get at communicating with others. Social media platforms are undoubtedly the easy way to connect with people from all walks of life. Due to its lack of non-verbal cues, messages might face misunderstanding, as we only read comments and posts. The fact that social media is crosswise regional and international boundaries, it complicates matters. The 21st-century people, type twitter texts in abbreviation, write a brief commentary on Facebook and use emojis. Therefore, missing the facial languages on the digital platform.

Verbal Communication Strategy.

Verbal communication is the sharing of info amongst individuals using speech. Sounds and words used in contrast to using mannerism and signs. It has oral and written categories. Written approaches comprise of avenues such as text, chat, and email. Example of the oral class is video chats, face to face conversations and phone calls. Individuals in a professional environment employ verbal communication as it engages freely understood spoken words. Email is the most extensively used professional communication tool, though not the best. A good number of emails sent every day. Jumbled email inboxes increase demand on people’s time. In official surroundings, email remains useful as it aids one to convey emails to members minus dragging them out of their workplaces. Effective oral communication is reliant on several factors which cannot be entirely secluded from other interpersonal abilities, mainly non- verbal communication. Effective listening involves active listening where the listener is not distracted by what he will say next but listens to understand the message to offer feedback. Societal technologies have removed the obstacles of space and time, permitting us to network 24/7 with more people. But like any revolutionary idea, it has generated a set of new hurdles and threats. Is the emphasis now on message quantity or quality? Media can make us anti-social. For it to be instrumental, all parties must be accurate, genuine and human. In a professional environment, social media has overtaken face to face communication due to the geographic dispersal of business and absence of ease with old-style interpersonal communication among a growing section of our worker population, due to generational gaps as cited by Ashley & Tuten (2015).

Visual Communication strategy.

Visual communication is the broadcast of ideas using symbols and imagery. It is one of the ancient ways of communication. It is alleged to be the style that people rely on at large. It includes signs, films, typography, web pages, graphic designs and illustrations.in a professional environment, visuals are placed at a strategic position, to attract attention and provide documentation. Specific visuals in the workplaces deal with safety laws. Also, they give room for better understanding. Professionals make use of PowerPoint presentations in training. Social platforms make use of visuals. Visuals are an essential fragment of content making. Most bloggers make use of graphs and best designer photos to break down the copy of blog sections. Social media is an efficient way to advertise your content. You research hashtags and the appropriate time to share posts as well as engage with your followers so that they will be willing to share your content with others. As suggested by Adler, Rodman & DuPré (2016), A billion hours are spent on youtube every day. According to Cisco, by 2020, 80% of all user traffic will be video. 91% of buyers choose interactive and visual content above text-based and static media.

Communication Styles.

In addition to communication strategies that happen in an organization, each has his communication style. Majority of the organizations give a test during interviews that may indicate their candidates’ method, offering them information on the best job fit. Our communication styles are significant as they determine how well we communicate with others. Our personality types are directly proportional to our communication styles. We can always change our method depending on the situation, given that we apprehend our communication style. The techniques are passive, assertive and aggressive.

Passive Communication Style.

Passive communicators often hide their feeling from others. Their goal is to elude fights from others. Rather than risk causing some upset, they will escape expressing their sentiments and agree with those of others instead. If a passive communicator chooses to raise an opinion, it will be quietly, and they are unlikely to support it very actively. Passive communicators avoid eye contact. There are significant drawbacks with the inability to stand for oneself as may blow up due to the inbuilt pressure of always conceding with other people’s opinions. Passive communicators are doubtful to do an extraordinary job to be singled out. In a professional environment, passive communicators have an unsatisfying relationship, are selfish, the volcanic build-up of pressure and irritate others. Social media encourages passive communicators, as it offers them a platform to propel their message across, and yet not directly to the person involved. Thus, ignored.

Aggressive Communication Style

On the other hand, an aggressive communicator stands up for his rights, while probably violating the rights of others. This person doesn’t care about others opinion. They are overly concerned about their ideas recognized that they regularly do so at the cost of others. They look at every situation as a battle they must win. This type of communication comprises the use of loud voice and may frequently appear to be quite angry. They do this to scare others, and threatening eye contact. An aggressive communicator can go so far as verbally mistreat others. This style does little to nurture any healthy relationship. In a professional environment, this results in the absence of respect and trust from co-workers and customers. In a social media environment, it only affects the teens who turn out to be more aggressive as a consequence of exposure to dangerous games and television packages.

Assertive Communicatin Style.

Lastly, a communicator who is assertive respects his rights and the rights of others when conveying information. It is the most effective style of communication. The person tends to be straightforward but not offensive. He defends his rights but makes sure the moralities of others aren’t affected. They can poise a reverence for themselves, with an admiration for others. Some of the tactics used by these communicators embrace things like using a perfect tone of voice, calm, relating with others, avoid influence, good eye contact and be self-controlled. Those around them respect them. In a professional environment, assertive communicators nurture progress as everyone involved can share their ideas and beliefs. They also dodge emotional upsurge that is predominant with other types of communication. Individual using social media platforms are encouraged to be assertive, as it will foster good relations. Assertiveness permits us to take care of ourselves and is essential for proper psychological health and healthy relationships.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, both communication strategies and styles are essential for proper communication. In the past decade, several strategies and styles have been used both in a professional environment and social environment. Advancement in technology in past decade had played a pivotal role on how people express themselves both in professional and social media platforms.

References.

Adler, R., Rodman, G. R., & DuPré, A. (2016). Understanding human communication. Oxford University Press.

Ashley, C., & Tuten, T. (2015). Creative strategies in social media marketing: An exploratory study of branded social content and consumer engagement. Psychology & Marketing, 32(1), 15-27.