12.1: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
Overview: Organizational Communication
Imagine an office full of robots. It would be almost silent, besides the buzzing of machines. There would be little to no errors and no sick days. There would be no wasted time on birthday celebrations in the lunchroom or checking in on coworkers’ weekend plans. The environment would be sterile, uninterrupted, and remote. Now, imagine you are a customer. You call into this office for assistance. You are given pre-determined prompts to choose from, consistently frustrated because you are not receiving the help you need. Over the years, you notice the company continues to pump out the same, traditional products, with no upgrades, modifications, or accommodations to current technology. You realize that, though perhaps seemingly easier and more advantageous to daily flow, the lack of the human element also eliminates innovation, diversity, ingenuity, and personality. Fortunately, for those of us who are employed or looking for work, most industries still hire real people with personalities—and yes, flaws. Therefore, we will look at how humans interact in the workplace. We will examine the basics of interpersonal communication at work, organizational culture, types of workplace relationships, how power and emotions show up in the workplace and explore boundaries and professionalism. By the end of this chapter, we hope to give you tools that empower you to become more successful and effective communicators at work.
Organizational communication is studied extensively in the field of Communication Studies; some universities even offer it as an independent degree. As a field of study and practice, organizational communication usually pertains to internal communications within an organization, such as messaging regarding an organization’s mission or any kind of employee training. It can also include the various types of interpersonal communication that occurs between management and employees, as well as professional communication such as emails, announcements, and company documentation. Organizational communication can also include messaging that is more external-focused, such as public relations/public release documents, marketing materials, or branding. Interpersonal communication intersects with organizational communication in many ways. However, in this chapter, we will focus specifically on the types of relationships you will encounter in the workplace and the workplace dynamics you need to be aware of as you navigate those relationships. First, to get you acquainted with this chapter, in the next section we will talk about why it is to your advantage to understand the nuances of interpersonal communication as it relates to the workplace.
Reflection Questions
- What strengths does the human element bring to communication in the workplace?
- What weaknesses does the human element bring to the workplace?
- Can you connect any of the concepts shared in your previous chapters to an interpersonal relationship at work?