Communication in the Workplace
Submitted by Chase Roberts
Salt Lake Community College
COMM 1010-049
March 4, 2012
Overview
Of course everyone has communication issues that they would like to improve,
nobody is perfect when it comes to communication. One specific issue I have is taking
direction at work. I feel like I am a good employee and I try very hard at my job every
day. Sometimes when being told to do something by my boss, I feel like I ask for too
much information about the task at hand. I often ask about every little detail of what my
boss wants me to do, rather than just doing it. I feel like this holds me back in a way, but
in some ways it also helps me. Because of this habit I am very good at what I do,
however, if I were not so insistent on receiving specific instructions about every little
thing I might have been given a promotion by now having been in the same job for five
years. I get the feeling sometimes that my bosses think I could not be a supervisor
because I could not be the one giving the instructions that people like me often need,
which may be true in some ways. I need to work on my skills when it comes to taking
direction at work. I am sure my bosses would rather me just complete the task they ask
of me without always needing such specific instructions. I need to be more confident in
my ability to complete tasks at work without asking about every small detail.
Description of the Problem
Taking direction from your boss in the workplace is probably the most important
factor in being a good employee. I always do what I am told to do at work without
complaining, my problem is completing tasks when I am not completely positive about
what exactly I am supposed to do. I always get the job done correctly, but I am sure my
boss at times feels like he has to walk me through things. I have been at my work for
such a long time that I often know the answer to the questions I am asking, yet I ask to
make sure anyways. Because of my longevity with the company and knowledge of how
to do the job correctly, I often help to train new employees and basically lead a team of
fellow employees. I believe if my bosses didn’t feel like they had to discuss every little
problem with me I would be a supervisor by now, so this issue I have with
communication could be holding me back from a higher position with higher pay and
benefits. I know that there are often times when I could improvise, rather than
approaching my boss with an issue. The text says “Some problems grow worse the
longer they are discussed” (Alder & Elmhorst, p.10). I think this definitely applies to my
situation. Minor problems I encounter at work can be made worse by taking them to my
boss and discussing all of the hypothetical repercussions of the problem. If I just solved
the problem without asking them how, it would show that I am taking some initiative and
improve my relationship with my boss. I know my bosses like me and feel like I am a
good employee, however do not know if I am capable of taking on more responsibility. I
am going to put in effort to not take up as much of my boss’s time having them explain
things I already know. Another quote from the text that I think applies here is “Virtually
every organization claims to seek out upward messages, but many aren’t as open to
employee opinions as the claim. In some organizations, questioning the boss can be a
recipe for organizational suicide.” That is a bit of an extreme example. The company I
work for is not like that at all. I used it because it demonstrates my point that my boss is
probably at the very least irritated by my constant questioning, whether he makes that
known to me or not.
Resources and Constraints
As can be seen in the references I have used from the book so far, the book has
helped me to realize some of my flaws when it comes to communication. I have always
felt that I am good at my job and often wondered why I do not get the opportunity to
advance in the company. Being in this class and studying communication at work has
helped me to come to this realization that I probably ask for too much instruction or
direction at work. I thought I was just being vigilant, getting all of the details so I never
made a mistake. I now realize that my boss may prefer me taking some initiative, even if
that means I make a mistake or two along the way. I need to try and think of how he
would want me to handle the situation, rather than asking how I should handle it. One
thing holding me back is being afraid to fail or do something wrong, the book addresses
confidence many times and I think it is something I need to work on. This is strange for
me because I have always felt like a very confident person in all aspects of my life, but
now feel confidence is the only thing holding me back at work.
Recommendations
I need to become more confident in my ability at work and in my knowledge of
how to do my job. I am a good listener, but perhaps I need to get better. I need to work
on my listening skills so that I can be more certain of what I am supposed to do without
asking so many questions. The book says “You may not be able to make others listen
better, but you can boost your own ability to listen carefully to the scores of important
messages you are likely to hear every business day.”(Alder & Elmhorst p.69) If I can
learn to take more from the information that I am given, I will have to ask for more
information less often. As I have already stated, I would like to move up in my
company, if I learn to listen better and ask questions less I think a promotion is very
attainable. In the text it says “Along with advancing in their careers, good listeners report
being happier on the job, and others are more satisfied working with them.”(Alder &
Elmhorst p.71) In chapter 3 the book talks about listening styles (p.78-79), I feel that I
am an Action Oriented listener. The book describes this listening style, “Unlike peopleoriented listeners who focus on relationships, action-oriented listeners are most
concerned with the task at hand. Their main goal is to understand the facts and ideas that
are being communicated.”(Alder & Elmhorst p.79) This can obviously be a good quality;
however the text also states “Their no-nonsense approach may not be welcomed by
speakers who don’t have the skill or inclination to be clear and direct. They appear to
minimize emotional issues and concerns which may be an important part of business and
personal transactions.”(Alder & Elmhorst p.79) I feel like my approach to listening is
welcomed and accepted by my superiors, but if I want to advance I need to take more
initiative rather than focusing on the little details. I am going to work on trying to be
more of a Content Oriented listener in some ways. The text says “Content-oriented
listeners are evaluators. They want to hear details and analyze an issue from a variety of
perspectives.” Of course the book also lists drawbacks of being too much of a content
oriented listener. I think if I can combine the good qualities of these two listening styles,
I will benefit greatly. I will still strive for the important details and focus on the task at
hand, while analyzing the small problems and coming up with a solution on my own.
Summary
Ultimately, I am going to have to work on my listening skills in order in improve
my confidence and productivity at work. I want my boss to feel like I can do things on
my own and solve problems. I am going to make an effort to only ask questions I really
need to ask. I am going to do this by analyzing more and figuring out what is expected of
me without having to always be told. I am hoping that this will lead to my boss being
more confident in me taking on more responsibilities in the workplace.
Works Sited
Alder, R & J. Elmhorst. (2010). COMM 1010: SLCC Custom Edition. New York:
McGraw Hill.