Communication Theories

Communication is a vast area to study and talk about. Communication is a science within itself. There are no specific reasons people or things communicate the way they do it’s just something that is. Since Aristotle many communication theories have developed to explain why things are the way they are. Take for example the universal sign in the American world for happy, a simple smile. Throughout our culture if people show their teeth it is a sign of happiness or enjoyment. But in the animal world a smile is a threatening action that tends to lead to violence. Even within specific cultures there are ways that we communicate and act that are different. Such as having a conversation with your family differs drastically than having a conversation with your friends. And having a business conversation differs drastically than that of having a conversation with your friends and your family. Here is a website that outlines a lot of different communication theories.:
http://www.peoi.org/Courses/Coursesen/mass/mass2.html
We cannot explain why there are differences between animals, people or cultures but we can study each of these are learn why things are they way they are.
Why Theories?
The Study of communication has been a long draw out process. As stated before it can be traced back a long time into the past. As societies and countries changed so did the way people communicate. It’s interesting to see that even people in different social classes now communicate in different ways. People communicate in ways in which to separate themselves from the norm and make their kind of communication “unique.” This can be explained with an example as easy as saying “Its so last year to say that.” Some like to describe the change in communication because of the mass media and the role models that are seen on TV. But the Two Step Flow of communication theory begs to differ. http://www.ciadvertising.org/studies/student/99_spring/theory/griswold/twostep.html
This theory states that people change their communication through face to face interaction with other rather than adopting things through mass media. I totally agree with this theory because there is a lot in our communication that we communicate subconsciously through our nonverbal communication. Either way its still a theory and there is no way to prove it……

Communicating Strategically

Communication Strategy
Communication in general is the key component in success. If you can not clearly get your point across no one will ever understand the task that has to be done. In the business world coherent communication strategy is critical. There are three components of speech which are important in communication; instead of the speaker it is the organization, second instead of a person its the constituency, and the final component is the message. These components help corporate communication because they are not gearing their speech to a individual but to the whole organization. If the organization can understand the message then there is a large chance for success. This article http://www.elwayresearch.com/communication.html explains the steps needed to be a successful communicator. It explains the objectives, strategies, goals, planning, and decision making.
Different Reasons for Communicating
Companies have many reasons for communicating. A good example is when corporations announce to employees benefit packages and health benefits are changing is when communicating is very important. Employees need good reasoning for taking something away that has been the same for years. As an employer you must get the employees to understand the change and accept it with minimal controversy. If the communicating skills of a employer are not up to satisfaction there will be a lot of protest to the changes trying to be made. Communication is only successful if you get the desired response from your audience. In this article http://ezinearticles.com/?3-Reasons-Why-Communication-Training-Will-Change-Your-Life&id=652776 it gives information why communication training is so important. In life as a parent, manager, or employer.
Trust and Good will
In business it is easier to communicate with people who like you rather than those that don't. When a company lacks trust is when communication turns into a struggle. In a company trust starts from the bottom up. The communication level must be open and topics must be talked about among everyone involved. Companies with high trust levels with employees are those that take time to clearly communicate the company's business goals to employees and help them understand the vital roles they play in achieving those goals. So communication is more then just talking and responding. It is about understanding, gaining trust, planning, and goal setting. Having a strategy is what is most important in communication.

The Changing Environment of Business

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The attitudes of Americans toward U.S. corporations have never been particularly positive. Now, however, with the severe economic troubles our country is facing, these attitudes are becoming increasingly negative and severe. The most recent generation of corporations to spark the ire of Americans were Enron, Tyco, and Arthur Anderson. Now we have AIG and the U.S. automakers General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler to loathe.

These companies want our money to bail themselves out of bankruptcy while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. What makes it worse is that their CEOs are "earning" millions in salary each year and are giving millions of dollars in bonuses to their employees with their bailout money. And they wonder why Americans' attitudes are so negative.

You've Gotta Roll With the Changes

With the volatile nature of business, corporations need to be willing and able to make changes to keep up with both their competition and their constituents. To do this, they need to remain true to their mission and values while not forming the reputation of being sellouts. This is a fine line that will be tiptoed along, but it is an important aspect of change that MUST be mastered. This is an ongoing process that needs to be constantly reevaluated; those companies that are resistant to change or think "This doesn't concern us" will feel the negative effects of playing possum.

Art Imitating Life

The "factional" accounts of U.S. corporations aren't likely to go out of style any time soon. The seed was planted with dramas like The China Syndrome, Erin Brockovitch, and Wall Street. Comedies like Trading Places also showcased the negative aspects of the business world. Now we have farcical films like Thank You for Smoking poking fun at the tobacco industry. Until some sort of good news about big business comes to surface, this trend of negative portrayals of corporate business will continue.