28 Overview and Intention
Contents
The chapters in this module include:
- Communication and Diversity in Canadian Workplaces
- Your Interpersonal Communication Preferences
- Cross-Cultural Communication
- Conflict Resolution
Module Summary
In general, interpersonal communication is about how we respond to others in our environment. It is a core element of how we function in the workplace and in life. It is also about what others rightly or wrongly conclude about us or about what we say and do. The ability to communicate well in the workplace with people who are different is a core competency.
Interpersonal communication is a process that people use collectively to regulate and control social interactions. In these interactions, people with different communication experiences may see things in different ways. Our ability to consider these differences is vital to establishing a meaningful and productive communication exchange. This exchange requires having good interpersonal communication skills.
According to some experts and theorists, interpersonal communication can differ by its approach. A situational approach, for example, is one where communication focuses on, and is defined by, external quantitative factors such as the number of people involved in the process and their physical proximity. Another approach is developmental, which is based on qualitative factors. This approach views interpersonal communication affected by participant traits such as culture, sociological factors, and one’s own psychological attributes.This developmental approach is the main focus of this module.
Interpersonal communication happens continually throughout life and takes on many forms. Each of these forms affect our personal communication style. The following are some examples:
- What we say with words and how we say them: the words we use to convey thoughts and meaning to others, along with utterances that impart this meaning.
- What we say without words: physical behaviours, expressions, body language, and movements that take the place of words.
- Where we communicate: the physical location—such as at home, on the street, at work, in social gatherings, and online.
- Context: the condition or situation that influences our communication, such as meetings, work groups, classrooms, parties, sad or traumatic events, happy and disappointing events.
- With whom we communicate: friends, family, authority figures, people who may be different in ethnicity, culture, race, nationality, or ability.
This module addresses several of these key forms of interpersonal communication to help prepare you for the working conditions of a modern, multicultural, and diverse workplace.
Diversity in the workplace in many ways mirrors Canada’s diversity. The demographic of today’s workforce in both the public and private sector is diverse in culture, religion, gender, ability, and generation.
The key to working in such diverse settings is to understand the idea of inclusion and how to adap