You know how to communicate, and so do I. Actually, we’ve all been doing it since we were born, and perhaps even before that (albeit nonverbally). Have you ever wished you had communicated in a better way, because you were misunderstood? Of course you have. Learning about the process of communication, channels, media richness, barriers, etc., will go a long way toward helping you communicate more effectively. Bad communication gets us in trouble, and effective communication can help us avoid a lot of it. Pay attention, because it’s poor communication that can get you fired from your job.

Because communication is second nature to students, there is a tendency for them to think they know all about it. That overconfidence can also be the source of disappointment on exam questions dealing with this topic. It could also be due to the fact this chapter is near the middle of the book, or it’s the middle of the term - who knows. Certainly, it isn’t due to the material or concepts being too difficult to comprehend. In my experience, compared to all the other chapters, in part two of the text, this is the one chapter that seems to be most neglected by students. That’s too bad, because it isn’t difficult to grasp. You might say it’s a freebie.

Words of wisdom: Communication is arguably the single most important activity in organizations, because every other activity is dependent on it. Therefore, treat the subject matter with the respect it deserves.