I find the article Communications in the Workplace has a lot of overlap to what I have experienced
in the workplace. I have had many situations in which language is needed to relate towards others.
When I started working at the company, I was a process engineer. With that job came the
responsibility of creating documents for the process. One of the key components to this was
ensuring that all operators were able to read and understand the document to know the process.
The company employees a wide variety of people and some of which English is not their primary
language. So not only did I have to make sure scientific terms were not used or fully explained if
they were but I also had to utilize language that was easily understood. This plays directly into the
language and jargon discussed in Communications in the Workplace (Wien claw, 2021). Another
area that I drew from the article was when talking to others not to keep things ambiguous and to
say what you mean as well as people viewing things differently and being impacted in different
ways (Wien claw, 2021). I do this very often when dealing with employees as I often deliver bad
news of disciplinary actions very straightforward but also find something good that they are doing
as well. I find that this allows me to say what is needed but also keeps the employees moral up in
the process. It is always hard to hear negative feedback which is why the positivity can go along
way when delivering the news. In my own experience as a firefighter, I have encountered similar
instances of miscommunication between the Police and Fire departments during large-scale
incidents, which aligns with the concepts discussed in the article "Communications in the
Workplace" by Ruth A. Wien claw. One of the barriers to effective communication in this scenario
was the different perceptions of the situation. As we (Fire department) took control of the scene
and initiated the evacuation process, we began informing the residents about the need to clear out
due to the structural hazards. However, when the Police arrived, there was a lack of coordination
and communication with our command. This difference in perception led to the police officer
relaying information that we already had, resulting in frustration on their part. This highlights the
importance of aligning perspectives and establishing clear lines of communication to avoid
duplication of efforts and misunderstandings.
To address these communication challenges, it is essential for the Police and Fire departments to
establish clear lines of command, coordinate our actions, and actively engage in effective
communication practices. Regular training exercises that involve interdepartmental communication
can help bridge gaps and improve coordination between teams. Additionally, fostering a culture of
open communication, active listening, and understanding of different perspectives can enhance
collaboration and avoid misunderstandings. In summary, my workplace experience of
miscommunication between the Police and Fire departments aligns with the concepts presented in
the article. It highlights the barriers to effective communication, such as different perceptions,
language, and ambiguity. By recognizing these barriers and applying effective communication
strategies, organizations can improve interdepartmental coordination, avoid duplication of efforts,
and ensure the safety of all individuals involved in emergency response situations. The Article for
this discussion, “Communications in the Workplace” by Ruth A. Wienclaw (2021), mentions body
language as a nonverbal way to communicate. a A few years ago, I worked part time in a very small
CPA firm. a I had known the owner and one of the employees and they approached me with the job
offer in February. a It was my first job after staying home with my kids for over a decade, so I knew
there was going to be a big learning curve. During my zoom interview, I was very up front with
needing a lot of training. a I asked the owner if he really wanted to train someone during tax season.
I could tell from the surprised look on his face that the thought had not occurred to him. a There
was a long pause as he contemplated it, but then he stated that after tax season we would have
plenty of time to sit down and get me up to speed. a He explained to me that I would start learning
at the reception desk so I could see how they scanned in the client documents and get comfortable
with how everything was electronically stored. a After a week of two, I would move on and do the
accounting for the clients. a The plan was after a year I would take over the accounting side of the
business and he would hand off the tax side to his tax manager. a When I started, I worked with the
receptionist who was also the office manager. a She had been running the office for so long time. a
Because she ran it all on her own, she did not have documented procedures. a All of my training was
communicated verbally. a She actually asked me to create a training manual while I was learning all
of the office tasks. a From my perspective, I did not think it was a good idea. a Why would you ask the
newest person to create the office training documents? I did not think that was the most efficient
way to handle that task. a Unique perspectives “helps determine how an individual will react to
what the other person says or does” (Wienclaw, 2021) There were several other
miscommunications and after about four months I began to feel uncomfortable working there. a In
the end, the tax side of the business grew and that was the year of snowmageddon here in Texas. a
Due to the storm the IRS extended the tax due date for Texas residents until June. a So, the owner
did not have the time to sit and train me like he’d planned. a Due to covid they lost some accounting
clients. a There was also an unsuccessful marketing plan to attract more accounting clients. a The
owner and I sat down and we discussed what his original plan for me was versus the reality. a We
agreed that staying there might actually hold me back from the immediate goals I was working
towards. a I appreciated his honesty and that he cared enough to discuss the fact that what he
planned did not work out due some events out of his control. So, we parted ways.
References:
Wien claw, R.A. (2021) Communications in the Workplace. Salem Press Encyclopedia. https://eds-s-
ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=8eb0d7c6-f7be-4930-b194-
5a93ba92d87d%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=891635
89&db=ers
Wienclaw, R. A. (2021). Communications in the Workplace. Salem Press Encyclopedia.
