Human relations concepts and workplace dynamics

Human Relations

Seven themes of human relations are communication, self-awareness, self-acceptance, motivation, trust, self-disclosure and conflict resolution (Reece & Brandt, 2006). These themes guide one's learning of human relations, and mastery of these concepts can allow for better personal growth and the achievement of organizational objectives. Communication refers to the means by which we convey ideas, feelings and concepts to one another. Self-awareness refers to our ability to understand ourselves, and how our behavior influences others. Self-acceptance refers to our ability to accept our nature, change and our responsibility. Motivation is our ability to influence others to accomplish tasks. Trust is having faith in others, and them in you. Trust is the basis for all successful relationships. Self-disclosure refers to your ability to convey your ideas and opinions to yourself and others. Conflict resolution is the ability to find ways to resolve conflicts in a positive and productive manner.

2. There are several advantages to using email. One advantage is that email allows the writer to organize one's thoughts properly. The communication can be reviewed, multiple times if necessary to ensure that the message conveyed will be precisely as intended. Another advantage of email is that it allows for a record of the communication to be maintained. The email can then be reviewed later to help clarify messages and resolve disputes, and cover one's backside. Email is also immediate -- emails are sent instantly. As a result, email is the fastest mode of communication possible. For the most part, email is a secure mode of communication. It is also an inexpensive mode of communication, costing less than courier services and even less than telephones. Moreover, the ability to attach files also means that email is a more flexible form of communication as well, with the ability to convey ideas and concepts via multiple media. That email accomplishes all of these things makes it one of the most complete modes of communication, which in itself is an advantage. Substituting for email can require two or three different communications modes otherwise.

3. There are many ways you can motivate yourself. One way is to consider the rewards of an undertaking. Reward is one of the strongest motivators, particularly for difficult or unpleasant tasks. Setting extrinsic rewards for oneself can promote greater effort. A second way to motivate yourself is to consider the intrinsic rewards. The tackling or completion of the task itself can be a strong motivator, as you will gain a sense of satisfaction merely from overcoming an obstacle. A third way to motivate oneself is to get help to complete the task. What this accomplishes is to reduce the amount of work that you must undertake, which can make the task seem less daunting. A fourth means of motivating oneself is similar -- break the task down into easy-to-complete components. Not only does this remove the obstacles associated with large, complex tasks, but the satisfaction that accrues from completing each component of the task can serve as a powerful motivator along the way. A fifth means of motivating oneself to complete a task is to remove the stress. Oftentimes the stress surrounding a task relates more to the amount of work that needs to be done. However, jumping right in to the task and seeing progress immediately will help to spur you on to complete the task.

4. An apology has been characterized as "a powerful means of reconciliation and restoring trust" (Wagner, no date). As such it is important that the apology contain most of the key elements of a good apology, in order that it be at its most effective. The first element of an effective apology is that it must convey an understanding of the substance and nature of the offense. This tells the listener that you understand why they are upset -- a key point of communication since the apology is necessitated by a communication breakdown in the first place. An effective apology should also include a recognition of responsibility and an acknowledgement that the words, deeds or actions caused harm to the listener. There should also be a statement of regret or a judgment about the offense committed. Lastly, an effective apology should contain a statement regarding the future intentions of the apologizer. The apology should indicate that the offensive words or deeds shall not be repeated, as to repeat such deeds or actions would constitute a further violation of trust. An apology may be successful without one of the characteristics, the best apologies will have all of these characteristics.

5. Total person insight is the understanding that when we know ourselves completely and thoroughly, we are able to contribute our most. Human relations depends on understanding each person within the organization and the wide range of means by which communication occurs between these people. Every organization needs people to be successful. Therefore, having total person insight is something that will help any organization to improve its success, by harnessing the capabilities of each person within that organization. The better an organization relates to the people within and without the organization, the better the organization will perform. This is based on the understanding that all work is conducted through relationships (Reece & Brandt, 2006). The key to building success is therefore to maximize those relationships, and build stronger ones that drive the organization towards its goals in a more direct and effective manner.

6. I agree with the total person insight by Malcolm Boyd. Boyd simply expresses the power of positivity in human relations. My experience supports what Boyd is saying and I find that positivity is an underrated component of human relations. We focus so much on understanding the different facets of human behavior, motivation and other similar subjects, yet sometimes building strong relations with other people is a much more simple process. Boyd points out that "saying thank you is a very positive thing to do." It is sometimes these simplest of gestures that build and foster strong human relations. A sense of humility goes a long way in our dealings with other people and I feel that this is something Boyd is attempting to remind us. When we let down our guard and succumb to the arrogance and indifference in ourselves, we then lose our ability to connect on a meaningful level with other people. Boyd's message is an important one for anybody wishing to improve their abilities in the field of human relations.

7. Arbitration and mediation are two similar forms of dispute resolution. Both involve the presence of a third party to help resolve differences. In both cases, this third party helps to facilitate communication between the parties. The main difference between arbitration and mediation is that the arbitrator must render a final judgment. Once the information has been gathered, the arbitrator makes a decision and imposes that decision on the two parties. By contrast, the mediator merely acts as a facilitator. After the information is gathered, the mediator works with the parties to help them come to an agreement between themselves. The mediation process is therefore more cooperative as the two parties enter into the process willingly but then they stay with the process willingly as well. In arbitration, if the parties enter into an arbitration agreement, they are bound to see the process through even if they would prefer to exit the negotiations. For that reason, arbitration is typically used to resolve the most heated disputes where common ground is relatively limited. Mediation is best used between parties where there is significant common ground, or the need to develop common ground. In such situations, there may be specific issues that need to be resolved, but overall the tenor of negotiations has been healthy.