Seven Themes of Human Relations: A Practical Overview

The Seven Themes of Human Relations

The 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, embrace change, and acknowledge our responsibility. Motivation is our ability to influence others to accomplish tasks. Trust is having faith in others, and them in you — it is the basis for all successful relationships. Self-disclosure refers to one's ability to convey ideas and opinions to oneself and others. Conflict resolution is the ability to find ways to resolve conflicts in a positive and productive manner.

Email as a Communication Tool

There are several advantages to using email. One advantage is that email allows the writer to organize thoughts properly. The communication can be reviewed multiple times, if necessary, to ensure that the message conveyed will be precisely as intended. Another advantage is that email allows for a record of the communication to be maintained. That record can then be reviewed later to help clarify messages and resolve disputes. Email is also immediate — messages are sent instantly, making it one of the fastest modes of communication available.

For the most part, email is also a secure mode of communication, and it is inexpensive, costing less than courier services and even less than telephone calls. Moreover, the ability to attach files makes email a flexible form of communication, capable of conveying ideas and concepts via multiple media. That email accomplishes all of these things makes it one of the most complete modes of communication, which is itself an advantage — substituting for email can otherwise require two or three different communication modes combined.

Strategies for Self-Motivation

There are many ways to 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, and setting extrinsic rewards for oneself can promote greater effort. A second way is to consider the intrinsic rewards. The tackling or completion of a task can itself be a strong motivator, as overcoming an obstacle yields a genuine sense of satisfaction.

A third way to motivate oneself is to seek help in completing the task. Doing so reduces the amount of work required, which can make the task seem less daunting. A fourth means is similar: break the task down into easy-to-complete components. This not only removes the obstacles associated with large, complex tasks, but the satisfaction that accrues from completing each component can serve as a powerful motivator along the way. A fifth means of motivating oneself is to remove the stress surrounding the task. Often, that stress relates more to the sheer volume of work ahead than to the work itself. Jumping right in and seeing immediate progress will help spur you on to completion.