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1) How can you use the \"Arc of Distortion\" and \"Johari Window\" concepts to h

ID: 424458 • Letter: 1

Question

1) How can you use the "Arc of Distortion" and "Johari Window" concepts to help you improve your, and other's, communication on the job or elsewhere? Can you use these concepts to gain yourself a political advantage at work?

2) What barriers to communication exist in your company (or group/team that you may be a member of? What effects do they have? What can be done to eliminate them?

3) Describe your company's (or group, team or club's) communication climate. Is it more supportive or more defensive? What is your emotional and behavioral reaction to the type of climate you work in? How can this climate be improved?

Explanation / Answer

" Arc of Distortion" and " Johari Window" concepts helps in eliminating the communication gaps which occurs while interacting with peers. Arc of distortion implies that the message given is wrongly interpreted. Johari Window gives an idea about one's personality, how it is viewed by self, how it is viewed by others and what aspects are hidden from self and others.

With reference to Johari Window, a salesperson may find demotivated if a client or customer's does not reacts positively to the product. But instead the salesperson should try to understand the reason behing doing so. It may be that the client is not having the means or time to avail the product or service or they do not properly understand the significance of the product or service. In business, it is important that the peers and partners at work are treated as stakeholders with common interests. Their concerns and interests should be addressed accordingly for fruitful relationships. Political advantage at work cannot be gained for a long term as we should never underestimate the capabilities of any of the colleagues and when we do not like that someone should take our advantage. If it is in the interest of the business, political advantage can be taken under certain circumstances and not as a standard approach.

2. The barriers of communication existing in my company is of language as many of them are not accustomed to using business language and do not consider it important . The effect it has is that it creates a difference in approach in the team. It may apparently show a lack of professionalism and a casual approach to work. It can be eliminated by giving proper training and exposure and being flexible as per the need of the situation.

3.My company's communication climate is defensive. The emotional and behavioral reaction is to be task oriented and objectve in the approach. Since it is a small company and each employee copes with lot of work as well as lack of defined work systems, it is important to be clear in communication and focus on the work at hand so that better response is encouraged. The climate can be improved by building confidence in the team and understand the reason behind a particular reaction or behavior. If the objectives are clear and there are common goals it can help in improving and focussing on relevant things.