Perception and Communication

Initial Perception

The first perception someone has of someone else, otherwise known as their initial perception, is based on someones assumptions about the other person. These assumptions can be based on any aspect of the other person and are often incorrect. This leads to someones initial perception being incorrect. The aspects someone chooses to judge upon vary with the situation their in. For example, if someone walked into an office environment and saw someone standing by the coffee machine in jeans and a hoodie, their initial perception may be that they don't work hard. This may be proven incorrect as they interact with each other further.

When I first started to work at the Co-operative, I had to go and complete a training day up in Oxford. At this training day was one of my colleagues who was starting in the same branch as me. When I first saw him he was sitting at a table wearing a hoody and jeans. He wasn't smiling or talking and he looked bored.

My initial perception of him was that he was dull, boring to work with and my initial perception of him told me that he wouldn't do much work. What led me to this initial perception was that he was sitting at a table with no expressions on his face. The environment also had an impact on my initial impressions of him because it was a training day, which are known for not being the most exciting places to be.

The first time I worked with him after the training day, I realised immediately that my initial perception was incorrect. He was lively, talkative and he worked hard. The initial perception I got of him was completely wrong.

Next time, before making an initial perception of someone, I will take into account the environment. If my initial perception was made in a boring or stressful environment, then it may affect the initial perception I have on someone. By taking the environment into account, I will be able to avoid making incorrect perceptions of people in the future.

Improving Communication within the University
Article: http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2010/07/how-to-improve-staff-communication.htm

After reading an article on how to improve staff communication, I have devised 3 different ways in which the University can improve communication with its students. Communication is key in any organisation. Without it, the organisation would find it difficult to operate effectively; this includes the University and its students.

The first recommendation that the article makes is to have a shared purpose. It goes on to explain that creating a shared purpose and giving people something to work towards helps set up communication within the organisation. As both the students and staff at the University already have a common goal and shared purpose then this can be used to start communication at the University.

Idea 1:
One way in which the University could improve its communication with the students is to start up a blog which can be subject specific. This blog could be used for students to ask questions to tutors publicly; allowing anyone to answer and allowing anyone with the same question to find the answer easily.

According to point 4 in the article, more and more organisations are using different media to communicate between one another. Blogging allows the staff to give out information to all the pupils within a course; allowing the students to subscribe. If the students have any questions they would be able to post directly on the blog; allowing other students with the same questions to get an answer without having to re-ask the question. This would increase communication between students and lecturers about their topics. (Clake, 2010)

These blogs would also aid communication between students. The ability to communicate with other students would benefit students and allow them to find out answers to their questions immediately without having to go directly to the lecturer.

Idea 2:
Another way of increasing communication between the University and its students would be through text alerts. These text alerts would allow the University to send messages about events within the University, inform them of term dates, and allow feedback to be sent back to the University via text message.

Point 3 in the article states that there are three main drivers to make members of an organisation engage; the opportunity to feed your views upwards, feeling well informed about what is happening in the organisation, and believing your manager is commited to the organisation. All 3 of these points can be achieved through texting. (Clake, 2010)

Allowing feedback to be sent via text to people higher up in the university would aid communication between the University and its students because it allows the students to give their feedback in a way in which suits them; texting. Also, through texting, lecturers and other people within the University can keep the students well informed about any events that may be happening.

Using texting to communicate with the students of the University broadens the University's communication methods and allows it communicate more with its students.


Idea 3:
The third way of increasing communication between the University and students is via face-to-face meeting groups which students can address any issues they have with the University, or offer their input and give ideas as to how the University can improve the service it provides.

The article talks about the need to get your leaders involved with the communication process. By having frequent meetings with the leaders of the University such as lecturers and other key members of staff, it allows the leaders of the University to have direct communication with the students; allowing them to give their feedback about the University. (Clake, 2010)

Point 5 in the article also explains that employees value face-to-face communication very highly. In this case, the students at the University are the 'employees' of the organisation. This means that by having face-to-face meeting groups, students will be able to easily communicate with staff that are higher up the organisation to get their views heard.
 (Clake, 2010)

All 3 of these ideas will help to increase the amount of communication the University has with its students; and through several different media. This will help inform the students and also let them give their input into how the University is run in the future.

Bibliography

Clake, R. (2010) How to Improve Staff Communication. 15th July.