Understanding Personality Perception and Communication
Perceptions of Personality
Perceptions of personality are the result of capturing, through the senses, an image, feeling, or impression of someone. This process is inherently selective. Several factors influence how we perceive personality:
- Prejudice: Judging someone before truly knowing them.
- First Impressions: The initial impression, which influences how we judge someone’s attitude over time (often called the halo effect).
- Order of Information: The sequence in which information is presented can lead to different judgments about the same person.
- Stereotypes: Commonly accepted ideas about people within a particular group.
- Expectations: We may create expectations about a person before meeting them, which we then try to confirm.
Types of Communication
A) Vertical Communication
Vertical communication occurs between officials and employees, or vice versa.
- Vertical Ascending Communication: Originates with employees and is directed to management. Through this, management learns about employee problems, ideas, and complaints. Employees, in turn, feel motivated, contributing to a positive work environment. This type of communication is less common and is often facilitated through surveys, suggestion boxes, and meetings.
- Vertical Descending Communication: Originates with management and is directed to subordinates. It’s used to motivate, coordinate, and inform workers about tasks and objectives. It is also used to give orders. This is the most common type of communication and is facilitated through letters, internal mail, meetings, and company newsletters.
B) Horizontal Communication
Horizontal communication is the transmission of information between people at the same hierarchical level, or between people at different levels who belong to different departments and do not directly depend on each other. It arises spontaneously and is often more direct and sincere, as it occurs between peers.
C) Formal and Informal Communication
- Formal Communication: The company establishes a structured communication system, taking into account the established hierarchy, rather than the personalities of employees.
- Informal Communication: Arises spontaneously from interpersonal relationships, often transcending hierarchical levels (e.g., coffee breaks, lunch, courses).
Information flows quickly through informal channels, and is not constrained by official pathways. Groups form based on shared values, ideas, and thoughts. However, informal communication can lead to rumors that distort or alter the original message. If all communication in a company is informal, it can lead to chaos and inefficiency. Conversely, if all communication is formal, it can cause bureaucratization. Therefore, both types are necessary and should complement each other.
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is communication that does not use linguistic signs to transmit a message. It provides information about the personality of the communicator. For effective communication, there should be consistency between verbal and nonverbal language. Forms of nonverbal communication include:
- Facial Expressions (winks, looks, smiles).
- Body Movement (leg position, hands, head).
- Physical Appearance (clothes, grooming).
Approaches and Techniques of Communication
Communication is not just the exchange of information; people also communicate to meet their needs. Different attitudes influence communication:
- Aggressive Attitude: Imposing one’s position, often stemming from hate, rage, or insecurity.
- Passive Attitude: Letting others decide, also stemming from hate, rage, or insecurity.
- Assertive Attitude: Defending one’s rights and interests while respecting the viewpoints of others, rooted in respect and valuing diverse perspectives.