Wood (2015) describes communication competency as the appropriateness of a communication process. The description implies that a competent communication process is one which is adapted to particular circumstances. According to her, a competent communication is one which applies a variety of communication skills, tailored to the situation, engages a dual perspective, monitored and committed to the ethics of interpersonal communication. On the other hand, Overton and Lowry (2013) emphasize the importance of cultivating self-awareness of the possible emotional and physical reactions in conflicts. The two articles demonstrate that the magnitude and the circumstances of a conflict determine the suitability of either passive or aggressive communication.
Wood identifies as an aspect that should influence how, when and what is to be communicated. According to her, skilled communication can compensate for the absence nonverbal cues, since it adds expressions of. For effective communications, Julia recommends that a communicator has to consider the dual perspective of the situation, monitor their communications, and commit to the ethical and effective communication process. According to Julia Wood, moral aspect entails communicating ethically with other people as important human beings (Wood, 2015). The recommendations imply that individuals have to treat each other as members of the same group and respond to each other as unique beings. Julia's recommendations call for some degree of compromise in a conflict resolution collaborative communication approach.
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Overton and Lowry identify communication breakdown as the principal source of conflict. According to them, poor communication skills further complicates conflicts. They, however, illustrate how effective communication approaches quicken the process of conflict resolution. They outline avoidance, collaboration accommodation, compromise, and competition as the most common responses to conflict (Overton and Lowry, 2013). When arranged, these strategies can form a continuum ranging from passive to aggressive strategies. In this regards, the most passive approach is avoidance, whereas competition is the most aggressive approach.
The two define passive communication as allowing to be stepped on; assertive as a communication approach where both parties are protected; and Aggressive communication as the strategies where individuals step on others. Julia's principles of competent communication can be helpful in selecting the most suitable strategy within the communication continuum. The two describes avoidance as silence or as the decision not deal and engage with the problem (Overton and Lowry, 2013). Based on their illustrations, avoidance can be prudent in handling minor problems, where other stakeholders can better manage the problem or as a provisional response in instances where emotions are too high.
Overton and Lowry (2013) describe Competition as the use of forcing and uncooperative communicative force in conflict resolution. In such an instance, the other party’s views are not considered in the conflict resolution process. Lowry and his colleague view competition as an appropriate communication approach in dealing with unpopular and unimportant problems. Assertive approaches lie in the middle of the communication continuum. Such approaches consider the interests of all concerned individuals. Assertive approaches include accommodation, compromise, and cooperation. Whereas compromise and accommodation lie closer to passive communication strategies in the continuum respectively, collaborative communication is the ideal assertive communication strategies. The two maintain that individuals who respond to conflicts by accommodating others let other people have their interests met. They view accommodation as a wrong approach to conflict resolution unless a person figures out that they are in the wrong or if the benefit of harmony is above that of the conflict.
In summary, collaborative communication involves considering the interests of all the parties involved. According to Overton and Lowry, the most suitable problem-solving approach to conflict resolution would involve both compromise and collaboration. However, they emphasize the need to analyze the situation as the suitability of a communicative approach to managing conflict is dependent on the nature of the problem. Overton and Lowry's recommendations agree with Julia’s idea of communication competency.
References
Overton, A. R., & Lowry, A. C. (2013). Conflict Management: difficult conversations with difficult people. Clinics in colon and rectal surgery , 26 (04), 259-264.
Wood, J. T. (2015). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters . Nelson Education.
