Communication is among the key tools that enhance human interactions. However, for communication to be effective, it needs to incorporate various principles. Openness and respect are among these. When engaging others, it is critical for individuals to demonstrate respect and be clear about how they feel and their views on an issue. In situations where individuals are disrespectful and too frightened to be open, it can be expected that communication will break down. While it usually has an enriching impact, communication can also be destructive. Lashing out is one of the manifestations of destructive communication, and if not addressed, can have devastating impacts.
The film the 33 captures the essence and importance of effective communication. This film presents the experiences of 33 miners who became trapped in a collapsed mine. Through collaboration, the men managed to elevate their spirits until they were rescued. While the focus of this film is the triumph of the human spirit, it also sheds light on destructive communication. There is a scene in the film where one of the miners lashes out unexpectedly at others after growing frustrated with the slow pace of recovery efforts. This scene echoes an incident that I witnessed at my workplace recently. Essentially, lashing out involves an angry and usually loud response that takes the form of an attack. Such scholars as Mueller (2011) have identified lashing out as among the challenges that plague communication in the workplace. The workplace incident occurred when our boss held a meeting to discuss the low sales volume that the company had reported for a few months. The meeting began with our boss highlighting the importance of each employee investing all their effort and commitment to driving the company’s sales. However, as he grew frustrated, he began to lash out. He condemned the sales team for not doing enough before turning his attention on the human resource division for hiring incompetent “fools”. Virtually no one escaped the insults.
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The impact of lashing out and other destructive behaviors have been explored extensively in literature focusing on communication issues. For example, in her article McKee (2015) attempts to explain the source of lashing out. She blames this behavior on poor management of anger and notes that it can create a disruptive and tense workplace atmosphere. I can confirm that lashing out unexpected is indeed destructive. Everyone responded to the improper conduct that our boss demonstrated with shock and fear. The shock was because this behavior was unprecedented while the fear was inspired by concern that the boss would fire those he believed to be responsible for the poor sales that had plagued the company for months. I find that our response was natural and acceptable.
One of the main objectives of this course is to challenge learners to apply effective strategies to tackling destructive communication. As already stated, I found our reaction to the unexpected lashing out by our boss to be acceptable. However, I feel that there are some measures that we could have taken to lower the tension and encourage the adoption of positive communication strategies. In the film the 33, the miners established strong bonds that were based on love and trust as they attempted to resolve the communication issues that they faced. I would embrace a similar approach when confronted with the situation that occurred at my workplace. Instead of responding with shock, I would react with understanding. Frustration and stress are among the leading causes of anger in the workplace (McKee, 2017). When these issues are not addressed, the workplace can become toxic. Now I recognize the importance of showing compassion and empathy when my boss lashes out. I would challenge others who encounter a similar situation to adopt this approach. They should help those who lash out to deal with the sources of their anger. It could be that the individual is overwhelmed by the demands of their job and they desperately need understanding and support.
References
McKee, A. (2015). Don’t let your stressed out boss stress you out. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved March 2, 2019 from https://hbr.org/2015/09/dont-let-your-stressed-out-boss-stress-you-out
McKee, A. (2017). A 3-step process to break a cycle of frustration, stress, and fighting at work . Harvard Business Review . Retrieved March 3, 2019 from https://hbr.org/2017/07/a-3-step-process-to-break-a-cycle-of-frustration-stress-and-fighting-at-work
Mueller,K. (2011). Communication from the inside out: strategies for the engaged professional. F.A. Davis.
