Communication is highly perceived as an interesting topic for social, political, and economic researchers (Stipp, 2015). Nonetheless, research is lowly considered when it comes to issues pertaining to military activities because of their hierarchical and formal organization. In military setups, processes affiliated with information sharing and storage is considerably more of a topic of evaluation. This paper discusses the role of interpersonal communication in the army, highlighting on important aspects surrounding the exchange of information in a military setup, and finally provides a conclusive stand on the entire subject.
The present-day’s Operating Environment (OE) requires vibrant leadership to accomplish a myriad of limitations that organizations and soldiers must face, and in most times in unstable, tentative, complex, and volatile situations (Stipp, 2015). For instance, the commanding procedures of military activities and intelligence operations are very certain, and not comparable with any other past or existing processes. To efficiently communicate the army mission and intention in a pursuit to realize shared understanding and anticipated end state, then there is a need for setting clear and conscious guidance. Further, there should be a unanimous understanding and acknowledgment of the realism that soldiers should be accorded sufficient flexibility that will enable them to practice discipline. Understanding the way the soldiers embrace and perceive the outlines instructions is imperative to interpersonal conduct.
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Interpersonal communication and associated conduct are critically essential as they directly result in the leadership competency, and more importantly improved relations. According to the Army Doctrinal of the Army Leadership publication 6-22, the primary components that shape tact and variables include emotional aspects, diversity, stability, and self-control (Lewińska, 2016). Further, paragraphs 5-11 and 5-18 state that army leadership must be mindful of the manner of downward communication as this factor typically impacts greatly on the well-being of the subordinates. Taking a consideration of the universally accepted notion that the army is flawless in its communication operations, many individuals may argue that orderliness is huge because of their obligation to act diplomatically (Lewińska, 2016). Further, many perceive that this sense of “duty” comes with a greater aspect of empathy in a bid to show respect to their superiors. Tact in army communication remains to be a significant competency and should be continuously advanced and persistently used when exchanging information (Stipp, 2015). Nonetheless, society fails to understand that this sort of respect should be mutually accorded, recognized and must be of joint benefit.
Interpersonal communication allows for recognition of variables of diversity among categories of army personnel. By employing the skill, a leader is able to better understand different soldiers, their backgrounds, and factors that influenced their current personalities. Again paragraph 5-13 of the ADRP 6-22 points out that “it is unknown how the capabilities of people or groups will contribute to task completion” (Lewińska, 2016). In the light of employing interpersonal skills in communication, every soldier has the opportunity and the capacity to avail an extraordinary perspective which may be leveraged to successfully arrange, prepare, and accomplish an assigned assignment. The mission could be a method, idea, or even a tactic. To explain this thought profoundly, consider an army unit in which has an infantry operator from the Philippines originally. This individual also happens to speak Tagalog with fluency. In an event of a tactical questioning episode in which the person of interest happens to be speaking in Tagalog, then this soldier becomes an important component to mission execution. By employing this soldier, the unit benefits from his talents, which in reality; this communication has helped the entire team.
In conclusion, interpersonal communication is crucial in the exchange of information among peers, subordinates, superiors, and the society especially for the purposes of developing and maintaining efficient, effective, and cohesive teams. On a closer analysis, maintaining efficient interpersonal communication ascertains that involved parties thoroughly understand their responsibilities, duties, and roles especially regarding developing solutions to predicaments which are jointly beneficial.
References
Lewińska, M. (2016). The Role of Communication in Military Leadership. Journal of Corporate Responsibility and Leadership , 2 (1), 37. doi:10.12775/jcrl.2015.003
Stipp, M. A. B. (2015). Leading Soldiers with—Not Primarily through—Communication Technology. Military Review .
