Instructional Objectives for this activity:
Illustrate how a positive communication climate contributes to sustaining social, personal, and professional relationships.
Features of Satisfying Relationships:
Many people feel as Fiona does. The first year of college is a lonely time for many students who have not made new friends. Americans rely more on friends than do Russians. The same is true of new employees until them some on0the-job friendships, they are likely to feel lonely and somewhat uncomfortable. in fact, communication climate is strongly related to job satisfaction and to low turnover among employees ( Anderson, Corazzini, & Mc Daniel, 2004).
Investment:
Investments are what we put into relationships that we could mot relieve if the relation- ship were to end. When we care about another person, we invest time, energy, thought, and feelings in interaction. We may also invest martially by speeding money, giving gifts, and so forth. In workplace relationships, we also invest time, energy, though, and feeling and often give material assistance to coworkers.
Commitment:
In committed relationship, partners assume that they will continue together. Unlike passion or attraction, which arise in the present, commitment links partiers together in the future. Because partners in committed relationships view their connection as continuing, they are less likely to perceive problems and tensions as reasons to end the relationship. To increase your understanding of the difference between love and commitment, go to your Online Resources for Interpersonal Communication.
Trust:
A third cornerstone of satisfying personal relationship is a high degree of trust between partners , trust involves believing in another’s reliability (that he or she will do as promised) and emotionally relying on another to look out for our welfare and our relationship.
Confirming and Disconfirming Climates:
We first encountered philosopher Martin Buber in Chapter 2 when we discussed I- it, I – you, and I –thou relationships. Believed that all of us need confirmation to be healthy and to grow. Contemporary communication is feeling in known and validated as an individual. Relationship usually doesn’t, over abruptly from one spot on the continuum to a different spot. Usually, one level of confirmation flows into the next in a gradual easy. You might not feel very confirmed by a person you have just met. As the two of you talk and interact, the other person may communicate that he or she values you, so you begin to feel more confirmed. Over time, you move on to feeling that the relationship is basically confirming.