As you formulate your own responses, please feel free to utilize these ideas:

1. How has technology affected the relationships among individuals? Has it improved or hindered effective communication?

Technology has both improved and hindered communicative relationships among individuals. When looking at the overall picture, it is a difficult situation to assess since it depends largely upon individual contexts.

First, it has improved communication and relationships in several ways. For example, it has enhanced the speed, efficiency, and the accessibility of communication within relationships. Email, text and instant messaging provide some solid examples of how technology allows communicators to remain in constant contact despite time zone changes, language constraints, and distance barriers. Thus, the ease of communication greatly empowers these relationships due to accessibility and frequency of contact. Similarly, timely feedback is also promoted at an incredible rate. Technology also seems to have improved various intercultural aspects of communication. It has magnified diversity, making global relationships more powerful and possible with online translators, chat rooms, instant messages, online forums, email, webpages, etc.

On the other hand, technology also hinders effective communication and relationships. Much of the humanity has been erased while people rely more on text, not feelings, in certain cases. Since many people rely on emails, text and instant messages, forum and discussion boards for communication and relationship building, these modes embody an obvious lack of humanity in terms of vocal qualities (tone, intonation, volume), body language, facial expressions, etc. The distance often makes communication more ambiguous, misunderstood, and less personal. When having a face-to-face chat, speakers are more likely to share intimacy and precision of meaning. Therefore, meanings often become distorted in the more technological forms of communication. Relationships often suffer from this miscommunication.

2. How do perceptions, emotions, and language affect whether conflict is constructive or destructive?

Perceptions largely determine the type of conflict. For example, perceptions impact participants in a conflict because they regulate or even monopolize our interactions over time. For example, if we perceive someone as calm and rationale, it is easier to meditate a conflict more peacefully than if we perceive the opponent as vicious or cunning. Therefore, our values toward others, power dynamics within situations, and even implied interpersonal relationships, definitely enable better problem solving to occur peacefully. Since conflict focuses often on our perceptions of power, constructive conflict occur when discussions manage or negotiate the power dynamics and issues.

Although perceptions play a large role, I personally feel that emotions also comprise a key part of conflicts. For example, the ability to manage one's emotions in a stable, rationale manner enables people to accept and resolve conflicts in a constructive way. By keeping emotions balanced and neutral, better problem solving is achieved.

Positive emotions further allow exchanges to be open and honest, allowing the needs of both parties to be met during conflicts. By keeping emotions calm and professional, it allows nonjudgmental acts to occur, promoting more tolerance and open-mildness. We are able to be more reflective when are emotions are managed, allowing responses to be well thought, not impulsive. Constructive conflict uses emotions as vehicles to improve issues and view the struggles between parties as open, healthy and nonthreatening, whereas destructive conflict focuses on the opposite use of emotions.

Finally, there is also an obvious link between language and conflict. Just as emotions play a pivotal role, words also determine whether conflict remains broken or takes a step toward repair. To illustrate, angry words instigate destructive conflicts, serving as the weapons; whereas kind words, and often the right words for the situation, often remedy problems, causing constructive conflicts to occur. We need to have an awareness of our language in all conflict contexts as well as how we say it (tone) and how we physically present the language (body language). If we are crossing our arms and frowning when delivering messages with heated connotations, we are likely to lead to destructive conflict. Therefore, respectful language is an integral part of conflict resolution.

3. Are any special skills necessary to handle communication issues in today's workplace?

In order to handle communication issues in today's workplace, there are some special skills to consider. This area is extremely vast. I just highlighted some areas that might coincide with your course of study since I do not know which textbook you are using.

First, assertiveness is a necessary trait. It is important to be able to convey a sense of confidence regardless of the message. Another vital skill is intercultural communication since work forces are so diverse and globalized. Thus, it is extremely important to know how to communicate with tolerance and tact. It is also important to understand gender communication issues as well as other interpersonal communication skills. Greater awareness and knowledge about verbal and nonverbal behaviors also improves workplace interactions.

Since so much attention is devoted to speech, equal attention must be also attributed to effective, active, and dynamic listening within the workplace. Listening is a key area for improving workplace communication.

Again, managing conflict and effective negotiation skills are also essential. It is valuable to know how to give and receive feedback from others. It is also imperative to be about to use questioning skills effectively.

Lastly, written communication skills are also critical. Besides basic knowledge of English grammar and effective written skills, an awareness of technology and the ability to use various modes also empowers people in the work force.