Communication climate is a key to positive relationship
The definition of communication climate is, according to Adler, "the emotional tone of the relationship." This is not directly related to what is performed during the communication process, but rather how this specific activity is performed. Let's imagine an example - a recent SF Giant game here in San-Francisco. Rules stay the same, a field size is the same; but we clearly can imagine a game which being played in its native city will be cheered and supported in all the ways possible by its fans, who wear its colors and scream words of admiration. If SF Giants play far away, at its competitors field, the cloud would be different, supporting mostly another team and the whole emotional tone might be hostile and difficult to handle. Therefore, fans who support the Giants and help them to perform well on the one hand, and the team appreciating its fans on the other hand, are two parties who create a positive communication climate at the field which maintain strong and positive fans-team relationships. This is an example of communication between groups; same rules are applied to individual contacts.
communication climate in the office and workspace
We intuitively understand how important emotional climate is in the personal relationship. However, communication atmosphere at the job may be as important as well. People spend many hours at their work places every day, and how they are treated by other coworkers and bosses may significantly influence their motivations and overall job satisfaction.
One factor which plays a very important role in work environment is praise and encouragement. This factor varies - from promotions and awards to small but still important things such as, words of appreciation, thankfulness, recognition of efforts.
Another factor is open communication. Everyone appreciates honest discussions, fair decisions made on grounds of a transparent policy, and simple open doors. As an example, in the last decade or two the work space has been restructured from small rooms with a few workers to cubicles or other individual work stations in one large open room. This creates an impression of "one-big team-where-we-work-together." Large corporations know that an intangible thing such as, feeling appreciated, or feeling part of a team creates a positive emotional climate, which in theory saves the company "millions" by increasing employees motivation and enthusiasm.
The great example we see in Wolf Of Wall Street. The strong motivation and expectation allowed Jordan to create his empire. "It's because I believe in you, Kimmy, like I believe in each of you", says Jordan. Kimmy cries because she can't control her emotions and memories of how kind and supportive Jordan was; she says with tears of happiness in her eyes, "I f- love you, Jordan!" "I f- love you too!" - Jordan responds. Obviously, the emotional climate in this company is highly favorable for developing the outstanding interpersonal communications and connections which are as strong and intense as in a real family. At some point Jordan is loved more by his employees, than by his own family. He created an unusually motivational emotional climate which allowed his company to become one of the most successful companies.
One factor which plays a very important role in work environment is praise and encouragement. This factor varies - from promotions and awards to small but still important things such as, words of appreciation, thankfulness, recognition of efforts.
Another factor is open communication. Everyone appreciates honest discussions, fair decisions made on grounds of a transparent policy, and simple open doors. As an example, in the last decade or two the work space has been restructured from small rooms with a few workers to cubicles or other individual work stations in one large open room. This creates an impression of "one-big team-where-we-work-together." Large corporations know that an intangible thing such as, feeling appreciated, or feeling part of a team creates a positive emotional climate, which in theory saves the company "millions" by increasing employees motivation and enthusiasm.
The great example we see in Wolf Of Wall Street. The strong motivation and expectation allowed Jordan to create his empire. "It's because I believe in you, Kimmy, like I believe in each of you", says Jordan. Kimmy cries because she can't control her emotions and memories of how kind and supportive Jordan was; she says with tears of happiness in her eyes, "I f- love you, Jordan!" "I f- love you too!" - Jordan responds. Obviously, the emotional climate in this company is highly favorable for developing the outstanding interpersonal communications and connections which are as strong and intense as in a real family. At some point Jordan is loved more by his employees, than by his own family. He created an unusually motivational emotional climate which allowed his company to become one of the most successful companies.
The opposite style, where insults and threats are widely used, may not be that productive. We can watch an example of this violent treatment in . Body Language and face of a salesman named John, which was abused by his boss (Al Pacino character), demonstrate his natural (hidden though) frustration and the total lack of enthusiasm because he is being insulted in such a horrible way. Communication climate in this company is so negative that is can actually hurt someone's emotional (and later physical) health.
how communication climate develops
After the communication was established between two people, it begins to develop further. Relational emotional climate instantly appears and presents from the very beginning of any communication. It is formed mostly by non-verbal acts, such as voice tone, length of eye contact, smile, touches etc. This emotional environment grows on its own in self-perpetuating spiral which is a "reciprocating communication pattern in which each person's message reinforces the other's."(Adler & Proctor, 2011, 345.)
Positive and negative spirals are similar in their nature, as they are both based on a principle which is well-known in science and called "positive feedback" - a process in which an initial change causes an additional change in the same direction, or we may define it as "a feedback in which the system responds to the perturbation in the same direction as the perturbation." (http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Positive_feedback). So, positive grows in positive direction, and vice versa. Also, spirals in relationships may go in cycles depending on what phase of relationship is active.
In positive spiral, partners confirm each other, more and more each time. One person being confirming makes another person even more confirming, and so on.
On this picture we see an example of such mutual support and confirmation actions. We see an older couple. They carefully support each other; we can't even see who is more supportive. Their body language is synchronized; they step out with same legs. We assume it it their way of creating successful long-term relationship. This is a Positive spiral.
Positive and negative spirals are similar in their nature, as they are both based on a principle which is well-known in science and called "positive feedback" - a process in which an initial change causes an additional change in the same direction, or we may define it as "a feedback in which the system responds to the perturbation in the same direction as the perturbation." (http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Positive_feedback). So, positive grows in positive direction, and vice versa. Also, spirals in relationships may go in cycles depending on what phase of relationship is active.
In positive spiral, partners confirm each other, more and more each time. One person being confirming makes another person even more confirming, and so on.
On this picture we see an example of such mutual support and confirmation actions. We see an older couple. They carefully support each other; we can't even see who is more supportive. Their body language is synchronized; they step out with same legs. We assume it it their way of creating successful long-term relationship. This is a Positive spiral.
Negative spiral may be as strong as positive spiral. However it leaves partners in worse emotional state after each communicative act. As we can see in a following example, such a negative spiral pattern presents in a scene in Parenthood, when Juile's mom accidentally picks up a packet of photo images with sexual content, belonging to her daughter Julie and her boyfriend. Helen confronts Julie. An argument progress by negative spiral, confrontation level increases quickly and finally the daughter packs her bags and rushes out of the house because she she is highly frustrated and angry.
Escalatory conflict spirals, as we can see in this scene, may quickly lead from one comment to another and eventually to a full fight or battle.
De-escalatory conflict spiral when managed properly by using a peace-making word or action may switch the negative to the positive one, but sometimes de-escalatory conflict spiral also may have negative consequences, if instead of being turned into a positive one it simply goes down in intensity, but its malignant nature stays the same. Partners may minimize their contact with each other, become ignorant and withdrawn and emotional climate keeps getting worse over time.
In the following scenes we see several examples of de-escalatory conflict spiral. For instance, a nurse in an emergency room approaches an angry patient, gives him supportive touch, appreciate his patience and honestly admits that waiting time may be longer as they are heavily loaded with a lot of emergencies. The patient's frustration goes down. In this video there are more examples of how the theory of de-escalatory conflict spiral can be successfully applied to different situations to minimize the conflict.
De-escalatory conflict spiral when managed properly by using a peace-making word or action may switch the negative to the positive one, but sometimes de-escalatory conflict spiral also may have negative consequences, if instead of being turned into a positive one it simply goes down in intensity, but its malignant nature stays the same. Partners may minimize their contact with each other, become ignorant and withdrawn and emotional climate keeps getting worse over time.
In the following scenes we see several examples of de-escalatory conflict spiral. For instance, a nurse in an emergency room approaches an angry patient, gives him supportive touch, appreciate his patience and honestly admits that waiting time may be longer as they are heavily loaded with a lot of emergencies. The patient's frustration goes down. In this video there are more examples of how the theory of de-escalatory conflict spiral can be successfully applied to different situations to minimize the conflict.