3 Reasons Why Communication Studies Is Beneficial To Your Life

Communication studies isn’t just about talking, speech and debate, and writing. Although those things are all pieces of the larger puzzle of the academic discipline, COMM studies offers more to an individual’s life than one may initially think. It offers an array of life skills and learning opportunities. It is important to realize how COMM studies is so applicable to everyday life and how it can benefit someone in their relationships, in their interactions with new people, and in their future careers in almost any industry. In this post, I’ll provide three reasons why communication studies is beneficial to your life.

1) It Helps Your Interactions With New People

Communication studies creates meaning. One of the topics that is considered a baseline is rhetoric. Rhetoric is a buzzword used in COMM studies that makes meanings out of symbols and influences human perspectives or action in relation to a collective concern.

Having the foundational knowledge of rhetoric and having the capacity to digest social interactions based on rhetoric is influential on your future interactions. COMM studies builds upon rhetoric and semantics to craft worldly views on humans and human communication.

An example of this is used with the topic of race, gender and identity using communication. Through use of symbols, nonverbal actions and verbal communication, we see the intersections of race, gender and identity. From works of bell hooks and Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality allows for a better understanding of the complexities of individuals’ identity.

COMM studies leads you to bolster your interactions with new people you meet because you have greater knowledge on how that individual approaches the interaction, the relationship, and life. Having knowledge of the rhetorical significance of intersectionality is essential to conversations with others, as well as building new and fruitful relationships that are to come.

2) It Improves Your Interpersonal Relationships

Communication studies is reciprocal. It offers further insight into how to navigate your established relationships. Interpersonal skills serve as a large chunk of the discipline because of how vital it is to human communication. Interpersonal skills include nonverbal and verbal communication, as well as emotional intelligence and perception.

COMM studies leads to introspection because it calls for a reflection of one’s self in terms of emotional availability and maintenance. One example of introspection is learning your conflict styles before finding yourself in a conflict with someone you care about. It helps you maneuver the interaction in a productive manner, rather than acting upon present emotions and rash reasonings.

Even having the ability to reflect upon oneself is often overlooked, so having the knowledge of how impactful your interpersonal skills are helps your friendships and other relationships.

3) It Benefits Your Future Career

Communication studies is strategic. It is strategic because in some instances, there is a certain rhythm you have to follow to get to the next beat. Stemming off of the idea of social expectations budding from normalities made by humans, there are strategic ways to get your message across.

To exemplify this, there are different ways to approach negotiation and bargaining. Negotiation is a difficult process, but COMM studies leads to an easier route of understanding. Knowing specific tactics that have come from societal expectations is beneficial to your life, especially if you find yourself in a position where you must negotiate.

In terms of careers, you may have to negotiate your own job salary. Although it may seem daunting at first, reflecting and having courage to utilize your communication and negotiation skills will potentially change your life.

Communication studies as an academic discipline is very valuable to everyday life. Because it is so ingrained in every interaction you have, may people fail to acknowledge the intricacies of COMM studies. It is meaningful in that it bolsters your future interactions with others, it helps you navigate and maintain your interpersonal relationships and it also serves as a strategic tool that may help you in your future careers. I personally love communication studies and am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn so many great life skills and lessons through it. How do you use COMM studies in your lives? Comment below to let me know!