Communicating in professional

relationshipsPREPARED BY INGE SALSABILA SURYAMAN

REVEALING OURSELVES IN RELATIONSHIPS

Self- Disclosure, the act of intentionally giving others information about ourselves that we believe is true

that they don’t already have. From intimate conversations about our hope and dreams to mundane

chats about our favorite restaurant.

Benefits, self-disclosure can be good for us and for our relationships. There are four key benefits of self-disclosure, that is: enhancement of relationships and trust, reciprocity: emotional release and assistance to

others.

Risks of Self-Disclosure, like many communication behaviors, self-disclosure isn’t always a positive

action: it has both good and bad aspects. There are potential risks such as: chance of obligating others,

hurting others and violating privacy.

Why Social Relationships Matter

Imagine what life would be like without friends. Families and Romantic relationships are important to us, but our friends and acquaintances contribute

significantly to our well-being.

We Form Relationships Because We Need to Belong

Each of us is born with a drive to seek, form, maintain and protect strong relationships. To fulfill that drive, we use communication to form social bonds

with others; at work, school, or in community.

Besides fulfilling our need to belong, social relationships matter also because they bring us rewards. We’ll now look at three types of rewards, emotional, material

and health and find that they are intertwined.

Social Relationships Bring Rewards