Communication is a tremendous aspect of everyday life. The effects of positive and negative communication are imperative to making deals, providing information, and even everyday office interaction. The way people communicate with each other defines their character, especially in an office setting. Positive communication skills are appreciated and are the basis of running a successful company. Conversely, negative communication can lead to business failure, as well as poor relationships with co-workers. Three positive methods of communication are active listening, effective speaking, and confidence. Three negative methods of communication are strong reactions, providing misleading information, and the use improper communication tools. Ari Gold displays both positive and negative communication skills as a Hollywood agent. Active listening can make or break a relationship with a client. While engaging in conversation, the listener and speaker must both participate. Eye contact and gestures must be practiced by the listener to show acknowledgement of comprehension. This allows the speaker to know whether their point is getting across. If the listener is confused, they must ask questions, ask the speaker to change the wording, or give a more detailed explanation (McKay). Ari Gold’s active listening made him the powerful businessman that he is today. Ari’s job revolves around listening to others and having an ear everywhere in Hollywood. Ari uses a pyramid system for active listening. He has employees find out information about clients, roles, and movie scripts. As this information gets passed up through the pyramid, only the most important reports make the top. This allows Ari to know what is going on at all times, as well as investigate anything of his interest if needed. Active listening plays a huge role in this scheme due to significance of information being correct by the time it reaches the top. When messages are passed through many people, they tend to become slightly altered from person to person. Ari makes sure that he is always correct, which is greatly appreciated by his clients. Ari’s active listening helps him obtain new clients and keep current clients satisfied. Effective speaking goes hand in hand with active listening. Effective speaking consists of delivering a message in a concise, well-articulated manner. Speakers must be aware of the listener to conform to their reaction. Word choice and the way a message is delivered are imperative to how a person will react to a statement. For example, delivering a bad message in an appropriate manner with positive reinforcement included is the right way. This allows the listener to not only understand the message, but to have the outlook on how it can be fixed, instead of harping on the bad news (McKay). Ari uses effective speaking to control his clients and his client’s managers. The business of an agent requires good and bad news to constantly be given to clients. Ari is very illustrated when he breaks news to clients. He does an excellent job of getting his point across. When handling bad news of a client not getting chosen for a role, he often has a back up script or role that gives clients hope about what is to come. Ari realizes the importance of actor’s careers. He knows what they like to hear and he does his best to deliver good news personally. This instills trust and gives the appearance he is working hard for them, even though it might have been one of his employees that got it done. Ari’s skills in effective communication make him a superior agent. Confidence is key to communication skills. Confidence in a conversation adds credibility to your statements. Not to be confused with arrogance, confidence can provide reassurance to employees and clients. While communicating, a confident tone can allow listeners to gain a sense of fulfillment. Listeners will find your information is valuable and truthful if conveyed in a confident manner (Anderson). Confidence can also be displayed through appearance. Looking neat provides a subliminal message that a person is well kept and has their facts straight. Ari always communicates in a confident manner. He often reassures his clients that he is the number one agent in Hollywood. This gives clients a sense of relief that they are in good hands. Ari’s confidence has given him his big name in Hollywood. In turn, allowing him to reach out and contact whoever he desires. The business of being an agent revolves around constant contacts. The business is enormous, so being well connected is what makes Ari so powerful. Strong reactions fall on the negative side of the spectrum with communication methods. When experiencing strong feelings about work, it is important to vent and express your feelings in a calm, collected manner. Blowing up at an employee or client is not professional, nor will it give a good impression. While dealing with clients or employees, patience and understanding must be expressed. Mistakes are made all of the time in the workplace. Dealing with them in a collected manner will earn respect from employees (Megan Martin). Ari has a tendency to explode and lash out at employees. Mistakes are not tolerated and usually met with termination of a job. Ari’s constant barrage of insults thrown around makes him unapproachable and feared. One specific outburst leads to the unjust firing of a mailroom employee. Ari meant to fire an employee and was met in his office by the mailroom employee. Without knowing the appearance of his employees Ari yelled at and humiliated the wrong employee in front of the whole office before firing him. This misconception is a perfect example of negative communication. If he allowed his employee to explain himself, it could have been avoided. Ari’s persona of the crazy boss can seriously hurt his business because of him being so unapproachable. If a problem or question needs to be brought to his attention, employees are nervous and not fully forthcoming to avoid scrutiny. This miscommunication can directly result in a bigger problem and is an effect of strong reactions. Providing misleading information is a horrible aspect of negative communication. It takes a toll on employees and clients alike. Giving misleading information can provide false hope for a client. Poor decisions are often made off the basis of invalid information. A domino effect often occurs from misleading information, as it is passed down through the ranks of a business. Mistakes will happen throughout the business leading to decreased productivity (Julia Forneris). Ari will provide misleading information to his clients to cover his back. He wants the clients to be under the impression that he has everything under control. This can be detrimental to relationships if his misleading were unmasked, mistrust occurs. Another problem with Ari’s method of misleading information is it gives clients false hope. Vince, who is Ari’s main client, bought a house based on the word of Ari that he had gotten the role in a movie. Ari said that he scored the lead role in Aquaman, when in fact the role was still being discussed with the director and producers. Luckily for Ari, Vince received the role and was able to pay for his house. If he had not been so lucky, it could have cost Vince his career. The use of improper communication tools is a new problem in the business world. Technology has given different ways to contact people such as videoconferences, cell phones, and emails. These convenient forms of communication are not always the right choice. Important matters should be discussed in person, so direct conversation can take place. Using the appropriate form of communication often says a lot about a business. An email is not the proper way to terminate an employee because of it is not personable. Also, some people do not check their emails daily to receive said message (Poole). Ari Gold displays this poor use of judgment due to his workload. He has fired employees via email, over the phone, and through other employees whose position does not suit them to fire co-workers. This is unjust treatment and makes employees lose respect for their employer. Ari also will make calls with news that should not be said over the phone. His blatant disregard for his employee’s well being is displayed through his carelessness. In order for a business to thrive, positive communication skills are necessary. Communication between the ranks of command must be not be hindered by misleading information or strong reactions. Employers have to recognize the importance of good communication so they can lead by example. Respect is earned with good communication and with respect comes admiration and hard work. Ari Gold exudes positive and negative aspect of communication in his career as an agent.