During my internship at DGS I have experienced more than I ever thought possible. Going into it, I understood the gist of my duties but I had no idea the depth in which I would be working. I got to experience, first hand, working and interacting with my clients during my last week as an intern. My final project was to plan for a Congress 8 trade show, in which I actually got to fly to Florida and participate in. We flew in a day early to set up everything and get our booth looking appealing as well as functional for customers. This required a lot of communication in order to put it together smoothly and quickly because there were 30 other booths setting up during the same time. This not only made the room noisy, but we also had to figure out who would be doing what in order to make it more efficient. We had to briefly discuss who would do what to keep the talking to a minimum and the pace of the work steady.

Apart from setting up, we used communication all weekend as customers attended the congress. There were classes being taught every hour and a half, and during the break, people were allowed to walk around and enjoy what each booth had to offer. During this time I acted as a salesman and was required to interact with customers, showing off the equipment we offer as well as making connections with them so they remember our name in the future. It was a great experience and I am very greateful for the time I spent working in connecticut. Not only did I get to fully understand the back end of the website and how the company works behind the scenes. I also got to experience face-to-face interaction with our customers. It was fun to be emersed in something I am not as familiar with because everything was a learning experience. Not only did I make great connections with the people in the office, I have a lot to bring back with me to Colorado.

WEEK 2
As the weeks progress and I’m becoming more involved in the company, it’s easier to not only communicate with others, but see the relationships the employees have with one another based on their communication patterns. One thing I immediately noticed was the way in which people talk around the office. Most of the people I work around work in customer service and they are always complaining about anything that’s on their mind. Not only does it affect their attitude and how they work, it affects the energy of the room and creates a negative atmosphere. Once one person starts, one by one everyone gradually joins in. As the environment shifts in a negative direction, the way people begin to communicate with one another also becomes negative. The tone in people’s voice begins to change and communication levels decrease due to this. I’ve noticed it happen a lot between my supervisor and her boss. In the beginning of the day her responses are longer and more detailed. As the day progresses and the atmosphere has changed, her responses change as well. They no longer have any detail and are usually yes or no responses. They are said in a snappy and irritated tone and their relationship declines. They are no longer working off of each other, but rather around one another. They aren’t helping each other get things done, but instead checking up to make sure things are done. As an “outsider” it is easy to see this happening. Around lunch time people become hungry and more agitated and this is usually when the communication becomes hindered.

Apart from the negative aspects of communication in the office, I also see very good communication habits being presented as well. If I am told to go into the warehouse where the equipment is being made, there is a much different mood from the employees. They are always playing music while they work and they normally keep to themselves unless they actually need help carrying or making something. This makes for a much more positive setting and it can be seen through the rate at which they work. They are usually upbeat and more aware of each other than everyone who is working upstairs. I found this to be very interesting. It's weird how a slight change in communication within individual relationships plays a huge role in the overall well being and attitude of employees. Not only does it allow them to succeed more easily, but the whole company as well. 

WEEK 1
Before leaving for Connecticut to embark on this new journey as a marketing intern for Deary’s Gymnastics Supply, I would have never believed you if you told me I would be concerned with the communication patterns within the office. I honestly wouldn’t have believed if you told me I would be concerned with anything outside of Photoshop or Illustrator because that was the only thing I couldn’t wait to use. It’s easy for me to get lost in design, utilizing my creativity to produce advertisements and flyers that are pleasing to the eye. My first week however I realized I would be learning much more than creating effective products, but rather how to not only interact, but also operate with others while being at the “bottom of the food chain.” I realized it’s easy to just slip by in a big company, doing only what is expected of you and nothing more, without being noticed whether it’s good or bad. In a small company however, it is not quite as simple. I work in a small area with 8 desks, all separated by half walls. No click of the mouse or conversation goes unnoticed, making it easy to evaluate relationships between employees based on the demeanor of their communication. As an outsider it would be easy to see who the “head honcho” is and who has more authority than others. Communication is constantly flowing to and from them, whether they are being asked questions or giving directions, they are the one’s who can be seen communicating more frequently.

            Since DGS is a company based around supplying consumers with gymnastics equipment there are sales reps constantly on the phone, talking with customers about sales, returns, issues and concerns. Without even hearing the other side of a conversation, it’s easy to distinguish the happy customers from the not so happy based on the responses coming from this end. There is always a change in response but never a change in tone. No matter how rude or stubborn the customer may be, this is customer service and “the customer is always (usually) right.” It doesn’t matter the length of a conversation, the friendly tone never changes. However, the second the call is over the tone changes and something is bound to be said, confirming the caller was unhappy. This has also taught me that it’s not what you say, but also how you say it. Tone plays a huge role in the way people depict the meaning of what is being said. From the first week alone I’ve noticed this many times within the office and I’ve already started to critique the way I talk. I’ve realized that just because I may be in a bad mood doesn’t mean I need to bring it to work. My attitude doesn’t have to affect the way I talk to others and change the tone of everything I say. What you say and how you say it are totally different things and listening to customer service day in and day out has provided great evidence for this, even after only one week!