The average worker spends two thousand and eighty hours a year at work. Communication in the workplace is often overlooked or not given as much importance as most people should be given, given the amount of time spent there. Beyond the most basic verbal speech, you need to be aware of non-verbal symbols and noises that can have an effect on communication. There are also cultural, environmental and internal factors that can influence communication and its success. The various perceptions that an individual has developed over the course of their life can also influence communication. The ability to communicate effectively will determine the success and enjoyment you will derive from your work. There are many symbols that people encounter during communication. In a verbal exchange there are abstract and concrete symbols. A concrete symbol represents a specific object (Hybels & Weaver, 2007, p. 10). There is little room for a person to interpret a concrete symbol or to give it another meaning. If, for example, the concrete symbol is a television, there may be different types, but the word will have a common image in everyone's mind. Abstract symbols are those that represent ideas (Hybels & Weaver, 2007, p. 10). As Hybels and Weaver (2007) state, the way these words are interpreted is based on the experiences of the person interpreting them (p. 10). Take the word love; Most people will have different ideas and feelings about the meaning of the word love. When abstract words are used over concrete words in the workplace, this can allow further miscommunication or misunderstandings to occur. If a person has a very positive understanding of an abstract word, bu...... in the center of the card ......cation. It's important to be aware of all these different factors. More importantly, it is crucial to know that not all communications will end with a positive outcome and to know when you need to stop a specific communication so that there are no long-term effects of bad communication. Being a well-rounded communicator is not only vital to a successful career, but can also make all the difference in promotions and raises. Works Cited Anita Bruzzese. (2010, March 20). At work: Nonverbal cues can give you an advantage in the office. The Salt Lake Grandstand. Retrieved May 9, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1988454201).culture. (2010). In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Retrieved May 9, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultureHybels, S., & Weaver II, R.L. (2007). Communicating Effectively (8th ed.) Boston: McGraw Hill.