The Importance of Receivers

There is an old joke that has been floating around higher education circles for years where one administrator says to another: "If it weren't for the students, things here would go so much smoother." Of course, the joke is found in the reality that without those students there would be no university and the administrators would be out of a job. The truth is the administrators need the students and they would be the first to admit it. (And those indispensable students need the administrators as well.) Still, this is not to say their relationship is not without its share of bumps, conflicts and levels of discontent.


The same holds true in communication involving multiple participants. If one were to communicate without the reaction or even presence of another, then there would be no chance of a misunderstanding or disagreement. A person could put forth their message in any way they liked without fear of contradiction or disrespect. Obviously, though, that receiver or other person very much needs to be part of the mix or whatever is being communicated will not be experienced or, in a deeper sense, exist. The two people, then, need each other or there will be no communication. It is a reality that is also a mixed blessing. 


People attempting to communicate with others represents a unique dynamic. Those on the receiving end can help inspire and bring out the best in those doing the speaking or message-sending. At the same time, they can also bring out the worst. Technically, communicating without receivers would be so much easier. Yet, without them, there would not be any communication. Without question, receivers at times challenge, criticize and make life harder for those attempting to communicate or share some type of information. But they also force and perhaps even inspire the senders to be the best they can be in how and what they strive to communicate.