Communication Styles

             The task this week was rather interesting to me. I am not a fan of survey’s that has options so closely related and repeated questions that are formed differently. I like for things to be black and white for the most part and those survey’s had many gray areas. Nevertheless, I completed the survey along with my mom and close friend. It was also interesting to know that my mom and friend see my communication style differently than I see myself.

            One thing that surprised me the most was how well my family knew me, even a little more than I know myself. For listening styles we all agreed: group one – people oriented. They agree that I am empathetic and concerned with the emotions of others and that I can tend to be very trusting. The differences came about during the communication anxiety and verbal aggressiveness tests.

            For communication anxiety, they scored me at a 63 which is elevated. This means that I am uncomfortable in several communication contexts. I scored myself a 56 which means I have situational communication anxiety. My family thinks I am more nervous speaking in public. In the past I would say that this is true, but I believe I have grown a bit. Unfortunately, they have not seen me speak in a public forum in a long time. I am still nervous about speaking in public, but it does greatly depend on the situation.

            Lastly, they rated me moderate for verbal aggressiveness, while I rated myself significant. I guess that is a good thing. They believe I have a great balance between respect and consideration for others. It is nice that they have this view of me. I need to do some more self-reflecting. But, maybe the score would be different on a different day. I took the test twice and my score was slightly different each time.

            These results inform my professional and my personal life in many ways. It is important when working with children and their families that I am empathetic and understanding about their situations and circumstances. It is also important to have the ability to balance respect and consideration for others and their needs. In the field, we must always keep an open mind and a level head.

Communicating with Others

On a daily basis we speak multiple languages with the different people we interact with. Personally, I communicate differently with my family and friends than with my colleagues at work. I use a more professional language at work and at home I use a more informal language and style. I believe it all boils down to our comfort levels. When I am around people of a different culture I notice that I use more formal language and style until I am comfortable. Along with speaking a different language with different people in my life, I tend to wear a different mask as well. My family may see one side of me, while my coworkers and my students see another side. Honestly, sometimes it can get so tiresome and overwhelming. But everyone has different expectations. Such is life.

            Three strategies I can use to help me communicate more effectively with others from different groups are:

 

1. Placing myself in their shoes. Everyone has a different perspective. To be an effective communicator, I should have an understanding of the other person and how they view life in general.
2. In situations where I am not so comfortable, I can tend to be vague. I need to improve on getting to the point and being clear about my expectations and my goals of the conversation. Vagueness leads to uncertainty and confusion. Two things that I definitely want to steer clear of.
3. Lastly, I need to ask my effective questions. I am known for being very inquisitive but I do not always seem to ask the right question to get the answer I am looking for. I need to improve on my questioning skills.

Communication Skills in Actions

            This week our task was very interesting. We were asked to watch a TV show on mute and then watch it with volume. I felt as though I was watching something in a completely different language. I had to rely on the nonverbal cues of the actors which was difficult when there were none that were noticeable. I chose to watch a NBC primetime show titled “Guys with Kids.” I have seen previews for this show, but I never watched a full episode.

            The show is about three married men with children and their day-to-day situations. Watching the show without the volume was difficult but slightly entertaining. I was able to understand when they were talking about their children because of their hand gestures and facial expressions. The three men are clearly best friends and they all live in the same apartment building. Throughout the show, I could understand emotions of happiness, frustration, and apologetic.

            When I turned the volume back up and watched the show for the second time, I noticed my assumptions were spot on. In this episode, two of the fathers were trying to get their children out of a locked bathroom. This situation put a strain on their friendship, which led to an argument, which ended with them apologizing at the end of the show. This sequence was easily understood from their nonverbal cues and better understood when the volume was up and verbal communication was added. The other guy was organizing his apartment to remove all of the clutter. That proved to be difficult for them, but all was well by the end.

            Overall, the show was ok. However, I probably will not watch another episode. If I do, I prefer to watch it without sound and infer what is happening; especially with the storyline being so basic and predictable (in my opinion).

A Competent Communicator

            When I think of someone who demonstrates competent communication, the first person that comes to mind is my 81-year-old Auntie. Auntie always knows what to say, when to say, and how to say just about anything. Even when she gets upset (which is rare) she is able to express herself calmly while still making her frustration known. She is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force and is in outstanding health.

            When talking with her, she actively listens and just does not wait to jump in and have her turn to speak. Auntie keeps eye contact with you the entire time. She actually makes you a better communicator when talking with her because she means business. She weighs the pros and cons of each situation and then communicates based on all of the facts. At 81, you can only imagine how much wisdom she has and she is always open to giving advice.

            I would definitely want to model her communication behaviors in every aspect of my life. She is knowledgeable about many things and uses this knowledge combined with experience to effectively communicate with anyone. She remains calm and professional when handling household matters and any other important matters. I respect her and look up to her dearly. I hope that I will continue to learn from her.

Communication & Collaboration in the Early Childhood Field

Hello all!! This is now the beginning of a  new class on my journey with Walden University. This class focuses on communication and collaboration within the early childhood field. I'm looking forward to learning with and from my colleagues during these eight weeks. Each week in previous courses I have learned tons of valuable information and I believe this course will be the same. Looking forward to continuing this  journey with you all. Much success and many blessings during these next 8 weeks!!