While completing the evaluations I had a difficult time because I can be really hard on myself at times. I have to say that I am probably my worst critic, in a good way :). Because I am so hard on myself, I was really surprised that the results of my other 2 evaluators were aligned with my results for all 3 evaluations. According to the results I have low communication anxiety, moderate verbal aggressiveness, and my listening style is people-oriented.
This week I learned that my communication skills are greater than I thought. According to the course text the manner in which I evaluate my communication experiences wards a sense a self-adequacy, which is defined as evaluating your communication as sufficient or acceptable.
Because communication is a major component in the EC field,having the ability to accurately evaluate yourself is extremely important for future improvement.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
~Communicating Differently~
Yes, I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. When speaking with individuals from cultural backgrounds that I am unfamiliar with I am usually more of a listener, because I do not want to offend them. At times the situation may feel awkward, because I am not as comfortable.
The manner in which I communicate with co-workers is different from the way I speak with friends. Now that I think about it,within my family I speak to members differently. The conversations I have with my parents and siblings are very different, as with my aunts/uncles and cousins.
The most important thing that I feel I can do to communicate more effectively with people or groups, is to always remember that the communications needs will vary from person to person. It is very important for me to take into consideration the individual communication needs, the environment and the scenario. And lastly, I always speak to others the way I want to be treated, regardless of their behaviors.
The manner in which I communicate with co-workers is different from the way I speak with friends. Now that I think about it,within my family I speak to members differently. The conversations I have with my parents and siblings are very different, as with my aunts/uncles and cousins.
The most important thing that I feel I can do to communicate more effectively with people or groups, is to always remember that the communications needs will vary from person to person. It is very important for me to take into consideration the individual communication needs, the environment and the scenario. And lastly, I always speak to others the way I want to be treated, regardless of their behaviors.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
~Silence Speaks Volumes~
For this week's blog post I watched an episode of a show called "The New Adventures of Old Christine" on lifetime channel. I have never seen this show before and is unfamiliar with the dynamics of the characters. As a part of the assignment I watched the show on mute first and then again with sound.
While watching this show with no sound I assumed that the officer that came to the door was a good friend of the lady who answered the door because she was very warm and friendly when she invited him in and took a seat. In this same scene I also thought the African American lady that entered the house was her partner. And they began to have a verbal disagreement. The man and lady that entered the house was her brother and pregnant sister in-law.
*While watching the show with sound I learned that the lady who opened the door for the officer was Christine and she assumed the officer who was on official police business was sent to her as an exotic dancer. I also learned the the African American lady is her best friend and they were having a regular conversation not an argument. The man and lady that I assumed were her brother and sister in law, were actually her ex-husband and his wife "New Christine".
The next scene involves Christine at a mans house who I assume is her boyfriend or maybe ex-boyfriend. At the mans house it appears that Christine is pleading to her boyfriend, but then discovers another woman is present. It seems like a confrontation occurs and the male decides that he wants to be with Christine. Christine and the male sleeps on the sofa spooning and the males jumps up abruptly.
*While watching this scene with sound, I was shocked to find out that the male is Matthew and he is actually Christine's brother. due to their interactions I would have never guessed they were siblings.
During the last scene Richard and "New Christine" are in the hospital and I assume that there are complications with labor because they have looks of disappointment and frustration on their faces.
*Watching with sound I realized that they were upset because they did not want the baby to be born on "Old Christine's Birthday".
I must admit that all of the character and scene assumptions I made were incorrect. Due to facial expressions and body language I would have never guessed the relationships or the conversations. Had this been a familiar show I have been close, but probably not exact.
Watching the show with sound I had numerous "aha" moments. Finding out the Christine and Matthew were siblings was a big one. Although the dynamics of me and my brother relationship is nothing like this, someone else may relate so therefore I must be mindful of others. The show is hilarious and it has taught me the importance of never relying on one aspect of communication. Doing so, can lead to false assumptions and maybe even disrespecting others.
While watching this show with no sound I assumed that the officer that came to the door was a good friend of the lady who answered the door because she was very warm and friendly when she invited him in and took a seat. In this same scene I also thought the African American lady that entered the house was her partner. And they began to have a verbal disagreement. The man and lady that entered the house was her brother and pregnant sister in-law.
*While watching the show with sound I learned that the lady who opened the door for the officer was Christine and she assumed the officer who was on official police business was sent to her as an exotic dancer. I also learned the the African American lady is her best friend and they were having a regular conversation not an argument. The man and lady that I assumed were her brother and sister in law, were actually her ex-husband and his wife "New Christine".
The next scene involves Christine at a mans house who I assume is her boyfriend or maybe ex-boyfriend. At the mans house it appears that Christine is pleading to her boyfriend, but then discovers another woman is present. It seems like a confrontation occurs and the male decides that he wants to be with Christine. Christine and the male sleeps on the sofa spooning and the males jumps up abruptly.
*While watching this scene with sound, I was shocked to find out that the male is Matthew and he is actually Christine's brother. due to their interactions I would have never guessed they were siblings.
During the last scene Richard and "New Christine" are in the hospital and I assume that there are complications with labor because they have looks of disappointment and frustration on their faces.
*Watching with sound I realized that they were upset because they did not want the baby to be born on "Old Christine's Birthday".
I must admit that all of the character and scene assumptions I made were incorrect. Due to facial expressions and body language I would have never guessed the relationships or the conversations. Had this been a familiar show I have been close, but probably not exact.
Watching the show with sound I had numerous "aha" moments. Finding out the Christine and Matthew were siblings was a big one. Although the dynamics of me and my brother relationship is nothing like this, someone else may relate so therefore I must be mindful of others. The show is hilarious and it has taught me the importance of never relying on one aspect of communication. Doing so, can lead to false assumptions and maybe even disrespecting others.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
~Competent Communicator~
The first person to pop into my mind while creating this post is my 7 year old daughter. She can communicate better than many adults I know, and sometimes I wish I had her patience and finesse when speaking. Throughout the family she is known as "Diva", or "Lil Lady". My daughter has no problem expressing her feelings and sharing her thoughts. She will not raise her voice and engage in any kind of arguing of confrontations(This is definitely a trait that I wish I had). She often tells my son, "KD calm down you do not have to yell, or "if you can't speak to me like I'm speaking to you then this conversation is over". My favorite quote of hers is "how do you expect to get help if you don't ask".
At times I have to ask myself, wow did she really just say that, because she speaks so maturely. While at the nail shop I was speaking to my daughter on speakerphone, so everyone there heard our conversation. Her dad dropped her off at the nail shop, and when she walked in and acknowledged me, the other customers could not believe that I was just speaking on the phone with this little girl. My daughter is very articulate and she speaks very proper, so they were expecting a much older person.
At times I have to ask myself, wow did she really just say that, because she speaks so maturely. While at the nail shop I was speaking to my daughter on speakerphone, so everyone there heard our conversation. Her dad dropped her off at the nail shop, and when she walked in and acknowledged me, the other customers could not believe that I was just speaking on the phone with this little girl. My daughter is very articulate and she speaks very proper, so they were expecting a much older person.
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