7/15/12
My Communication Strategies
I have to say that in just the past few weeks I have learned a lot about my communication style both verbally and nonverbally. I went into this course with one of my goals being to improve my skills. I love working with children but dread dealing with parents. See, I even wrote it in a negative light: working with children vs dealing with parents. In either case, I love what I do and in the year since I have started this program at Walden I have involved myself in several programs that benefit children. So when I think about what has changed in my communication since this course began the most obvious thing is that I have gone back to being quite. The difference is before I was just quite, didn't talk a lot and I was find with it but now I am a quite listener. I am focusing more on what is being said or expressed by trying to listen effectively. I don't think about my rebuttal or what I need to do next, I just listen. One of my three strategies is listening. I have read over all the resources provided and am finding that I have room for improvement in the area of listening. I am that person whose mind is always going a mile a minute and whenever someone is talking I am already thinking three minutes ahead. The next strategy I could utilize is to be more mindful of how my perception plays into my communication. I am not a closed-minded, do it my way or no way type of person but I do realize that my perception of things always plays an important role in my communication. After completing the last course in which we learned about diversity and equity I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone and emerge myself more into the world without compromising my beliefs, of course. I think a part of that is accepting the perception of others and trying to understand where they are coming from or why they believe what they believe. And perhaps another very important step for is to be more conscious of my non-verbal behaviors. My mother has always told me that no matter what comes out of my mouth my true feelings were always visible on my face. Those readings that she gets off my face are visible to the rest of the world and as of late I realize that my body language is starting to line up with my true thoughts. I do not want to be a liar by any means but I do realize that I need to be more in control of my non-verbal behaviors especially that of disgust because I know that is a very obvious one with me.
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Hi Latresa, It is hard to understand and view what someone else is thinking or how they perceive what you are communicating. I believe it is important to have a complete understanding of yourself and your own communicating styles and skills before applying them in a conversation. It is also important to be aware of cultural differences and what other groups and cultures view as respect, verbal and non verbal communication. Our non verbal behaviors can speak louder than words, so we should be careful of how we present ourselves and our choice of words when communicating. You presented a very interesting point.
ReplyDeleteLatresa,
ReplyDeleteAs a former childcare provider, I know that at times, it can be difficult to deal with parents. I agree that your true feelings will show on your face or in your body. I believe that when communicating with parents to remain calm and leveled headed, because many times the parents are not thinking rationally, they are thinking about their child(ren). Good post!
Latresa,
ReplyDeleteI loved your insight into your own wording while writing this post. I connected with your comment about the change in your communication style since we have begun this program. I find that I talk less now also and listen more intently - not only to my colleagues and students, but also to my friends and most importantly, my family. Love your blog design too.
LaTersa,
ReplyDeleteI do think that communication with parents is vitally important, and I do respect the fact that you recognize that it is important for you to focus more on what is being said, rather than thinking about a response.