Communication Perception

Perception of How I Communicate

Personal	Self	Professional
Vocal	Respectfully	Accurate
Loving	Confidently	Sensitively
Effective	Passionate	Competently
Clear	Strategic	Cooperative

                I asked a family member and a colleague to describe my communication techniques in four different words, then compared to my own personal perception. I do see some correlation between what I portray and what I perceive.  I see that my peers personal and professionally have the same opinions of the way I communicate. I am glad that no one seems to have a negative opinion of my communication styles. I have always put forth the golden rule mentality but with new knowledge of the Platinum Rule I have tried to incorporate this thinking into my daily practices.

             The one thing that surprised me was that both parties stated I was an effective and competent communicator. This was surprising because sometimes I think that I am not clear in my deliver of communication. I feel I do strategically think about what I will say and wondering what reaction I will get if I say one thing or the other. The insight I gained about communication is that the perception of others has significant bearing of how well you will be received in communication.

Communicating Across Cultures

This blog assignment is difficult this week for me to relate to this week. One is because personally I feel that I communicate with all people in the same manner first in a respectful manner with carefulness to not offend anyone with conversation. I would maybe relate this is being a cultural difference possibly. I have the thought process of the same conversation that I have with a best friend would differ from the conversation I might have with a parent. Then also the same conversation I have with a co-worker would most likely differ from the conversation I might have with a family member.  I am thinking that this could be a cultural difference within social settings. However I feel that culture has no bearing on my communication personally, because I can have a conversation with anyone whom is willing to engage, but still will remain respectful and the topics of conversation can still vary.

I think one thing that I can work on with my communication regardless of their culture is my nonverbal skills; I can honestly reflectively say that I am never disrespect with my non-verbal reactions. However, I have a tendency to react when I see things or hear things that are shocking; I need work on my “poker face”. Along with maintaining respect, I need to work on my patience in communication, I get so anxious in communication sometimes that I will either finish a person’s comment or over talk a person periodically. It just depends on the person at the time but in order to be effective communicator you have to listen. 

Silent Communications of Television

The first set of characters appear to have a work relationships of superior and employee. The nonverbal feelings observed we're that of frustration, or a slight disagreement. I did not sense a big profound sense of respect between the two, maybe hostility.  Once I watched the show with the sound I realized that they were in fact superior and employee they were having a discussion on the actions of the employee, and the superior was not in agreement with their behavior. However the employee expressed his own side and what he did and was not worried about their disapproval.

 The second set if characters were a firefighter and a child.  This particular interaction appeared different from the others because of the way the lady's body language was when she saw the child was injured. The other workers responded differently they were concerned but did not look worried.  She looked as if she knew the child.  The child was unconscious and awoke and responded to the firefighter lady with a look of comfort. Once I turned the sound on and watched the assumption of the firefighter lady having a deeper connection was accurate because the child happened to be her niece. She had a frantic look of worry, it was because she had tried to reach family members to notify about what had happened. The little girl had a friend with her who was following to come and help because she was worried also. 

 This observation of communication and interpretation was not that hard in this instance, but if I had of watched a comedy or sitcom instead of drama I might have made different interpretation incorrectly. I feel sometimes it is not hard for one to see frustration or worrisome.  However, it can be misinterpreted when one is masking their pain or frustration with humor.

A Constructive Communicator

Iylana Vanzant from the television show “Ilyana Fix my Life”.  This celebrity strikes me as a competent communicator. She listen in depth to what a person says and tries to interpret what they are saying by wording their statements in a more clearer form. In communication sometimes direct dialog is needed, “if you go around the block and you could have just went up the street; in order to not lose audience interest. Although sometimes your directness can come off as defensive. But to combat some of that tension you can experience in conversations, she maintains eye contact with the individual, whom she is talking to so they can feel respected.

Conversations can be effective or non-effective but the bases for effective conversation is being a great communicator. If I was to take away some of Ilyana’s communication techniques it would be the technique of asking the person I am engaged in conversation with to tell me what they are asking for. When she speaks to people she lets them explore their feelings, and dispel their disapproval and then gives them the opportunity to tell what they want to see. Yes this is a practice of a counselor but I think it can be effective in communicating with people.  Because in any conversations everyone has a want whether to just be heard or to make a change to some practice or behavior, I think it all can apply.