Learning about Communication

The one thing that surprised me about the similarities and differences between how I evaluated myself as a communicator and how others evaluated me was: the similarities in our results in all three measures. The two people I selected to evaluate me as a communicator scores were in the same range as my score. I was pleased to know that my positive intentions are received by others and I also identified some areas of my communication in need of improvement.

One insight I gained about communication is our self-concept and self-esteem impacts how we interact with others and how we behave in different situations. Being aware of the importance of a healthy self- concept and self-esteem allow me to be reflective and cultivate my strengths and improve my weaknesses. I believe this will help me be comfortable/confident communicating with diverse people and in different situations.

Another insight I gained is “don’t judge a book by its cover.”  Sometimes it is natural to judge people based on our personal views and experiences. However, it is not the most effective way to interact with others. Getting to know people by observing their behavior, listening, talking and sharing information will help establish and maintain healthy relationships.

Communicating with Different Groups

Considering the diversity I see in my school colleagues, my neighborhood, workplace, friends and family I certainly communicate/interact with the people from each group differently. The first example I can think of is the name people associate me by. My family, and close friends call me Tara, my nickname. Friends, acquaintances, and school colleagues call me Katara, my name. In the workplace, I am called by my last name Mrs. Walker. My relationships with the people in these different groups are connected to the name they call me. Another example is my language in different contexts. In the workplace, I may use formal language, polite and professional. In my personal relationships I may use slang, nicknames or language familiar with the group. For example, when I greet one of my friends we playfully call each other “big head,” I would not go to work and greet one of my colleagues as “big head.” Understanding context is essential in communicating with people.

Strategies to communicate effectively with others       

·          Be open and willing to share and learn about diverse cultures.

·         When communicating listen to others and actively respond to the messages they are relaying.

·         Avoid prejudging people based on their appearances, perspectives and cultures

Communication and Television

I recently watched a show called Joey & Melissa on Netflix. This was my first time ever watching the show although I have heard about it via the media. The first time I watched the episode was with the volume muted. The show started with a couple in the kitchen talking to a teenage boy.  I automatically assumed they were a family; mother, father and son. Through nonverbal behaviors such as body language, hand movements, placing hands on hips, pointing at each other and pointing at objects, and serious facial expressions I assumed the teenager was trying to persuade his parents but they did not agree. I observed the teenage boy throwing up his hands in frustration and the mother putting her hand up suggesting he stop. It was obvious the family was conflicting throughout the show. In other scenes, a new character entered and I assumed she was the sister or neighbor. As the show continued on, I learned she lived in the house and was siblings with the teenage boy.  There interactions with each other led me to these beliefs, making faces at each other and playfully throwing paper at each other.

The second time I watched the show was with the volume on. I learned that my assumption was correct that the people in the kitchen were family. However, the woman was the aunt, the man the nanny, the teenage boy was the nephew and the girl was the niece. I was also correct in assuming the boy was attempting to persuade his family, to invest in a risky stock with his inheritance. The aunt and nanny did not support his decision but eventually agreed.

Initially, watching the show with no sound was difficult because I was attempting to read their lips to understand what was happening. I had to rewind to make sure I was observing the nonverbal cues. I also notice how much people use their hands when they talk. In the show, it seemed excessive but I understand because there was no sound their nonverbal cues were magnified. I also realized that our nonverbal behavior is as equally important as verbal communication.

A Competent Communicator- Barack Obama

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama, in my opinion demonstrated competent communication in the Presidential Debates. President Obama has an ability to connect and relate to people which makes him an effective speaker. This is a characteristic I admire about him and would like to model.  He is able to articulate himself clearly and help people understand his positions. I would like to model this behavior because it is important to be concise and clear to stay on topic and make your point. It is also important to engage your audience and ensure they understand your positions. Another behavior that demonstrate effective communication, is his temperament, he did not appear nervous or defensive during the debate. He seemed as though he was in control of his behavior, thoughts, emotions and frustrations. This is another behavior I would like to model because when you are passionate about something it is difficult not to be emotional.  Lastly, I think the President inspires people when he communicates and influence a call to action for support and change. When communicating with others I hope to impact their lives and rally their support for change.

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