6165 WEEK 4: SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT THAN OTHER'S VIEWS OF ME (COMMUNICATIONALLY)

For this assignment, I thoroughly enjoyed taking each of the assessments. I always am open to learning more 

about me than my own perception. By allowing others to give me they feedback through those quizzes, it did 

open my mind. We need to take more assessments in different areas that will make us more operative in the 

long run. As leaders to others, we need to have all bases touched in order to lead correctly. Of course, I am 

not saying that everything will go perfectly but we definitely would be on the right track. Certain people are 

great at leading and being effective to getting things accomplished in society or in organizations. I definitely 

want to be a part of that group.

One thing that I cannot say surprised me too much because I kind of know it is true. I saw how others think I

do have more issues with speaking out or conveying my thoughts effectively to others in groups. I do know 

that if push turn into a shove, I will handle the moment. I always do, no matter how nervous I am in the 

situation but I do want to be more confident in what I am trying to convey to others. I feel that I have to be 

more knowledgeable about certain issues in order for me to be more confident. When I do not know what I 

will say or it is a topic that I have little knowledge about and I have to speak in front of others, I do get 

nervous. I do notice that if I know what I am speaking on, I do not feel nervous and most of the time I am 

the one to speak up before anyone else in the group(s). Guess I need to be in more situations and study 

more on each topic that I have to discuss with others. I also believe that it takes an individual dealing with 

certain areas and gaining more and more experience before others will listen truthfully in any situation, in my 

opinion. Personally and professionally, we all should understand ourselves completely before we try and 

lead others.

6165: WEEK 3> CULTURAL DIVERSITY I SEE AND HOW I MAY COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE DIVERSE

I believe I do find myself communicating differently with others, depending certain facts. One is that I talk and treat all elders the same, which is with honor and with respect. This was how I was taught and I instill in my children and nieces and great-nieces and nephews. I communicate differently with those in, respectfully, powerful roles because if I was in a lead position that I earned, I would want the same. This leads back to the ‘platinum rule’, which is to treat others how you want to be treated. I even find myself being more careful with small children than with older children because their equilibrium’s are more mature and they can handle more than babies or toddlers. Despite all the ways I may treat another differently, it all comes down to respect for me, which is one of my pet peeves. I guess this why I stress it so much and I give it out to all.

Three strategies that I can do to effectively with people that I may come into contact with that may be different or even the same:

1.      Make sure that I give all my attention, which conversing with others. This will give them the notion that they do matter and that I will understand what they are attempting to tell me.

2.      Attempt to remember them if it is possible because one will never know if and when y’all paths will cross again and this way you can make the next ‘meeting’ positive because they will see that you did remember their name. You never know, because you all may have a project that you all may have to work on together and you want it pleasant, as possible.

3.      Never override another, if they are speaking. It does matter if they are fussing or speaking pleasantly. Allow that person to get the entire statement out and this way you are hearing everything they are saying and then you will be able to answer them effectively.

Like Henri J. M. Nouwen states, “Strangers and people different from us can stir up fear, discomfort, suspicion and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security just by being ‘other’” (Beebe, Beebe and Redmond, 2011, p.86).

Reference

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). "Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others" (pp. 85–114). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201520_04/MS_MECS/EDUC_6165/Week%203/Resources/Resources/embedded/beebe_ch4.pdf

6165> WEEK 2: Observing Communication in Action

WEEK 2

Observing Communication in Action

As I pondered over this assignment, I sat down with my children who were about to watch a show that they tend to look at frequently. The name of the show was Austin and Alley that comes on the Disney channel. I explained to them that we were going to watch it on silent for a bit. You can only imagine their looks, which made me flashback to my studying of nonverbal language. They showed me that they were not really pleased but went along with it, after explaining to them that it for an assignment. Nevertheless, I went to watch the show and it seems as if they are all very close. It was two boys and two girls. They had to be singing because one of the guys was playing his guitar and I knew this by his actions. They all seemed happy. I can tell by their high-spirited attitudes and the smiling that they are doing while conversating or singing with one another. They all seemed to have a wonderful relationship.

After turning the volume back up, I did assume that they were good buddies and I now can confirm I was right. They were singing a song that one of the girls had wrote and it sounds pretty good. They were happy, as I assumed, while viewing the show without sound. O’Hair and Weimann (2012) states, one “makes sense of your world and decode nonverbal behavior through schemas and accumulated experiences of people, roles and situations” (p. 129). I definitely was right on the money, with assuming they were close friends. I never have watched the show before but it actually was pretty nice. One ‘aha’ moment that I gathered was a person’s facial expressions can actually can very clearly speak volumes.

Reference

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, Retrieved November 6, 2014.