Perceptions of me as a Communicator

 

For this project this week, I chose my dad and my husband to take assessments of how I am as a communicator. I feel these two would know more than anyone of how I communicate not only with them as individuals, but other individuals and groups. They both had similar scores from the communication and verbal aggressiveness evaluations. I suppose that my listening styles can improve because both my husband and father had different scores than I did. When I took the listening test I was put in Group1. My husband and father were both in Group 2 for the evaluation. This does make sense. It says that I am business like and like to the point communication. This could not be more right for me. That's why I find it interesting that I was put in the Group 1 where they states I am very trustworthy with people. I actually find it very hard to trust many people. I feel this is because of the experiences I have been through.  But as a business owner I have to be stern.  I respect others, but if they begin to attack on a situation or any circumstance, I am very protective of what I believe in and I am not afraid to show my emotions. I am surprised that my mother and husband have similar views on how they evaluated me. They both have saw me in different situations of how I communicate. Whether my mom comes to support the team I am coaching or my husband and I have a holiday party with fellow co workers and friends. They have both saw me communicate in ways where I have been uncomfortable or fully engaged situations. Throughout this week I have saw that my insights of how I communicate with others may be different to ones that I communicate with in my every day life. Even though they do not see me communicate in all circumstances, my Dad and husband have a good idea of who I am as a communicator. I feel that this has shown me that people do respond and evaluate the way I communicate, whether its in my professional field or personal life. The way I communicate and present the way I feel about things in life is very important to how people perceive me as a teacher, coach, businesswoman, daughter, wife, sister, and friend.

 

Communication in Cultural Diversity

Everyday in my life, I encounter some type of cultural diversity. Whether it is in my diner from my morning guys to my lunch crowd of workers that have 30 minutes to get there lunch in. Or if I am at the school seeing different families interacting before going into volleyball practice coaching 10 different unique female athletes. I feel that the interactions that I have every day, I find myself communicating differently according to the person I am interacting with. My conversations will be different if I am talking to a 65 year old coffee drinking, set in his ways Republican compared to a 14 year old teenage girl about how to serve a volleyball. The ways in which I would talk to men at a coffee table compared to my athletes are different. There is more instruction with my athletes, but while talking to the men drinking coffee, I would consider what they believe in and their backgrounds I would not want to offend them by the things I say.

Especially having a diner in the country, I find that race plays a major role in the culture. We have many people that treat others of different race in our town with disrespect and I encounter this not only at my workplace, but everywhere I go. Three strategies that I could use to help me communicate more effectively is listening to what they believe and ask questions to show that I am interested in learning about their culture and beliefs. Next I would use the Platinum Rule to treat them as they want to be treated. Especially with my athletes, if I as a coach treat them as they want to be treated, they should be giving me the same respect as I would want to be treated. Lastly, I would use my communication skills to show to them that I am interested in their culture. Use good body language and eye contact and be concerned about their cultural diversity.

Communication on TV- The Office

 

 

 

 

 

The television show I chose to watch was The Office. I have watched it before, but only about a handful of times. While watching the show with no sound,  I was able to see the way they communicate with one another without knowing what they were saying. Their facial expressions on this show were expressive. There were many characters and they were all smiling, giving good eye contact, and talking back and forth a lot. There was one guy on there that seemed to use his eyebrows to show communication using his eyebrows, going up and down with them. Then there was one of the workers and a young blonde hair boy about the age of 10. They seemed when I was watching it with no sound that they were laughing with one another and getting along good. At the end the worker gave the kid a negative look. This shows that with non verbal communication that the message that they are trying to get a crossed may not be expressed the correct way.

 

Now watching the show with sound, I had the message they were trying to get a crossed completely wrong. The young boy and the office worker were actually not getting along. The boy said "You know something? Your ugly." This show is a funny show, where a lot of smart comments are said. It is tough telling without sound that they were fighting because the office worker just laughed at the boy. And so did everyone in the office. I feel if I was watching a show that I usually watch, I would have a better idea of the communication that verbally and nonverbal. The way they show body language, use facial expressions, and show eye contact may cause the audience to feel that they know what they are trying to communicate. Its amazing to watch them with sound and then without because you get two different stories and scenarios of what is getting portrayed. This show has clearly shown that communication is not always straight forward.

 

 

Competent Communicator

 

 

 

The person that I chose this week that I feel is a competent communicator is my father. He is a meat salesman for over 18 years now. He helps me at the diner that I have owned and ran now for 6 years. He has always had a way with working and talking with people. His communication is more than just how he talks to his customers. He is very respectful and clearly shows that he cares for them as a customer. He is successful in what he does because he cares for his job, the people he works with, and his loyal customers. This demonstrates that the way he behaves is effective. I would love to have half of the communication skills that my father has. His biggest communication quality that I would like to model is his loyalty of showing that what others feel and say matter. Showing that he cares about their needs is a model that should be advocated by everyone.