I do find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. I try to familiarize myself with the people or families that I will be conversing with so that I am knowledgeable about them so I will not insult them, understand the purpose of the discussion, and most importantly make them feel respected knowing that they can trust me.
In speaking with my family members I am more relaxed and may use jargon based on our conversation, but this is certainly not the language I would use at work or with colleagues. In all situations I am open to listen to others voice their opinions while also given the opportunity to share mine. I immediately condone conversations that are destructive and degrade others. At work and dealings with family members, I tend to be more formal in presentation yet approachable. However, when I am working with children, I continue to be easy to talk to but also firm in my deliverance that is usually not needed with coworkers or parents.
Therefore, the strategies I think would be helpful with those I interact with are:
1. To not be judgmental based on others opinions. It is vital to understand that it is our own perceptions that limit our communication with others. We need to open up our eyes and minds and be accepting of those unlike us and through this process we will all realize that we are more alike than different.
2. To be sensitive to how others interpret what I am saying. I need to keep in mind that culture has a big impact on how others use and interpret my language. William Gudykunst (2004) states that some cultures use language indirectly, being sensitive to situational factors, while others, are very direct. This is very significant as I recently have added a child from Asia into my classroom, whom relies heavily on contextual cues to understand clearly what is sometimes being discussed with his peers.
3. To continue to self reflect on areas that make you feel uncomfortable and learn from them. Use the self-fulfilling prophecy, (I can do this, If I try harder I will succeed) and constructive feedback from others to get yourself through difficult situations.
References:
Gudykunst, W. (2004). Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Being sensitive to other cultures can be hard thing to do but in your next item you also work on self reflection. Does this make it easier for you to be better the next time you talk with families?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your strategy of self-reflection. We must not forget that half of our communication strategies are based upon how we feel personally... our prejudices, personal stereotypes, etc. It is essential that we reflect on these and try our best to overcome them, so that we can effectively communicate with everyone with whom we come in contact.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the post; great work!
I agree whole heartedly with the strategies you chose they are almost identicle to the strategies that I have used to address the communication issues that I am struggling with. I know I have many preconceived notions that I try hard to dispel and just listen to what someone is trying to tell me.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I really like your three strategies as well. Acknowledging our own personal biases well help us when being open to others differences.
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