COMMUNICATING DIFFERENCES AND FINDING A MIDDLE GROUND

   

     I find myself communicating differently with people who have mental or cognitive disabilities. I use to work for an agency that provides services to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. I know that all people deserve and want genuine respect no matter what disability they may have. I find myself talking with a more pleasant, friendly tone, I try to listen as best as I can, but sometimes I am not able to make out some of their words, and I found myself being guilty of “Pseudolistening” pretending to listen by nodding or saying “uh-huh” when you’re really not paying attention. (O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. 2012) I have learned that this type of listening is disrespectful, and it is just better to say “I really can’t understand what you are saying, can you repeat it” and if I still didn’t understand I simply told them “I’m sorry I can’t understand what you trying to tell me” and sometimes they or I would get some else, who was able to relay the message to me.

     Three things that I will use as strategies to help communicate more effectively are:

·         Adjust to differences

·         Learn sign language

·         Paraphrase, paraphrase and paraphrase

References

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

CONVERSATION ASSUMPTIONS

          I watched an episode of Tyler Perry s “The Haves and the Have Knots” the show is a night time soap opera. As I watched the show with the volume down, I perceived some conversations to be really intense. For example; character’s were pointing, moving hands around and looking angry or upset. Then when I watched the same scene with the volume up, my assumptions were correct. There was an intense conversation between a man and a woman who were romantically involved. The facial expressions and the finger pointing were indicative of an intense argument and unhappy people. I now have to make time in my schedule to catch upon this sizzling night time soap opera; it was very interesting and entertaining! This experience was very interesting, trying to figure out what others are communicating based solely on body language, facial expressions and gestures were enlightening. I have even more respect for people who have a hearing loss or have hearing limitations, because they are relying on these messages and or lip reading, if there are no captions when watching movies or television.

COMMUNICATION STYLES

  

     I would like to share my professor from undergrad effective communication style. As my cohort began, we all attending an orientation and one of the professor’s who spoke at the orientation did such a great job. She encompassed vibrant, positive energy. She introduced herself with a little bit of background information, then she asked everyone to do the same. I thought this was a great icebreaker, the orientation went well because she was an honest speaker for one; she explained how intense the program would be and to just embrace it and set priorities and schedules. I most certainly appreciated her honesty, because it gave me a true interpretation of what the program would be like. I would like to model her free spirit, and honesty within my own communication behaviors, because in order to capture an audience I believe you need a personality and being honest and truthful we keep that audience!