Communication

It was amazing to know that without realizing it, your verbal and nonverbal styles of communication tells not just how you communicate, but basically what type of person you are. Two unrelated people, a male and a female, a family member and an associate came out with the same result as I did. The number ranges were in the same level the three categories as listed below.

Communication anxiety: My score = 38. My husband score = 42. My associate score =32

Verbal aggressiveness: My score = 67, My husband score = 53.My associate score 59

Listening styles: Everyone scored group 1.

          I do believe that the scores are accurate because really feel comfortable with communicating in most situations. I intentionally try to place myself in the other’s position so that I am sure that I am hearing, listening, and observing the verbal and nonverbal cues. Doing this helps me to interpret the individual correctly, so that the message that is conveyed is received with the right perspective. I am always respectful to the individual, even if their idea is opposite to what I think. However, I do find a kind way to propose my thoughts about the matter.

The test results all fell in the same levels in each category, even though was associate was not as close to me as my husband, their scores were in the same range. When my associate and I talked about the results she told me that she admired my patience with almost everyone, that I looked for the good in everybody, I did not realize that I communicated that. My husband laughed when he handed me the paper, he remarked that he keep telling me that caring for people is my passion but I absorb a lot of their worries. I once volunteered at a home for the aged and he stopped me from going because I try to help everyone. I see that in these results.

If I gained anything from this week’s course work it is this, that we can judge someone so easily, based strictly on one meeting or just their physical appearance. When we form an opinion about someone we tend to communicate with them based on that opinion even if we did not know them at all. We often judge people based on the first impression that we get of them. Given the opportunity to get to know them, is almost always surprising, that they are probably the complete opposite of our perceptions. The way we communicate with a person bears somewhat on how we view them.

          I learned that my self-concept has to do with who I think I am, my thoughts, actions, abilities, values, goals and ideals. While my self-esteem is all about the whole attitude of my emotions, thoughts, abilities, skills, behavior and beliefs, depending on the situation or circumstance that is occurring. Self-efficacy is the ability to figure out, based on the self-concept and self-esteem, what kind of success we will have in this world that we live in (O’Hair and Wiemann, 2012).  As an early childhood professional, I have to know who I am because how I behave and the image I have of myself, will impact the children, whether negative or positive.

Reference

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