“If instead of focusing on yourself you first think of
others,” (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010, p.38).
This is the attitude I try to live with and what I think about on a
daily bases. Since I have begun my master’s
program, I have been noticing a difference in the way I see things. I look at my own biases and realized how
different I am. I remind myself that I
may not understand someone’s situation and if I judge them then I am expressing
cultural myopia. (O'H air & Wiemann 2012). I feel that as I mature as a communicator, I
can identify when the other person whom I am communicating with is different from
me. Whether it is a person who is
socially different, ethnically different or their values are different from
mine. So, when I think of the question,
do I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups/cultures?
The answer is yes, and I feel the biggest difference is being aware of my own
biases and actions and then applying more empathetic listening and
understanding. For example, I was around
a coworker who was asking questions about a particular family in regards to a
child she had been observing. This
professional started making assumptions of the family and the environment in
which the child was around because of the way she was acting. I noticed this judgment and tried to explain my
compassion for the child and that it was not my job to make these
inferences.
The three strategies I now use to communicate more effectively
are:
·
Have true empathy for the families or
individuals I am communicating with.
·
Do not judge the individuals I am speaking with.
·
Listen, rather than talking, when someone is
communicating with me, whether it be verbal or non-verbal communication.
References
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2010). 50 strategies for communicating
and working with diverse families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Education, Inc.
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real Communication
an Introduction. Boston, New York: Bedford/ St. Masrtin's.
Tisha,
ReplyDeleteI think your three strategies are important for everyone to use while communicating. Empathy is hard to teach but lending that piece of yourself into conversations will help you to be non-judgmental and to be a good listener. Thank you!
Hi Tisha, I absolutely agree with you in how I've learned and perceived my own actions and thoughts throughout this journey. I realized that I had many situations in which I had to regroup and find myself in other peoples shoes so that I may not be judgmental or show any bias. These courses have opened up my thoughts and reservations that once held on to and I now find myself appreciating the differences of others. It's a rejuvenating feeling!
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