Final Post- EDUC 6165

  


Hello Colleagues,

I am most grateful for your feedback through your insightful comments on the blackboard and blog assignments. I feel confident moving forward as an improved communicator and collaborator and I am sure you are too. As you move on to your areas of specializations, I wish you every success.There is still much to attain, but with God, our wonderful tutors and the support of each other we will achieve the successes we desire. So long!

Adjourning

Adjourning is essential in team work, because it allows for team evaluation and celebration of successes.
Adjourning is usually difficult in groups that are connected with a positive energy, some of which, I was fortunate to have participated. In such groups, there is mutual respect and trust is developed among team members. Some of the most difficult teams I have had to adjourn from are camp team buddies. While growing up, I attended many camps and met many friends. Usually, we were placed in cabins to live together for two weeks and we became like family. We supported each other, worked and played together and built wonderful friendships. At the end of two weeks there was much hugging and crying, because we knew that we may never see each other again for we came from different parts of the country and the Caribbean Region. There was also much reflection on our time spent together where our accomplishments and failures were highlighted in a humours manner. We would take the phone numbers of our new friends, however many times after a few weeks or months we would stop communicating. 
For me adjourning is hardest when I connect with members of my team face to face on a regular basis. Therefore, I do not think that when the time comes for me to adjourn from my colleagues on this program it would be as difficult as if we were meeting face to face each week. Yes, I would miss their comments and contributions, but I do not think that our adjournment would severely affect me.

                                COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY

My neighbour and I are in constant disagreement over the way she manages her pets. They often come over in my yard, destroy my plants and fetch away valuable things in my yard. I have spoken to her on numerous occasions about putting them away, especially when they are not being supervised. She always promises to do so kindly, but never does. I have applied the three R's suggestion. But I find that the communication process is still unsuccessful. For even though my neighbour speaks kindly and promises to manage her pets better, I find her non-compliance to her verbal agreements disrespectful. When respect is reciprocated the communicating partners are likely to respond favourably. This leads to the development of positive relationships. However, I am sensing that my neighbour's continued disrespect may eventually lead to a negative response. This week, as I pondered on the concept of non-violent communication and its promotion of compassionate giving I wondered if I was being compassionate enough to make this process work. Maybe she means well, but some factors may be preventing her from doing so. What do you think colleagues. Please share your suggestions. 

                          Who Am I as a Communicator?

The activity was interesting. After rating myself I was anxious to see how the others would rate me. My sisters scores were very similar to mine. They rated me 62 on the verbally aggressive scale 34 on communication anxiety and category 1 in listener styles profile. I rated my self as 61, 35 and category 1 in the same areas. However, my colleague's scores were a bit different. This made me realise that my communication with my family was more opened than with my colleagues at work. I take more time to be cautious about the way I communicate with colleagues, so they don't know me the way I and my family do.

I was surprised that my colleagues rated me well which makes me feel like I do a good job communicating with them. But in reality, I know that there are areas, such as my tone, that I still need to work on. 

I realise that much acting can occur in the communication process, because we are unable to read each other's thoughts. The negative aspect of this is that we may never truly get to know the individual. I see the positive aspect of this form of  acting being, we get to show respect despite how how we upset we are. We also get to change our form of language used as we communicate with different groups of people with whom we associate. This allows me to be professional and also use my 'high language' when I am in the professional setting but allows me to 'code switch' when I am in my personal space..

I have also learned that our words have moulding power as promoted through the 'Self-fulfilling Prophecy Theory' and we need to be cognizant of this when we communicate, especially with our children. I tend not to think about how my comments may affect others before saying it, especially with persons to whom I am familiar. The study this week has caused me to reflect and I plan to be more cautious and tactfully communicate what I need to say so as not to offend others especially my family and dear friends.