Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures? If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?
In answer to this question, yes of course you communicate differently with different groups of people and cultures. For instance when speaking to my immediate family I am much more informal, open, self-disclosing, and affectionate. However, when communicating with fellow colleagues I am a little more formal, less self-disclosing, and will use professional jargon when discussing child development and early childhood issues and challenges. When I speak to my clients I would not use professional jargon and would adapt to their communication style to put them at ease. Then again when I am with my girlfriends I would be again more open, informal, and affectionate.
We all want others to feel comfortable when communicating with them so we adapt our body language, verbal language, tone, and communication style to ensure that others are at ease. When individuals are at ease with each other you are more likely to gain a shared understanding when communicating.
Based on what you have learned this week share at least 3 strategies you could use to communicate more effectively with the identified groups.
Three strategies I could use to communicate more effectively with different groups and cultures are:
"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others!"
In answer to this question, yes of course you communicate differently with different groups of people and cultures. For instance when speaking to my immediate family I am much more informal, open, self-disclosing, and affectionate. However, when communicating with fellow colleagues I am a little more formal, less self-disclosing, and will use professional jargon when discussing child development and early childhood issues and challenges. When I speak to my clients I would not use professional jargon and would adapt to their communication style to put them at ease. Then again when I am with my girlfriends I would be again more open, informal, and affectionate.
We all want others to feel comfortable when communicating with them so we adapt our body language, verbal language, tone, and communication style to ensure that others are at ease. When individuals are at ease with each other you are more likely to gain a shared understanding when communicating.
Based on what you have learned this week share at least 3 strategies you could use to communicate more effectively with the identified groups.
Three strategies I could use to communicate more effectively with different groups and cultures are:
- Engage in self-reflection: By this I mean examining my communication style, my body language, tone of voice, and how I communicate in general with others.
- Avoid Cultural Myopia: It is important to avoid the trap that "our way is the only way" or the "correct way". When we allow ourselves to examine and see other perspectives we can gain a better understanding when communicating with others.
- Learn more about other cultures, their beliefs, and traditions. When we learn about the "why" behind behaviors we expand our knowledge of other cultures as well as gain a better understanding of beliefs, traditions, and behaviors that conflict with our own.
"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others!"
You gave me a new strategy to focus on when you stated engage in self-reflection. I am currently working on my facial expressions but the body language an area that I need to work on as well. I find myself sitting or standing with my hands folded across my chest but mostly because this is comfortable for me rather than a defensive posture. Great pointers in the post!
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