COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS

Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

Of course I communicate differently with people from different groups and cultures. I speak differently to our clients who are bilingual, sometimes using my broken Spanish. There is a teacher at our center that I have determined I must pay attention to my words for her to understand. When I answer the phone, I answer differently if it’s my personal phone, the day care line, or the church phone. I often use my ‘church lady’ voice when I’m at church that I never use any other setting. My verbal and nonverbal communication skills all change in these settings.  

Based on what you have learned this week, share at least three strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified.

·         I need to formally improve my Spanish. The neighborhood in which the center belongs has become increasingly diverse. As an administrator, I must be able to communicate with potential clients.

·         Deconstruct my schemas (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2009) – I must be able to allow myself to let go of my preconceived ideas of how others should act.

·         Eliminate cultural myopia (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2009) thinking. This goes hand in hand with deconstructing my schemas in order to communicate well with others and other groups.

O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2009). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.