Blog Week 4

For your blog this week, think about the similarities and differences between how you evaluated yourself as a communicator and how others evaluated you. What is the one thing that surprised you the most? Why? What other insights about communication did you gain this week? Choose at least two to share with others through your blog and consider how each might inform your professional work and personal life.

I was very happy this week that there were many similarities between how I evaluated myself as a communicator and how others evaluated me. I tested the same in verbal aggressiveness scale assessment across the board. It said I scored moderate, that I am able to maintain good balance between respect and consideration for others. That was pretty cool and surprised me that it was just not my opinion that this was true but from the other two people evaluated me.

This week I learned about first impressions and jumping to conclusions based on what I see and not what I know. This week for the discussion we had to look at the random picture that was provided and answer personal questions about this person based solely on the picture. It was an interesting assignment but I did not like it. I did not like guessing what kind of person they were without knowing anything about her. But I understand that everyone does this on a daily basis, even myself. We all have looked at someone and judged them without even knowing anything about them. I have learned that I would not want to be judged out of context and that I should not do this to others. This will help me in my professional work and personal life. I will be more open and excepting of others. I will come into contact with many different people in my professional life and sometimes life happens and we do not always make the best first impressions. It is important to get to know a person before making any rash judgements.

The second insight I have learned about communication this week is that a lot goes into it!  We have verbal and nonverbal communication. We can all have different listening styles some are people oriented others time oriented. We all have different levels of aggression in our communication. Are you pushy and use insults to get your way, a people pleaser and never like to get in to disagreements, or do you maintain a good balance between the two. We all have different levels of comfort talking in groups or even one-on-one with people we do not know. These all have to do with your personal schemas. It is vital to understand your strengths and weaknesses in regards to communication.  This will help me in my professional and personal life because in everyday life you communicate with people even when you do not intend to. It is important to be a good competent communicator.

Brandie