My Personal Communication Philosophy

I communicate in many different ways, whether it be visually, orally or electronically. There are a few instances that stand out. First, through the oral and electronic means of communication. During the summers I coach a youth baseball team and I communicate with the players and their parents in many different ways. At practices where I talk and work them how to do specific drills. At games I cheer them on and give them tips to succeed. But, since most of the kids are only eleven or twelve years old I have to communicate to the parents. I usually do this through email where I tell them about upcoming games and practices. I also provide them my cell phone number so they always have a good way to reach me. Without the

There are two main contexts in which we communicate; formal and informal. In the context of communicating formally we communicate using; Standard English, correct grammar, corrects posture, eye contact and good pronunciation. We often communicate formally when communicating with someone of a higher authority; this shows that you respect their higher position; this is more likely to be in a formal setting such as a work place or educational establishment. However when communicating informally we use different skills such as; use of slang (informal English), more relaxed posture and general chit chat. We often communicate informally when communicating with someone who is familiar e.g. a friend. This is more likely to be in an informal and relaxed setting such as in the playground or in town.

3.1 Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways

3.1 – Explain how individuals from a different backgrounds may use communication methods in a different way

We communicate with people every day, but sometimes we do not adjust our communication style to the audience or situation at hand. This can lead to confusion, hurt feelings, or misunderstandings. Learn how to adapt the way you communicate to different situations by considering the many factors that influence the effectiveness of your communication.

Communication can be adapted very easily, usually without you realising. However, the style used can make a big difference, and help build and maintain positive relationships.

As soon as this course started, I realized that there was a lot for me to learn. I communicate with many individuals at work and in my personal life. I have always felt that my communications were clearly received. However, I realized that each receiver of my communication is different. Joseph A. Devito explains that each person is unique; each person’s communications are unique (Devito 9). When at work I deal with many employees concerning various matters. The employees typically come to me because they need help with a matter that I am knowledgeable in. I can usually answer their questions quickly, and with great detail. The part I fail to consider is that the employee is not as knowledgeable as me, and may not understand some of the terms and processes I am referring to. And for fear of appearing to not understand, an employee will just agree with me and leave. That employee may leave my office not fully understanding everything I said. This miscommunication is

3.1 Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication method in different ways.

Edmonson, J. (2009). Let's be clear: How to manage communication styles. T & D, 63(9), 30-31.

Edmondson (2009) discusses four different basic communication styles. The first style is expressive which have a tendency to speak quickly, focus on the big picture, and have a high energy level. They can be perceived as unpredictable, vain, or excessively jovial. Next are systematic who tend to focus on small details, not on the larger picture, and try to avoid conflicts. The third type listed is sympathetic. These individuals focus on people and relationships. They are good listeners and so concern for everyone’s needs. Sympathetics also do not like be at odds with others. Lastly, the fourth communication style identified is directs who generally keep dialogue short and are perceived as a multitaskers. The study recommends that the individual discover her own communication style and adjust the style according to the situation.

There is no particular way to communicate according the Deborah Tannen as communication is not just saying what you mean but how one communicates the meaning. Situation varies from one person to another. Language communicates ideas but a more powerful form of communication is social behavior (Tannen: 244). Language use is a learnt social behavior that allows us to negotiate relationships and it is influenced by cultural experience (Tannen 2001: 243). How we talk and express ourselves may be interpreted

My interpersonal skills, accelerated to a level of advancement as my responsibilities were centered on verbally engaging patients and their families regarding health issues. To gain an accurate picture of health status I had to utilize persuasive communication to skillfully abstract needed information during the triage process. On occasions, I had to concisely, communicate information with patients and/or families regarding health status and at times that was very uncomfortable. I remember on two occasions I had to accompany the physician in relaying news of the termination of life concerning family members and then was given the task of comforting the families until the hospital clergy arrived.

Throughout this semester in communications I have learned a lot about myself, how to deal with others, relationships, and more. There were some lessons that stood out to me the most, and that I thought about after class. The first was in chapter 3 about interpersonal communication and the self. During this chapter, we took a piece of paper and put four people that we knew down. We chose someone who we were just getting to know, and then others that we knew very well or that were very close to us. In this lesson, we were discussing the social penetration theory. The first step is the breadth which is a volunteered amount of information that we tell someone as subjects are being discussed. The second step is depth which is when we began to go deeper into personal information. The four people that I chose were a girl I had just met at work, my sister, my dad, and my boyfriend. After completing the circles and filling in the amount of information that I have covered with them, the girl I work with had the least, and my sister had the most filled in to the core. After completing this lesson, I looked at my paper and realized that almost everyone was more filled in to the core than my relationship with my father. This lesson struck a major cord with me because I never realized how surface level my relationship with my dad was until talking about this lesson. I knew that my father and I were not that close to begin with, but I never knew why. After this lesson, I understood that my

Communication is an ongoing process in which individuals exchange messages whose meanings are influenced by the history of the relationship and the experiences of the participants. (Adler, p.384) Communication depends on relationships between the people who are communicating, and on common basics between them. Problems in communications between people may arise due to differences in cultures, perceptions, values, and expectations from life.

Since the start of this class, I have been reminded again and again that the concepts we are learning can be applied to everyday life. For instance, when we talked about non-verbal communication, I realized that it is impossible to not communicate. There are many activities, other than the use of language, that allow us to draw meaning from something we observe. When my mother widens her eyes at me without stating a word, I understand she is telling me to think twice about the action I’m about to take. It has been great to be able to assign concepts and vocabulary to interpersonal relationships and communication activity that I have been experiencing. Now let me introduce you to my friend Izzy and her boyfriend Ken as I analyze the