Potent Tool to Communicate Well - Essay Example

1. After I have learned the concept of ion ladder, and increasing awareness of the intentions and possible interpretation of a message as a potent tool to communicate well with others, I will be more conscious and mindful enough in the way I say and receive a particular verbal cue or message. One way is for me to be more specific in my choice of words. If I wish to communicate well, I have to know and relate well with my audience first. Last November, there was this store owner whom I told that I need a battery for my pocket flashlight. I left after I paid the man. I discovered later that the battery was an Eveready rechargeable and I don’t have a battery charger at home. If only I have read the book before the incident, I could be more specific and relate well with the store owner. 2. Just last month I visited a very close friend who is also our neighbor. I bought a pizza and I invited her family to share with the food. When we opened the pizza box all were happy except my friend. She told me that she was happy and fine but her facial expression showed she’s disgusted. She went upstairs and later reappeared. Later on, I learned from her mother that she doesn’t eat veggies like mushrooms, green peppers and red onions, and she has an allergy towards black olives. I also learned that she told her to go downstairs. Nevertheless we altogether enjoyed the time. I should have been more alert; when she looked disgusted it only means one thing–she doesn’t like it. Indeed, it pays to be more conscious and aware. In the future, I will know first persons whom I will have an interpersonal relationship with. 3. Since I am an African-American, I carry a remnant of African cultural heritage. Although the influence of America is great these days, I still think like an African, talk like an African-American and I value our kind of music, behaviors and even tradition. I still value our extended families. Of course, since I also carry an American cultural lineage, I also cherish things like the Hollywood. Ultimately, my preferences have shaped the kind of culture I’m living with. Culture is important in interpersonal communication since it can effectively send the message across without barriers. More significant is to know the culture of the person we’re interacting with to attain a resolution and understanding. Since we had a bitter history of racial discrimination, I have been very assertive with my rights and our equal privileges with the Whites. Sometimes, I get unconsciously aggressive to defend ourselves against sorts of dominations. 4. I have a score of 64 which falls under the range of moderate willingness to listen. My moderate willingness to listen has an impact on my interpersonal relationship with others. First, it can make me more tolerant in listening to speaker be it a friend or my superiors. Second, it will show to others that I am interested to them and to what they’ll say. Third, it will improve the way I relate to other people who might be of need in the future for advancing even my career. In this way I will be able to cultivate my interpersonal relationship with other people and it will be easy for me to adapt to several situations. In my perception, the measure is accurate because the result truly shows my quality of willingness to listen which is only moderate. It is up to me to improve my willingness to listen. 5. To empathize is to be able to experience what others do, like putting oneself in someone else’s shoes. It is not easy for me to empathize with a person whom I can’t agree. I could still remember when my mother asked me to help in the household chores. She sincerely asked me to wash the dishes. I could still remember her facial expression like what you see in a desolate camp. I just realized that she asked me this same request before, again and again. She insinuated that I have to empathize with her. So, I tried to feel what she had experienced doing all these tiresome chores but it was too hard. So I just let her do her rambling while cleaning. I need to be engaged in the conversation and I have to interpret and accept her affections for me to put myself on my mom’s shoes. 6. The first time I meet a person, I try to discover whether we have similarities. If I wish to enter into a relationship with the person, I try to discover whether I am attracted to him and if we are compatible. There was this time when a classmate of mine in high school doesn’t prefer being with people like me. He told me this during our Science class when we were together as a group in a laboratory experiment. But this didn’t discourage me to get along with him. I have learned that we have the same preferences when it comes to cuisine; we enjoyed eating Southern cuisine. We see each other oftentimes at the local restaurant until one day he came near my table and asked if he can sit because there are no more vacant tables. His interactions to me have changed and we became good friends. 7. There was this time when I asked my classmate beside me regarding a procedure, instead of answering me she complained that I have caused her disturbance and she told me that I should shut up. Later, I settled the matters with her. I have told her that the reason of my request or intrusion is reasonable; since I don’t know the procedure, I really have to ask. Then she understood me and she apologized for not being nice. Again, this boils down to the significance of effective interpersonal communication. Employing the interpersonal skills I have learned such as being assertive and aggressive, I can somehow address situations like this in the future by openly expressing my emotions at a proper time and place. If it won’t do, then I could dominate the interaction straight until we arrive at a resolution. Or try to be passive to avoid more conflict. 8. With social networking site like Facebook, I can easily reach a friend living in far places. I get to see their photos whenever I want and I get acquainted with their friends until I have many extended friends. On the other hand, mediated communication hurt my interpersonal relationship like the issue of either you’re really there or not even you’re online. There was a time when a friend called me and complained why I neglected him. Believing I’m in front of the computer since I’m online that time, he kept on sending me messages that has gone up to a dozen. I recalled last week when I was doing a research, I opened my Facebook and moments later went to YouTube to watch a video for my coursework. I forgot to return to Facebook since I proceeded to work on my paper. It almost cost us our cherished friendship. Read More