Final Communications Blog

Over the past year and half my colleagues has been the greatest resource to me. They have provided me with excellent feedback in discussion and blogs, they have challenged me to think beyond the surface. They have been an aid in ensuring I fully understand the subject matter. At this point in my education career I know I have grown as a future early childhood professional. Since I do not currently work in the ECE field most of my experiences are from passing through a facility or past experiences. ECE is an evolving field my peers and Dr. Parrish was able to help me grasp an understanding of the current issues and inequities. I believe since majority of my peers are currently working in the ECE field they had a strong advantage. I have always believed communication is the key to any relationship this course have proven true to this theory. I also learned how ineffective I communicate which is a plus for me as a future professional in the ECE field. I know this course was important to my goals as I need to learn how to build trusting relationships, successful collaboration with effective communication. This knowledge will carry on with me through life.

 I want to thank all my colleagues thus far and future. I also would like to thank Dr. Parrish for always providing a thorough feedback, positive encouragement and understanding life happens. I hope to stay in touch with all of my peers and I wish you all the best success. Thanks for a wonderful eight weeks! Happy Holidays. 

Team Work Week 6

The Development Network is a chapter established within my employer. The Development Network is to encourage networking and developing career goals within the company. I joined the Development Network to learn how to network to advance my personal career. When I joined I learned most of the networking takes places during the events we host. We host varies charity event encouraging volunteering within the community. The greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky chapter won the chapter of the year award. We hosted our own reward event. During this events I was able to meet many new people throughout the company, I even met the CEO.  My peers were so helpful and nice I felt honored to work with them. During the speeches each speaker received a standing ovations. This group of people I worked with some I knew from previous events others it was my first time meeting them. It was amazing because we connected, it felt as though I had known my peers for years. During departure we exchanged contact information and agreed to stay in touch. One person worked in the same department as me, we had great conversation at this event. I knew we would see each other more often now which was awkward for me because I did not know how well our future interactions would go. As I reflect on this event with my peers compared to other groups of coworkers I have performed team task with the Development Network is by far the best group. As excited I am to work with them again I dread the thought of working with teams not as successful as this one. I believe the way a group ends determines the success when they reunite in the future for team work.

Week 5

My direct manager Barb allows me to change my schedule twice a year to accommodate my children schedule. I change my schedule once in the summer then once at the start of the school year. This past week my manager ask me was I working 8:30pm to 5:30pm? I was thinking this is my set schedule I responded. “Are you trying to be funny?” Barb responded. “Excuse me?” She was taken back by my response. I was shocked at how she reacted. She always play with her direct reports with sarcasm. Barb is the very direct but comforting manger. She walked away from me very fast. I sat at my desk plugged my head phones in then began working. Barb was upset with me I knew this because she diverted her attention each time I came around after this incident. Later in the afternoon Barb said. “Deondrea you need to complete these deals before 4pm.” I knew Barb was still upset with me because she does not talk to none of her employees in a demanding manner. I feel in this situation instead of Barb avoiding me after the confrontation she could have expressed her discomfort with me. Instead of me assuming Barb was upset with me I could have expressed my concern with Barb.  What other ways do you feel I could have resolved the conflict with Barb?    

Week 4

After completing the communication assessment I found that the way I communicate differs dramatically from how my friends opinion on my communication. I was previously aware that my male friend felt my communication skills was not perfect with him. I expected our results to be different, I was actually surprised his communication assessment for myself was higher than I evaluated. To know that he thinks highly of the way I communicate is a boost for my confidence. According to my female cousin she evaluated my verbal aggression at a moderate level while I scored myself at a low level. When I communicate with other on a personal level I am either critical or pacifying which is in line with the level I scored myself. Communication is perception this evaluation has taught me although I may believe my communication skills are excellent or poor others opinion differ based on what they have observed.

Communicate Differently?

On Friday I lead our monthly Adopt A Class meeting. There is a total of twenty two volunteers all which I have yet to meet everyone. The volunteers was due to meet in the main lobby at 11:40 am. Kenny is a volunteer I have not previously meet before. When Kenny arrived in the hallway I assumed he was someone else because of his ethnicity. Kenny is Chinese I had assumed his name would be of the Chinese origin. After I gathered my thoughts realizing I was being prejudice against Kenny mentally I proceed to be the leader expected.  While Kenny, Michelle Adrienna and myself were in the car talking Kenny began speaking I turned to face him so I can clearly hear him talk. When it was my turn to talk I faced him while speaking slowly and annunciate each word clearly to ensure Kenny understood me. When I spoke to Adrienna I turned away from her began talking normal.

From my experience when working with individuals of a different cultural groups I communicate differently. I use facial expressions and gestures to effectively communicate. This tactics are effective for me because there is a language barrio that exist. When I use hand gestures and different facial expressions this helps the individual I am communicating understand me. It also helps me understand them because they tend to use hand gestures or use objects as a references. I have adapted this method of communication a few years ago when I began working in customer service.

Week 2

I watched the television show “How to get away with murder” I can tell the lady is the teacher or professor because she is at the head of the classroom pointing at students or calling their names. I am assuming based on how she makes eye contact with individuals. From the facial expression it looks as if the professor is intimidating her students. She has a frown as she speaks while I all the students. The student’s facial expression show fear or discomfort. After watching the show for about 10 minutes on mute I turned the volume on.  The women was a college profess teaching law. She was very directed and aggressive. When she ask the class a question they were trick questions. If the student answered the question correctly the professor had a follow up question leaving the student feeling uneasy. The professor also has a few interns which are her students as well. In the classroom she asked a question the male student answered correctly but she gave him two hours to prove his theory.   Body language and facial expressions in this television show gives an detailed interpretation of how the charterers communicate. If this was a different television show with a family I may have not been able to interrupt their communication in such short period of time. Facial expressions and body language speaks on how well you communicate as well as how well the information is received.

Week 1

As I reflect on my mother communication skills I would agree she effectively communicates. She delivers detailed information, she always makes eye contact with person/people she is talking too. My mother always reiterates what she previously said, she also ask does everyone understand. As a child my siblings and myself use to joke that my mother was secretly a teacher because the way she talked to us. Whenever I am with my mother I always ask her to give directions or explain things to others on my behalf to ensure others comprehend. I want to model her attention to detail as she communicates. She watches the audience’s facial expressions, this tells her who is listening, who is confused and who understands. My mother also keeps a smile as she talks. I was expressing to my mother the frustration I have when I communicate with my nine year old daughter, she responded it takes great patience’s to communicate effectively. She also stated it took her years to learn how to effectively communicate by her job being overseeing a dozen employees these skills are mandatory. I personally believe communication is the key to a successful relationship.