The Comeback Kid Strikes Again

There were few differences and more similarities between how I evaluated myself as a communicator and how others evaluated me. The one thing that surprised me the most was my listening skill, because, I have been told how good a listener I am from friends, family, and colleagues and I was surprised to see some evidence of it. Other insights I gained this week were not to jump to conclusions about people just by looking at them. It does not matter if they are in a picture, on television, or in person “you cannot judge a book by its cover.” Knowing this will help me with building relationships with children and their families professionally, and with people I meet and do not know in my personal life. My other insight was how communicating and collaboration go hand- in- hand. If you have good communication skills than you have a better chance of mutual satisfaction for both parties, which would be good sign of competent communication. Good communication skills work well professionally...

Where there is life, there is “culture.” From the beginning of mankind there has been culture. A certain way groups of people do things and live. Thinking about the cultural diversity I see, I do find myself at times communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. Since I started in this program, I have a willingness to advocate for more “cultural competency” taught in the classroom. This would be one of my first strategies to communicate effectively with the children and their families, and for myself.  I feel some way or another there would be “mutual satisfaction,” from communicating competently to the children and their families... If you can reach and teach cultural diversity at an early age, I feel the chances of all children having biases, prejudice and stereotypes, would not be so great, I they learn and can identify cultural diversity. The second strategy I would use to communicate effectively would be to be “other oriented.” How could it hurt ...

I watched an episode of “Modern Family” and the guys seemed to be happy to talk. All the couples were happy. They were standing close to one another. When they were upset arms were crossed and they would not have much face to face time. When there was conflict one character would say some words, then the other person would walk or look away. Aha moments with the sound on, was when one guy realized his partner’s family really likes the “EX” and they are still in contact with him. I did not know what the second was looking for until the sound came on. They were looking for their son’s backpack. I have learned you really do not know a person’s true intentions by first impressions, whether verbal or non-verbal  communications  are involved. 

     I feel as though our present President of the United States, Barack Obama demonstrates competent communications because, since he took office his whole context of communicating to the American public, Congress, and the House has been helping this nation rebound from the financial disaster, and becoming a strong economic country again. His behaviors are patience and his willingness to find mutual satisfaction (in reference to “competent communication,”) not only with people who agree with him, but those who disagree with him too. He is careful “what he says, and how he says it.” I think this makes him very effective. I would like to model myself him because, if I am going to advocate for early childhood education I need to be effective in my communications, so I can get successful results and mutual satisfaction.