~Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management~

Blog Assignment
CD 6165-7 Communication ~ Week: 5 

Ants! Ants! and More Ants!

The conflict I am having personally is with my property owner of the house where I live. We are having a strange problem with "ANTS". 

The "ants" are everywhere. We have brought everything on the market to kill those little pest. I have an allergy to the sprays so it is hard to fumigate. 
 
The owner came over to spray outdoors because inside would mess with my allergies. She even wanted to leave the spray and I said “no” my son with Autism may get  hold of the bottle and cause harm. 
 
I have to keep everything cleaned and washed. They seem to respond to the spray for a few hours and then they are back. Worst than anything, the owner thinks it is my fault that the “Ants” are here. I told her when I first moved in my neighbor came and asked if I had an “Ant” problem and I told her “no” because I had no “Ants” upon first moving here. My house is in the middle of these two homes and they have animals, birds, dogs and I don’t know what else. I need help; this is “bugging” me and my family. 

Two Strategies:
Find outside professional help or assistance. I could Goggle the Environmental Protection Agency and see if they can help. Perhaps it is an infestation in the area and everyone needs to know how to get rid of “Ants”. I believe the owner is not being forthright with me regarding these “Ants” especially if my neighbor came over and said that she too has “Ants”. Learn about how to go forward with mediation. 

Managing emotions is a second strategy. Ask myself questions like:

·        What do I want to change

·        Whose problem is this, how much is mine, how much is  theirs?

·        Aim to improve the situation ( I cleaned my entire kitchen)

·        Increase communication

·        Aim the desire to blame

I would like to know how my colleagues would handle what seems like a small problem, but very annoying. What is your input and advice regarding this problem? How have you learned to be effective communicators as it relates to conflict resolution skills?

References:

ACResolution.org. (2011). Association for conflict resolution. Retrieved from http://www.acrnet.org/

Conflict Resolution Network. (n.d.). CR kit. Retrieved from http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3

~Blog Assignment Week 4~

~Week 4 Blog Assignment~

 Who Am I as a Communicator

How Others Evaluated Me:  

People who evaluated me were my son (age 17) and my respite care provider; Cynthia (middle-aged, married and retired)

Similarities & Differences 

Communication Scales Survey – CD 6165-7 Week 4

Verbal Aggressiveness Scale-My score ranged from 61 to 58.

 Everyone thought that I never engage in verbal aggressiveness or personal attacks. Also, I am respectful of others. My lowest score is that I attempt to change the minds of others and may not be respectful of others viewpoints. My highest score was that I may ridicule others who don’t share my viewpoint. 

Communication Anxiety Inventory-My score ranged from 42 to 51.

I scored the lowest in feeling comfortable communicating in most situations. My highest score is reveals that I have anxiety in most areas of communication, making it difficult to influence others. 

Listening Styles Profile-

I am empathetic and concerned with emotions of others; I am business-like; I focus on details and need all information before making a decision; I love a tight schedule and listen to others, efficient but impatient.

Precious Moments

What is the one thing that surprised you the most? Why? 
I wasn't surprised, but I don't have many communicator partners other than my own family, colleagues and people associated with my son with Autism. I don't associate with many people outside the home. I need to make more plans to communicate with my peers. Recently, I have been going to reunions and parties hosted by my high school peers, we are the same age and generation. 

Precious Moments

What other insights about communication did you gain this week? 

Communication is a two-way street.  You have to be honest in all communications with children, parents, colleagues, etc. The three thoughts about ourselves: Self-concept-Knowledge of self; Self-esteem-Feelings about the self and Self-efficacy-Prediction of success for the self is now important to me.Growing up in a family of six and being the last female, I did not have a lot of self-concept nor self-esteem. As I got older, things improved-I graduated from high school early and went nearly 2,000 miles away from home to college.I need to really think about my Self-fulfilling prophecy, I don't think, I will ever get married again. My own mother, never re-married. I don't think, I will get a successful, good paying job, because I have been out of the job market for awhile. I realize that I  have to do the "footwork" and the rest will follow.

Precious Moments

Choose at least two to share with others through your blog and consider how each might inform your professional work and personal life.

1.  I will likely succeed in classroom situations but struggle in more fast-paced environments. 
2. I maintain a good balance between respect and consideration for others' viewpoints.~~~Being a vital  part of the classroom is important to the population we as professionals serve. My desire is to work in a Special Needs classroom and Resource Instructor for Early Child Development. I do not expect to be in a large class, nor this is not my goal. 

Resources:

O'- Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's. 

Precious Moments:Retrieved on 11-18-2012., https://www.google.com/

Rubin, R. B., Palmgreen, P., & Sypher, H. E. (Eds.) (2009). Communication research measures: A sourcebook. New York: Routledge. "Communication Anxiety Inventory"  & "Verbal Aggressiveness Scale" 

Rubin, R. B., Rubin, A. M., Graham, E. E., Perse, E. M., & Seibold, D. R. (Eds.) (2009). Communication research measures II: A sourcebook. New York: Routledge. "Listening Styles Profile-16"

 

~Blog Assignment CD 6165~

 Communication Week~3 ~November 15, 2012~

Charlie Brown~"Thanksgiving"

 
Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures? 

Youth: 

I find myself communicating differently with youth. Sometimes I try hard to understand what they want and how they get their needs met. I try so hard to get on their level, but I am generations removed from their thinking, clothing, lifestyle and many other social norms. I am a "Baby Boomer", very optimistic, crusade for causes, support equal rights for all and work efficiently~ "Millennials" are too close to their parents,

Koreans and Asian Groups: 

I don't like doing business with some Korean men.Most of them have wife's and I am single and they don't treat me as an equal when doing business. They are what Beebe (2011) calls the masculine cultures. They value traditional roles for both men and women.  

Fall 2012

If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?

Youth: 
I don't use slang or words that don't have meaning.  Many youth dress inappropriate to me. I prefer professional attire while in a workplace setting. I also like to use common sense and be patience. 

Koreans: 
I feel as if I do business with someone, they should respect me and treat me as an equal. When I am getting a manicure, the Asian women are rude and constantly converse in their own language, I feel that they are talking about me and this is extremely rude because they are not involving me in their conversations. 
 

Copernican

Based on what you have learned this week, share at least three strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified.

~My desire is to improve my Intercultural Communication Competence~

Develop skill:

Be Creatively Flexible~ Learn as I interact, and be willing to adjust my behavior as I learn~

Become Other-Oriented~ Put myself in the other person's mental position (social decentering) and emotional mindset (empathizing)~

Adapt My Communication ~ Adjust my behavior to others to ethically accommodate differences and exceptions~

References:

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.