1). Return to the eight principles of nonverbal communication. Pick two principles, and provide new examples of how they operate in a group or team.
“It impacts the quality of relationships”: Having good relationships with your group members is essential to the overall end success of the group. You could be doing something nonverbally that you’re not even aware of – or maybe that you are aware of – that one of your group members could be interpreting negatively. Maybe you never make eye contact with them so the person thinks you don’t like them or got offended about something they said prior. The book uses the example that if you don’t sit next to someone or get up and move away from them might send a negative signal; that seems so elementary school, but it is true. The person may end up thinking that they smell and don’t know it or that you simply don’t like them, etc. Additionally, it could affect relationships if you don’t respond to something they say. For example, when everyone is talking as a group if you don’t address them afterwards or give them nonverbal cues that you’re listening it can be portrayed as rude or that you don’t like them and will obviously affect that relationship. When/if nonverbal communication affects relationships in groups negatively that will affect the quality of the work that gets done, or not done, and will affect how an oral presentation goes If the group has to do one.
“We should concentrate on improving our own action”: Ourselves are the only people that we can full control, so we should try to improve our own actions instead of someone else’s. For example, we should concentrate on listening better nonverbally, not doing things that could offend or be interpreted negatively by others. Focus on using better eye contact; focus on listening more effectively to others talking and making it obvious that you’re listening and understanding them (i.e. not looking down or texting, not being on Facebook on our laptops, etc). I think we can all improve our group nonverbal communication, because 90% of people in classes at SJSU check and update their Facebook instead of fully listening to the instructor (don’t have that problem in this class though, haha).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
John,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your structured responses here! I, too chose the concepts of quality of relationships and improving your actions. I agree with you when you say that we are the only person that can fully control ourselves and actions. All too often, people who are apart of a small group will try to control another person's actions before controlling their own. I think that if we live as an example, then we can be an example. Also, your reasoning for the quality of relationships is really good. I like how you demonstrate the importance nonverbal listening techniques, in order to support the speaker during conversation. Even if a person disagrees, there are still nonverbal techniques that they can display in order to encourage the speaker. Great blog!