Health A Unit 8 communications strategies

Listen

To hear and think about the other party's message

Active listening

To hear and think about, and respond to (provide feedback) the other party's message

Closed Posture

A closed posture in which one party may have their arms crossed or hands in pockets can communicate that they are closed and disinterested, or uncomfortable with the communication.

Feedback

A helpful and understanding response to the other party's message.

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Actions speak louder than words. Sometimes we speak so clearly with our nonverbal communication that it can relay a message all on its own. You do run the risk of misinterpreting nonverbal-only messages, and because there is no verbal communication, it's hard to tell how the other individual interpreted the message.

What is the combination of listening and feedback?

Active listening

Active Listening

Active listening is the combination of listening and feedback, and it is one of the most important tools in effective communication. It involves using verbal and nonverbal cues to show you are listening. Active listening can be shown through both verbal and nonverbal cues. After reading the following scenario, who demonstrated active listening skills and how? Who did not, and why? How did active listening help? Tara was meeting with her two group members, Charles and Ilene. Tara was sharing with them the plan for the group assignment. As Tara was talking, Charles was making eye contact, taking notes, and asking questions when he needed clarification. Ilene was looking around the room, constantly checking her phone, and kept asking Tara to repeat herself. As a result, Charles did an excellent job on his part of the project and Ilene had to constantly ask for help.

Open Posture

An open posture in which both parties have their arms open and are engaged in conversation communicate that the parties are open to one another and interested in the communication.

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Are you a good listener? Measure yourself against the following checklist to see how effective you are at listening. Do I interrupt or try to finish the other person's sentences? Do I often jump to conclusions and make up my mind before I hear the complete statement or story? Do I often give advice when speaking with others, even when it's not requested of me? Do I take a lot of notes while the teacher is talking and sometimes miss some of what was said? Do I have a habit of failing to respond to people after they have finished talking? Am I not patient enough to listen to all that people have to say? Do I lose my temper and interrupt when I hear things I disagree with? Do I often try to change the subject and discuss things that relate to my own experiences? What did you find? If you answered yes to any of these, you could use some practice with active listening. What could be done differently with each bullet point?

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Are you aware of your body language when you communicate? Notice the difference in your posture and eye contact when you are speaking with your friends as opposed to your parents and your teachers. What is the difference? In which interpersonal relationships are you more confident, relaxed, or engaged? In which interpersonal relationships are you more nervous, uncomfortable, or disengaged? How can you change your body language so that you don't communicate negative feelings? Based on the picture, which groups would you say are the most comfortable and least comfortable in conversation, and why?

Body Language

Body language is the use of gestures and movements to relay messages. This can include body movements, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact.

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Communication is not just about speaking, but also about listening and providing feedback. This is called active listening. Active listening means that you hear, think about, and respond, or provide feedback, to the other party's message. This skill requires that you pay attention, use body language, wait your turn to speak, ask questions to check for understanding, and mirror thoughts and feelings by repeating back what the other person has said. This also lets the other person know that you are listening and are empathetic. Active listening is a very important part of communication as it can help to eliminate miscommunication. Here are some tips for you to use when actively listening in communication: Paraphrase the message to the speaker to confirm your understanding. Repeat the message to help you remember what was said. Probe for missing information. Clarify any points that you don't understand. Remember the important points of the message.

What type of nonverbal actions can be associated with a closed posture?

Crossed arms, slumped posture, looking away from the speaker.

Which form of body language used to show interest and attention could be looked upon as rude, aggressive, or disrespectful in other cultures?

Eye Contact

Eye Contact

Eye contact is the act of looking eye-to-eye in interpersonal communication. This form of body language is important in interpersonal communication because looking the other party in the eye communicates confidence, interest, and respect. It also makes it easier to pick up on other people's nonverbal cues. This requires an open posture in which the parties are face-to face. However, this may differ from person to person. Some people can be just as engaged in a conversation in a side-by-side orientation. In some cultures, in fact, eye contact may be a form of disrespect, rudeness, or aggression. In any situation, it is important to know the values and cultural norms of those you are communicating with.

Facial Expressions

Facial expressions are motions of the face that indicate feelings and emotions. A smile, a frown, or even the arch of an eyebrow can tell a lot about how someone is really feeling, regardless of what is communicated verbally. Facial expressions can show happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, anxiety, frustration, or any other emotion you can think of!

In math class, when the teacher introduces a new concept, Lynn always raises her hand and rephrases what the teacher has stated to be sure she understands what was said. Which component of active listening is Lynn demonstrating?

Feedback

I-Message

I-messages are key to effective communication, especially in conflict resolution. When using I-messages, you place the focus on your feelings and point of view, rather than putting the focus on the other person.

Listening

Listening is to hear and think about (process) the other person's message.

Facial expression

Motions of the face such as smiles or frowns that show feelings and emotions.

What term refers to the use of unspoken actions or expressions such as body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and posture to provide additional meaning to communication?

Nonverbal Communication

nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication is the act of speaking or communicating without using words. It is the use of nonverbal expressions. Body language such as gestures, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact are nonverbal expressions used to provide additional meaning to communication. Nonverbal communication can be used in addition to verbal communication, or on its own. Sometimes people can send mixed messages when their words (verbal) and their body language (nonverbal) do not match.

Posture

Posture is the way someone stands or sits to show their interpersonal relation or reaction to another. Posture can show confidence, authority, comfort, inferiority, lack of confidence, submissiveness, discomfort, nervousness, embarrassment, excitement, boredom, etc. An open or closed posture can communicate a lot about feelings. For example, a slouched seated posture can indicate a lack of confidence, while a standing posture with hands in pockets or playing with hands can indicate discomfort or nervousness.

Self-Disclosure

Self-disclosure is the sharing of feelings, experiences, hopes, and disappointments. This skill requires good speaking skills where you think before you speak, make clear and simple statements, use I-messages, are honest, and use appropriate nonverbal cues.

What are the three keys to effective communication?

Self-disclosure, I-Messages, and active listening

Are you listening?

Sometimes you may question whether or not you effectively communicated your point to someone else. You may feel that you were misunderstood. Other times someone may communicate that you misunderstood what they were saying! In both situations, you must think about whether or not you communicated effectively using self-disclosure, listening, and feedback. Self-disclosure must be well-thought-out, honest, clear, and focused on your feelings. Listening must be accompanied by appropriate verbal and nonverbal feedback (active listening).

Eye-contact

The act of looking eye to eye during interpersonal communication to show respect and confidence

Body Language

The gestures and movements of the body

self-disclosure

The sharing of feelings, experiences, hopes, and disappointments.

Nonverbal Communication

The use of unspoken actions or expressions such as body language, Facial expressions, eye contact, and posture to provide additional meaning to communication.

Posture

The way someone stands or sits that shows interpersonal relations

Feedback

When you give feedback, you respond to the other person's message with a question, rephrasing or mirroring what was said to show understanding and engagement.

What are you really saying?

Your body language can tell a lot about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions while you are communicating. During face-to-face interpersonal communication, your body language can let the other person know if you are comfortable, confident, excited, or engaged. Likewise, it can show just the opposite. During communication, think about who you are communicating with, and what you want the other person to know. Your nonverbal communication is different for different types of interpersonal relationships. You are more comfortable in some relationships than others, and that can show in your body language. If you are nervous, sometimes you have to consciously show a different facial expression or posture to communicate confidence instead. That might take some practice. There are also instances where your body language and inner feelings may be mismatched. Have you ever laughed when you were really nervous, or cried when you were really happy? These types of body languages show something different than what you may be feeling. This must be taken into consideration when communicating with others. Utilizing verbal communication along with nonverbal can help clear up any confusion.