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Personal Communication Improvement Proposal

Table of Contents Overview Description of Problem Resources and Constraints Recommendations Summary Works Cited 3 4 5 6 7 8

Overview I have thought that this communication class has been very insightful. It has given me the tools to personally change myself as far as my communication skills go. Thinking about all of the communication skills that I may not be so great at, I thought that working on my nonverbal skills would be a good one. I think that if I could improve this downside in my life, than I might be able to improve in other areas of my life, like relationships, friendships, and partnerships with school and business. The strategies that I will use can help me to better this weakness and improve new communication habits that I can work on.

Description of Problem Going through all of the examples of communication terms, there were multiple that fit the bill of things that I could improve on. Narrowing it down to one single topic was tricky, but it is the one that I think can better my life the most, if I do indeed improve that weakness in my life. I chose to do nonverbal communication. Communication that is nonverbal could be anything from looks on your face to the way your body is positioned. From what I gathered in the text, nonverbal communication involves messages expressed without words. (Alder & Elmhorst, p. 90) The book also discusses the fact that the messages that you may be sending off nonverbally can often send a bigger message than the messages simply spoken. It also brings up a point about how easy it is to send off a nonverbal message, but your appearance and the way you present yourself, or even your facial expression that you may have not even meant to make. I have had a lot of instances where I have been talking to my friends and they will tell me that before they even got to know me, they were afraid to approach me, because they felt that I came off as intimidating, stuck up, or rude- just because of the way my facial expressions translated to them. I have been asked a lot by my parents and other peers in my classes if I am okay or if there is something wrong, because I just seem annoyed or angry when Im not smiling or saying anything. I have also had some times recently that I have noticed at school that I would be in class, and when the teacher is trying to explain something to the class and I dont understand, I raise my eyebrows and sort of glare. To them, I feel like they might take it as rude, where I am just trying to understand the concept being presented. Two completely different meanings, yet only one purposeful message.

Resources and Constraints In order for me to improve in nonverbal communication, I need to have resources that are going to help me take action. One good resource that I could use would most definitely be the textbook used for our class, Communicating at Work. It gives great examples for what would help me to gradually be better at communicating, both verbally and nonverbally. In the textbook, it says While nonverbal communication can create powerful impressions, the messages it conveys are ambiguous (Alder & Elmhorst, p. 92). From that statement alone, I think that getting my friends and family to support me and let me know when I may be giving a questionable facial expression, so that I can fix it before I do it in a situation that could potentially ruin something I have going for me, for example, a promotion at a job. I dont see as many constraints as some people might face when trying to find time to improve their communication skills. Some people work a lot of hours and go to school full time, and I do too, but I think that it could really be beneficial to work on my nonverbal communication in my school and work setting. That is where the problem has seemed to occur, so I feel that that is where it could be fixed too.

Recommendations I think that in order for me to achieve better communication skills in the area of nonverbal communication, I need to self-monitor. Self-monitoring is the process of paying close attention to your behavior and using these observations to shape the way you behave. (Alder & Elmhorst, p. 101). From that same passage, it explains the difference between high self-monitors verses low self-monitors and how the low dont realize the negative impact left from some of their nonverbal behaviors, where high they do. I am mainly a low self-monitor, and dont really notice right away that my nonverbal cues may not be necessarily appropriate in my situations that I am faced with. I can apply self-monitoring while I am at work and dealing with my residents at the retirement home. I lose patience fast and become very irritated, and I think that I can learn to stop and control my defensiveness. It tells me in the book to keep an eye on how you may look and sound to others in order to enhance your image as a professional (Alder & Elmhorst, p.101). The other step I can do is really show interest in others. One key term from the textbook is immediacy. It describes verbal and nonverbal behaviors that indicate closeness and liking. (Alder & Elmhorst, p.101). That basically means that if I want to show more immediacy, I need to make more direct eye contact, practice warmer vocal qualities, and use a more positive facial expression. In the text it says, Immediacy cues are especially important in the beginning stages in a relationship. First impressions are powerful, particularly when strangers dont have much other information available to form opinions of you. Even after you know someone well, there are times when immediacy is especially important. (Alder & Elmhorst, p. 101). I could use this skill at school, when I am conversing with my teachers, or when I am involved I group activities with my peers. I also think that this can relate to my job at the retirement home as well. I can warm up my voice a little and let them know that I do have interest in what they have to say and what their needs are.

Summary With the information and the goals that I have implemented as far as showing immediacy and monitoring my behavior, I will be able to be more successful with my progress in the workplace, as well as at my school and in my own home. It will help me develop better relationships with the people that I have in my life, and could also help me gain more friendships with people that I currently dont have in my life. It can also help make my work a more harmonious experience for both me, and my residents. I plan on basing my progress off of the recommendations I have pulled from my textbook and am eager to see where I can go from there.

Works Cited Adler, R & Elmhorst, J. (2013). Communicating at work: SLCC custom text (2nd ed). Boston: McGraw Hill.