•Do you find yourself communicating differently with people
from different groups and cultures?
In communication with diversity within my family occurs with
my precious bi-racial niece and nephew whose mother is Caucasian. Over time I have
learned to understand, respect our differences as I have learned to adapt my behavior
and we communicate well each other. We have developed interpersonal
relationships. However, there remain issues
within some family members in communication effectively particularly, when dialogue
becomes heated and communication shuts down between her family and mine when is
the subject of prejudice comes up. The
children are left with much confusion.
Strategies to help me communicate more effectively with the
Caucasian people in my family:
1.
Develop motivation to learn and improve our
acceptance of others who are different from us (Beebe, Beebe, & Redmond,
2011).
2.
Develop knowledge to break barriers of having
different communication codes to improve our and communication with the
Caucasian member of our family to become (Beebe, Beebe, & Redmond, 2011).
3.
Develop skills to adjust to others to overcome cultural
barriers and individual differences to become other oriented in order to
communicate effectively (Beebe, Beebe, & Redmond, 2011).
Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011).
Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn
& Bacon.
Hi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteYou have provided some great strategies for effective communication. I know that it seems hard to discuss issues concerning prejudice/racism. It's so much going on in this world today. If we can just see pass color this world will be a much better place. "Together We Stand Divided We Fall" Unity!!
I like the terms "communication codes." It can feel like trying to decipher a code when communicating with others. Emotion such as anger and frustration can cause challenges in effective communication, yet it is so hard to leave emotion out sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteI think all the strategies you listed will help with the communication in your family. Discussing racial issues when there are multiples races within a family can be difficult at times. We experiences that this summer when the Trayvon Martin trial began. Keeping the lines of communication open is important. Thanks for sharing.