Effective_Communication

D1 – Social Studies Evaluate the quality of your communication and interpersonal skills on one-to-one and group interactions. Your evaluation will involve a more in-depth discussion of the factors that have influenced the effectiveness of your own interaction. In my on-to-one communication, I applied the communication and the interpersonal skills correctly to my own understanding following the methods of communication on the self-assessment paper. However, I am going to evaluate the one-to-one and group discussions together, as their assessments/performances were same. There were not many differences in them. As the discussions began, I confidently took the lead, since my partner/partners, either was waiting for me to say something or did not know how to open the discussion. I maintained a steady eye contact, since we were from same cultural background and understand that maintaining eye contact means listening with attention, above all, a level honesty or seriousness can be ascertained sometimes from looking into someone`s eyes while listening to them attentively. To my own opinion, to maintain an eye contact during communication is very important. Meanings are constantly lost because this is not use. My facial expression was not too serious, but was appropriate, showing the seriousness of our discussion and how important the discussion was. I showed interest in our discussion, because, although I started the conversation, my partner showed a great deal of understanding in the topic as well. I maintained a good posture, holding my head high in other to hear and understand the words that were being spoken to me. Showing confidence and boldness cannot really be over-stressed, but is very effective during communication. Lack of confidence will cause ineffectiveness in a communication cycle the effectiveness will be lost. I maintained also a level tone of voice, because speaking loud will be seen as being angry or speaking low may be seen as being self-conscious and lacking confidence. The words I spoke were very distinct and understandable. The positions of my arms and hands were equally appropriate, and they were not slopping down as if something dead and without life, but were placed appropriately and I used them to make gestures, while trying to bring meanings into my spoken words. The air in the discussion room was very relaxed. There was no need for muscle tension. I showed confidence, discussed intelligently, shared my opinion, encouraged other to take turns, so there was no need to be tensed. The proximity in the seat arrangements was perfect. The seating arrangements were nearer to each other but not close enough to make the other feel uncomfortable or talk into each other`s face. There was no need for me to touch any of my partners, because we took turns to talk. Although in the group discussion, one of our partners did not make much contribution, I encouraged and prompted her to take in the discussions. I used open questions like, “what do you think about the subject matter'” Furthermore, the discussions were set on a time limit , but before the time limit elapses, the group did not have anything more to say, so I prompted them again by bringing up an article concerning the issue of discussion I read on that day`s newspaper. The discussion became once again lively and each of us was able to remember and contribute some other ideas that was forgotten and made contributions individually. This made us to complete our set time. Without these promptings, the discussions would have been uninterested and repressed knowledge will not be remembered nor shared, because sometimes, one do not know that he/she has an opinion over a particular issue until being prompted. I reflected a lot on what one of my partner’s opinion concerning our discussion, in that, I learnt a little more on the UK system concerning the issue. Therefore the listening and reflective skills were a very important aspect which was applied and used appropriately throughout the discussions. Non application of these skills would have distorted the communication, rendering it ineffective. At a certain point in time, there arose an argument between us, because of information, which was not appropriately used and because I was a bit knowledgeable about the issue, I used my assertive skills to convey my understanding of the issue to group. The assertive skill came in place, because my partner, not well versed on this issue argued about it. However, at the end, proving my point with examples, I was able to make her understand and accept my own standpoint concerning the issue. Looking into these two discussions and my own performance, I can confidently say that all we have learnt on the communication cycle was appropriately put in practice. It made me also see the extent and differences in each person, which will help me to understand people more in a social setting and when working in my chosen profession as a carer, which will be more demanding. Applying the communication skills also shows its effectiveness to the discussion. A lot of meanings will be lost regularly because; these skills are not put in place. Many people have been seriously or even lose their lives because someone misunderstands the exact meaning he/she was trying to put across. It is very important that communication skills be used when communicating, especially in care settings, where there are so many diversities and mental illnesses. References: BTEC`s own resources Ideas and experiences from the classroom and social settings.