Conflict and Communication

Most recently at work we are facing a conflict between staff and management, as I am a part of the management team.  The issue is that we are not achieving the success we can potentially have because of quality and aesthetic problems, and the staff has their own opinions on these issues. One strategy we used in solving this issue is using some of the guidelines of nonviolent communication.  We needed to understand each side of of the issue in a clear and respectful manner.  With this in mind we had a staff meeting to have an open conversation about goals, plans and where we needed to go, allowing everyone to input on the conversation without bias. Another strategy that is helpful is situations like this is the 3 R's, being respectful, reciprocal, and responsive.  Each party needed to be respectful to one another and their positions and contributions to the program. Then be understanding and responsive to each others opinions, suggestions, and ideas. In the end the biggest ideal in solving conflict is to be clear in your own intentions and be respectful to the other party.

Communication cont.

When looking at my communication test results and what others assessed of my communication, what surprised me the most is how accurate that the results are.  When it comes to communication, one on one is what I prefer.  Public speaking and  or speaking in front of small groups often times causes me to have slight anxiety. I have taken public speaking classes before, which the class became very close and so the atmosphere turned into what I considered family like, therefore it became very easy for me.  Recently stepping into a management role has forced me to face this fear of public speaking again.  I have become comfortable speaking at staff meetings, which is a small group, speaking with parents has always been easy for me; but now I must present training's to my staff and staff from several other centers at once. When faced with this situation for the first time my anxiety was at an all time high, but by the second half of the presentation I was much more comfortable.  This week I have learned about perceptions and how important it is not to let my own schemas effect how I communicate with other individuals.  I also learned a lot about my self and how I view my communication skills. Taking in consideration what I have learned I will be able to better communicate with families and commit to working on my communication and anxiety.  

Cultural Diversity and Communication

When thinking on the question do I communicate differently with different groups or cultures, the answer to the question is yes. Communication among my friends and family is different from communication with my colleagues and families. This is because of the nature of the relationships that I have with those individuals.  It is the same when I speak with families of a different culture, when speaking with these families there are so many aspects to consider like traditions, customs, and even language barriers.  Communication is directly related to relationships and understanding individuals.  With my family and friends I am more relaxed, sometimes we communicate in code(something only we understand), and the freedom to say anything that comes to mind.  The keys to my communication with others is empathy, being open-minded, and always thinking about the relationship with the other person or persons.

Communication-Television

I watched a television show that I have wanted to see but never have, Once Upon a Time. I viewed the original episode on Netflix.  In the beginning of the episode there was an introduction using words that outlined the plot of the episode.  Then there was a male character who I assumed to be a prince because he was riding a horse and then approached what looked to be sleeping beauty surrounded by dwarfs, he had a look of worry on his face, they removed the top and he kissed the women. She awakened with a look of shock then happiness and then it showed the two of them getting married.  Their wedding was interrupted by a woman dressed in black, who was moving people out of the way with her power, her face was scowling at the man and women(prince and princess). The show then moves to present day where a woman walks in a restaurant and is having dinner with a man, they smile back and forth while talking then the man looks enraged and knocks over the table and runs out.  She has a serious expression and chases the man.  Once back at home a child comes to her door and by the looks they have an intense conversation. I assumed this child knew her, but she did not know him.  When I went back and watched the episode with the sound, indeed the two characters in the beginning where sleeping beauty and her prince.  The women is related to the child, he appears and reveals that he is the child she put up for adoption 10 years ago.  Watching the show without sound makes you realize communication that we do with our facial expressions, hand movements, and reactions to others.  The nature of this show having the written statements in the beginning gave me some idea of what to expect when the characters appeared on the screen, without this my assumptions may have been far from correct.

Communication

When thinking of someone who has competent communication, I picture Oprah Winfrey. When ever she does an interview she engages the interviewee as well as the audience.  She relates to the interviewee as they are conversing and shares personal experiences to create a more personal and intimate conversation.  As she listens she acknowledges what the person is saying and repeats back to them in her own words what they have expressed.  All of these behaviors make her an excellent communicator, and the fact that she has her own show where she strictly communicates with others one on one also exemplifies her excellence. Comparing my communication skills I can improve by modeling some of these very same behaviors.  I believe Oprah is a perfect role model for learning good communication skills.

 

When I think of research.............

As the end of the course approaches I think about my journey with research. In the beginning I was no stranger to research, but I have learned a lot over the semester.  Especially when it comes to research design and choosing a method of design.  It is important to ensure the validity of your research design, consider ethical issues, and recognize limitations in your research study. In the creation of my research study I encountered design problems in the beginning but adjusted the method that I was using.  In early childhood education research is a necessity to evaluate current methods, policies and procedures.  Research has been the sole way of developing new ideas for the field for years. For myself as an early childhood professional this course has changed the way I look at the field and things that I experience daily. I now think about to improve through research, through studying new methods and theories, staying current is a necessity.

Research Around the World

I took a look at Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) website. I discovered their are links to several websites in regard to research projects conducted in different parts of Africa.  Such as In Nigeria the federal government has joined with UNICEF to train those who work with children in centers on AIDS awareness and health in children. In Ghana they are focusing on creating quality early childhood centers.  As with most individuals I did not think there would be much early childhood research in African nations but this proves that the federal government of many African Nations are making similar efforts to create quality care for children in the early years as well as educating parents.

Reference:

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php