Based on what you have learned thus far about effective and ineffective communication, what plans can you make to improve your own personal communication techniques?

Positive affirmations are great ways to send positive messages. Positive affirmations are statements affirming or confirming what someone has done or said. Look at the following examples of positive affirmations:
• I can tell that you’ve worked really hard on decorating your room. I like the colors you have chosen and the decorations you have added. (Rather than walking into your sister’s room and saying, “Oh my gosh! What have you done to your room?”)
• Thank you for helping me with my project. I was having a hard time understanding the concepts. By showing me where to find more information, you helped me get the project done in time. (Rather than taking your friend for granted.)
• You have very creative ideas. I like your suggestion for our family vacation. Maybe we can sit down together and make out a plan of action. (Rather than, “Your idea is way too complicated.”)
• Providing Feedback: I-Messages

• In addition to using positive affirmations to provide feedback when communicating, we will take an in-depth look at how to use I-messages to express feelings and how to paraphrase for better understanding.
• I-messages are statements of your feelings and a description of what you want without placing blame or judging someone else’s behavior.
• Here is a scenario:
• Your boyfriend/girlfriend has just arrived late for the third time.
• An example of a You-message would be if you said, “Why do you always have to be late? You don’t care about me at all.”
• In this case, you have blamed your boyfriend/girlfriend, made them defensive, and kept your feelings secret. This is an ineffective way to communicate. When you blame others, you put them into defensive mode. Your boyfriend/girlfriend may respond by making up excuses or trying to point out your faults, which will only further complicate the situation.
• Providing Feedback: Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing is another great way to provide feedback while communicating. When you paraphrase, you are restating what the speaker has said in your own words. This helps clarify communication and allows expression of feelings.
• For example, Melissa is telling her friend about a fight she had with her mom. She is telling her friend how her mom is always on her case and prying for too much information. Her friend says, “So it sounds like you want your mom to leave you alone.” At this point, Melissa can either confirm that her friend understands her or she can point out what she is really feeling by saying, “Well, its more like I just want her to not ask me so many questions about school. She just wants me to go on and on about school and I don’t like to.” Her friend would then understand exactly what kind of problem Melissa is having with her mom.
• Here is another example:
• Jim is telling his dad about a hard project he has been working on. He is explaining the components of the project and how he is having a hard time doing the research. His dad might say, “Wow, it sounds like it’s hard to find the information.” Jim might then say, “Yeah, that’s it.” Or he might say, “Well, its really that I’m having a hard time
Communication Stoppers
In addition to the five communication roadblocks (Close-talker, Devil’s Advocate, Evil Eye, Reach out and touch someone, and Time Out), there are communication stoppers that are often encountered
Assignment:
Writing Assignment: Communication Improvement Plan
Based on what you have learned thus far about effective and ineffective communication, what plans can you make to improve your own personal communication techniques? Write a two-page paper describing your Communication Improvement Plan.
Second assignment:
Graded Assignment: Writing: Advice to Communication Tech Users