Conflict Resolution

I have been working for Head Start for four years and in the Fall of 2014 I got promoted to a Pre-K lead teacher. My first year was great. I was able to get additional resources to use in the classroom, go on unlimited field trips, and do a lot more other things. I was enjoying Pre-K and happy that I was chosen to be the lead teacher in this great state program. My second year was not like the first year administration got very strict and we could not do the same things that we did the previous year. I was not happy with this,but I still did my job and did not let this bother me. After all of this, my Head Start Director called me and said that they would have to decrease my pay due to human resources making a mistake paying the new Pre-K teachers too much money. My first response was you guys are just now figuring this out? It took you all a whole year to find this out? She told me to come by and sign stating that I agree to the changes. I told her I was not going to sign anything because I did not agree to this and I was always taught if you do not agree with something do not sign it. My mom drilled this in my head and my sister and she still does till this day. Unfortunately my pay still was decrease, but I took this matter to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and they could not do anything because the lady said that they were not discriminating because everybody did not get a pay cut. I asked could they take my pay after having this for a year and she said that sometimes it takes a year before they see what the problem is especially is they are getting audit. I was so upset, but I still taught my children to the best of my ability and did not let this get in the way of my job performance. I thought about my master's degree and told myself that this is my motivation to move forward in life. Pursuing a master's degree was the best decision I could have ever made and I remind myself daily and strive to do whatever it takes to keep pushing until I receive it. I am not mad at anyone because I know what my intentions are and what I need to do to get into a new position.

Conflict resolution is a way for two people to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among them. Eventually, I was able to meet with the Head Start Director and she explained to me in detail why the agency had to decreased my pay. Although I still was not happy, she told me to continue doing what God chose me to do and do not think that my work performance was not being notice because it was. I was thankful for that.I am glad that we were able to sit down and discuss the matter effectively and resolve a conflict that was growing between us. I am still unhappy with the agency, but I just pray that something bigger will come open for me soon. I feel that the 3 R's played a great part in this respect, responsiveness, and building relationships because we were able to create all of these in the conversation that we had with each other. I learn to resolve conflict effectively by treating everybody involved with respect.

I have a question for my colleagues what are your input and advice regarding how you guys have learned to be more effective communicators as it relates to conflict resolution skills?

Communication

My communication skills are normal especially when I already know you and feel comfortable talking to the person. I have to work on speaking in front of crowds and holding conversations with random people. In my opinion, I have a great voice, when talking to someone my body language is accurate, and my observations are good too. I assessed myself on communication and also another person which was my husband who I communicate with on a daily basis assess me as well.I also talk with my coworkers and ask them to share what they think of my communication skills. My husband said that I am a great communicator because I am easy to talk to, I listen, and I never make him feel like that I am not listening. I thought that was interesting because I already knew that I do what he explained.My coworkers told me that I am not a person who just starts a conversation off I wait until the person comes to me and then I start talking which is also true. I never start talking first unless I just have to I always wait on the person to say something to me first, but it just depends on the situation. I agree with my husband and my coworkers because their insights about me is the same way that I feel.

One insight that I gained this week is making a first impression is important. I find that others view you in seconds so much of what you need to make a good impression is common sense. Interacting with other people helps them to feed off you to know what kind of person you really are. I learned how the people I communicate with daily thinks of me and this will help me professionally to speak in a crowd. I know that I can do this because my opinion of myself and what others think is making my confidence even higher. We should not judge people, but everybody does have their own opinions whether good or bad. I think communicating with a person for yourself you will find out what you need to know without having to assume.

Another insight that I gained this week is my confidence to be a great communicator through interacting with classmates on discussions, and blogs. We may not see each other in person, but we do communicate and share our ideas. I feel this is our way of implementing our communication skills and we are getting stronger with them weekly because this class is helping us with this. I feel this will help me professionally because what I learned in this class will help me be a more effective communicator at my job and when I move up in leadership.

Cultural Diversity

Culture is how we define ourselves in this society and it influences how we see others. When I communicate with people from different groups and cultures I show that I care about their communication skills. I agree with the statement that I communicate differently with people from different groups and cultures. As a teacher, when communicating with my students I always make sure I talk to them correctly pronouncing my words right and explaining to them what they mean just in case they do not know. When I communicate with adults I usually speak with them the same way,but on a much higher level because they are adults and they may not want me to explain everything that I say. When I communicate with colleagues, it is very important that you understand how they interact by observing them. I really think this helps me communicate with them knowing what communication skills that they follow. Building positive relationships with children, adults and colleagues is very important and this is what I strive to do daily. I feel that this is important with diverse families even though they are from different cultures we still have to treat them the same.

Looking back at this week's learning, communication is more than speaking or writing. To be effective communication requires the creation of a common understanding of ideas, and observations among people. Effective communication is key to maintaining good relationships with diverse families, children ,adults, and colleagues. I have learned to maintain eye contact, show good body language,and understanding better different languages that are presented to me daily. We always need to value different cultures because that makes them feel special and I know that they will do the same for us.Understanding the different meanings and types of culture is important.When we think about culture, it helps to give us a better understanding of this society ideas, beliefs, and values that we experience every day.

Communication

For this week's assignment, I observed communication with and without sound. As I completed this assignment, I came to realize that communication is really observing and may not always be a verbal conversation. I now know more about nonverbal communication, body language, and facial expressions. I recorded an episode of the TV show "Friends" this is a show that I do not watch so I thought this was a great choice. I watched the episode with and without the sound on. My assumptions were the same both ways.

The characters relationships are based on friendships because all of them are best friends living in the same apartment complex in New York. They hang out together, laugh together, and always have each others back. As I observed nonverbal behavior, I saw that everyone minds their own business and not dating each other because they take their friendships seriously. In the episode that I watched one lady was talking to another lady smiling, laughing, and having a deep conversation. I assume that they were very close and enjoying whatever they were talking about. As I continued to watch, another lady and guy were in the living room watching TV she gave him the remote I am thinking to find something else on because the lady pointed at the TV smiling. They were smiling at each other, making funny faces, and watching a movie. I finally decided to turn the sound up and they were watching a movie that the lady had rented and thought it would be nice to watch because they have not had time to just sit and relax on a Friday night.

After watching this show, I have discovered that I am knowledgeable about nonverbal and verbal communication skills just by observing what was going on. I was accurate with my observations. Non verbal communication is important as verbal communication and it is important that we treat both the same.

Demonstrates Competent Communication Skills

For this blog assignment, I would have to say my pastor Rev. Michael R. Jordan demonstrates competent communication skills at the church weekly. Rev. Michael R. Jordan is the pastor of New Era Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been the leader of this church for over twenty years. He is someone that I can say loves to have that effective communication with all his church members. He is the prime example of listening first to what ever the situation may be, gives his opinion, and offer suggestions to help the problem better. Pastor Jordan holds several titles that he carries out very well such as a pastor, counselor, friend, teacher, motivator, and I see him as a father figure. I have seen him have effective communication skills in interviews about the church when he puts up eye catching messages on the church sign and when he ran for a position with the county it was amazing to hear the conversations between him, his opponents, and his intentions for the job with the county. He is also a special education teacher at a local high school where he supports children with disabilities and a mentor to special needs children /parents. I can tell that he loves his job because he always has something nice to say about his week at work on sunday. What I love most about him he use to work for the salvation army helping homeless men, recovered drug addicts, etc find a new direction in life even though he doesn't work there anymore he still is an advocate for homeless people and anybody else that has a serious problem. Pastor Jordan is now working to turn one of our fellowship buildings into a shelter to feed the homeless and a place for senior citizens to hang out. I know for sure he gets blessings after blessings because he is always lending a helping hand and doing what a pastor is suppose to do going above and beyond daily. His interactions with his members, other adults, and children are real because he gives a good example of how communication is suppose to be between people.

I would want to model my own communication behaviors after my pastor because Rev. Jordan has great eye contact and listens before he comments. He is a well-known pastor that some really respect and admire and of course you have those that see differently, but I see him as a man of God who is educated and dedicated to doing what God tells him to do effectively.