Adjourning

I have to admit that it has been a long time since I sat on a group that had a specific task and would adjourn at the end of the project.  The group that I felt most cohesive with and had the hardest time saying goodbye to was my special education team.  This group wasn’t formed with a specific project in mind rather we had the responsibility of running the special education department within our school.

This group was very difficult to leave because of the cohesiveness and closeness we felt as a group. When groups have a specific vision and can work in conjunction with each other I believe they are more efficient which makes it harder to leave.

Some of our meeting norms were to start on time, follow the agenda and respect opinions. By following an agenda the adjournment process was simple, quick and efficient. Our team knew when the meeting was over and what our individual responsibilities were for the week. Having an adjourning system makes the process more comfortable for those involved.

I am curious what our adjournment process will look like as we near the end of our program.  Will there be a blunt ending? Will it be a process, as we get closer to the end? My hope is that we will have the opportunity to say goodbye, get contact information from our classmates and stay in touch as we continue with our careers. 

Managing Conflict

Conflict will arise in any relationship. My husband and I both have a lot on our plates.  He is starting his career as a real-estate agent while staying home and raising our son. I am working full time, getting my masters and finding the balancing act between wife and mother. Needless to say, our tempers have been short and we have had conflict as our stress levels rise.  As I have read the course resources this week two techniques I have found useful is practicing non-violent communication and finding a compromise. Last week my husband assessed me on my communication style. According to his results, he feels I sometimes blur the line between attacking the person vs. the issue. Using the strategies within non-violent communication has caused me to be more aware of how I communicating. I believe compromise is one of the best options when resolving conflict. Each person has to give a little while still feeling validated and respected.  I have used these strategies this week and have found success. J

Communication Skills and Styles

I scored a 49 in the communication anxiety category. This puts me at the moderate level. I have always struggled with being anxious in front of a small group or when speaking publicly. I do better in a one to one setting. One thing that surprised me was that both my husband and dad thought I was comfortable speaking in public. My husband put me in the low category and my dad in the mild. One theory I have on this is that my personality is outgoing and I comfortable talking to new people. Because of this they assumed I was comfortable talking in front of a group.

I scored a 64 on the Verbal Aggression Scale. This put me in the moderate category. My dad assessed me in the same category. However, my husband put me in the significant. I have thought a lot about this section. My dad and I have similar personality and communication styles, however, my husband and I are different in the way we communicate.  He is more laid back where I need to talk it through and have closure.

Finally, I am people oriented on the listening styles profile. My husband and dad both assessed me in this category as well.

My dad made the comment that I choose two men to assess me in the communication skills. I have since wondered if a woman would have had similar or different results.

After reflecting on these results, I want to continue to take on projects that challenge my fear or public speaking. I want to make a stronger effort to speak out during our team meetings or trainings I may attend. I also want to be more aware of my husbands’ communication style and how my directedness may hurt his feelings.