Page 375 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

Model Question Papers | 363

iv. Listen to nonverbal messages that are often communicated by students. The tone of
their voice, their facial expressions their energy level, their posture, or changes in their
behaviour patterns can often tell, more than what is actually verbally said. When a stu-
dent comes in obviously upset be sure to fine a quiet time then or sometime later to help
explore those feelings.
v. Be interested in and ask about the student’s ideas and opinions regularly. If you show your
students that you are really interested in what they think, what they feel and what their
opinions are, they will become comfortable about expressing their thoughts to you.
vi. Avoid dead-end questions (that require a yes or no answer) they put an end to the inter-
action rather than extending it. Students should be asked to describe, explain or share
ideas to extend the conversation.
vii. One of the most important skills, good teachers must have is to listen to and have
the ability to put themselves in the shoes of the students and empathize with them by
attempting to understand their thoughts and feelings. As you listen try to make the
students feelings clear by stating them in your own words. Your empathic listening can
help students express themselves clearly and accurately and give them a deeper under-
standing of words and inner thoughts.

10. The self is the most important agent in the process of communication. Who we are and
how we see ourselves as well as, how others sees us, what roles we play for the vari-
ous audience, what we need and value—all these are very important in interpersonal
communication. Who we are is to a large degree determined by responses we get from
others to our behaviours. These responses shape in many ways how we see ourselves,
and so we are in an ongoing, spiraling, transactional process called communication’.
In short, self concept is learned, maintained and changed through interpersonal com-
munication. See how others see us. Cooley for example, developed the concept of the
‘looking glass self’, as the process of imagining how the self appears to be for another
person. The concept of self is a reflection from the mind of others. All these develop
because of our interactions with people and on their interpretation of our behaviour.
The entire cycle frequently turns into a self-fulfilling prophesy.
11. Successful communicators share predominantly five traits. They are as follows:

i. Perception: They are able to predict how you will receive their message. They antici-
pate your reaction and shape the message accordingly. They read your response
correctly and constantly adjust to correct any misunderstanding.
ii. Precision: They create a ‘meeting of the minds’. When they finish expressing them-
selves, you share the same mental picture.
iii. Credibility: They are believable. You have faith in the substance of their message.
You trust their information and their intentions.
iv. Control: They shape your response. Depending on their purpose, they can make you
laugh or cry, calm down, change your mind, or take action.

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