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Inter - and Intrapersonal Skills
This learning outcome transcends the other five in that without growth in this area, it would be near impossible to have growth in any other. This outcome calls for the demonstration of self-understanding, ongoing personal development, and interest and ability to learn about difference. We are operating in a society where the ability to work in groups, communicate with others, and articulate effectively are no longer additional skills but rather a necessity in all fields. Being culturally sensitive and knowledgeable, being able to enhance productivity by understanding group dynamics, and being committed to self-growth are now required skills sought after by all employers. Having the opportunity to reflect on my own development will not only be advantageous for my understanding but will also enhance my ability to articulate the learning with which I have been engaged for the past two years.
Interpersonal skills are one’s ability to communicate with others, while intrapersonal is being able to self-reflect and process internally. Both skills require intentionality in thought around personal communication, one’s strengths and weaknesses, and one’s ability to develop in those areas. Both should have the ability to influence each other as the development has the potential to be cyclical in nature as processing occurs, but being able to read others and being able to read yourself can be difficult.
I believe these communication skills focus heavily on word choice and being intentional about the language with which we chose to communicate. I try to pay attention to what and how I articulate because it sends a message about who I am as a person. Much of this intentionality in my language is a result of my social justice course, while the way in which I approach conversation can be related back to my Helping Skills course. In Social Justice we learned week after week about theoretical frameworks related to different areas of social justice, privilege, and oppression. Learning about social constructs, I began to realize the harm in speaking in such definitive terms, realizing that many aspects of identity can be fluid. I recognized that my word choice and the way I communicated could potentially be silencing someone else’s and if I had an interest in learning about others different than myself, which I most certainly do, I needed to be more conscientious of my communication. Our Helping Skills course really helped as I began to focus on the actual conversation portion of communicating, not just my choice of words. The way in which I converse can send an unintentional message and those skills were developed throughout the semester. Pausing to let others speak and not having something to say immediately once they are done are essential to maintaining a good conversation. It was important that I really made sure to listen and ask questions when conversing with someone different than myself to ensure that I understood our conversation. This is important as I develop not only in this learning outcome, but as a person who communicates with others.
I have had the opportunity to see changes in my communication as a result of various experiences. My role with the All Service Trips Planning Team, for example, required that I facilitated reflection around some of our service opportunities. This was a great example of my growth in being comfortable with silence, letting others speak and express themselves, and prompting conversation based on what some students expressed which shows that I was listening to what they had to say. I have also been able to see growth in my communication simply by the way I now articulate my thoughts in conversations with others. Understanding and communicating the difference between goals and Learning Outcomes now with my students is an example of those changes, not to mention growth in my own understanding and utilization of those learning outcomes!
The final piece of this learning that is particularly salient to me is growth in my ability to be able to communicate across difference. Difference simply means different than me, so communicating with students of different ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs and so forth. This could also be communication with supervisors or other colleagues not just the students I oversee. Ultimately this learning outcome calls for attention to be paid to the way in which we communicate, and through coursework and experience I have seen the changes in my intentionality with regard to my communication.
Interpersonal skills are one’s ability to communicate with others, while intrapersonal is being able to self-reflect and process internally. Both skills require intentionality in thought around personal communication, one’s strengths and weaknesses, and one’s ability to develop in those areas. Both should have the ability to influence each other as the development has the potential to be cyclical in nature as processing occurs, but being able to read others and being able to read yourself can be difficult.
I believe these communication skills focus heavily on word choice and being intentional about the language with which we chose to communicate. I try to pay attention to what and how I articulate because it sends a message about who I am as a person. Much of this intentionality in my language is a result of my social justice course, while the way in which I approach conversation can be related back to my Helping Skills course. In Social Justice we learned week after week about theoretical frameworks related to different areas of social justice, privilege, and oppression. Learning about social constructs, I began to realize the harm in speaking in such definitive terms, realizing that many aspects of identity can be fluid. I recognized that my word choice and the way I communicated could potentially be silencing someone else’s and if I had an interest in learning about others different than myself, which I most certainly do, I needed to be more conscientious of my communication. Our Helping Skills course really helped as I began to focus on the actual conversation portion of communicating, not just my choice of words. The way in which I converse can send an unintentional message and those skills were developed throughout the semester. Pausing to let others speak and not having something to say immediately once they are done are essential to maintaining a good conversation. It was important that I really made sure to listen and ask questions when conversing with someone different than myself to ensure that I understood our conversation. This is important as I develop not only in this learning outcome, but as a person who communicates with others.
I have had the opportunity to see changes in my communication as a result of various experiences. My role with the All Service Trips Planning Team, for example, required that I facilitated reflection around some of our service opportunities. This was a great example of my growth in being comfortable with silence, letting others speak and express themselves, and prompting conversation based on what some students expressed which shows that I was listening to what they had to say. I have also been able to see growth in my communication simply by the way I now articulate my thoughts in conversations with others. Understanding and communicating the difference between goals and Learning Outcomes now with my students is an example of those changes, not to mention growth in my own understanding and utilization of those learning outcomes!
The final piece of this learning that is particularly salient to me is growth in my ability to be able to communicate across difference. Difference simply means different than me, so communicating with students of different ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs and so forth. This could also be communication with supervisors or other colleagues not just the students I oversee. Ultimately this learning outcome calls for attention to be paid to the way in which we communicate, and through coursework and experience I have seen the changes in my intentionality with regard to my communication.