Great Communication Excerise For All

·         For this assignment, again consider what you have been learning about communication skills and styles. Then record an episode of a television show you do not normally watch. Watch the show with the sound turned off.

I have selected to watch Workin’ Moms, season 1 episode 1, found on Netflix or many other channels.  I watched through https://www.cbc.ca/workinmoms/

·         What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

·         What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

In this show there were 3 main characters it appeared, 3 women.  These women seemed to be friends and the show would cap on pieces of each of their life.  The first character was a dark brown headed mother that has a CEO position at her job.  There was a scene at her job, where she was the only female and was able to make the pitch or sale.  Of course this baffled the men in the conference room.  The next woman has dirty blonde curly hair and sales homes for a living, a realtor.  Her life seems to be very disturbing from the actions she displays on the show.  At one time she had submerged her head in a pool of the home she was showing.  A potential homebuyer was scared and pulled her out.  The facial expression on the homebuyer’s face was of disgust and shock. The last member of the group of friends is a blonde-haired lady who attends a doctor’s appointment on this show.  From the impression I gained from reading the body language and facial expression, she did not receive good news at the doctor.  She was in shock and rather upset.  When she entered her home, she was very upset and withheld her information at first from her husband.  After a few moments of their home life, we finally see the conversation with her husband and the shock and concern on his face from the news she is sharing.  As they are comforting each other with hugs and signs of empathy through his demeanor.  With this first show experience include many actors/actress, the focus was on the main 3 women.  From the start of the show you see them sitting in what I assumed was a breast-feeding support group, but turns out not to be from the response of the other women in the group.  So I assume the show is focused on the relationship and lives of these three women, whom display a comical demeanor I believe.  I look forward to turning the sound on, as it was very interesting and I was eager to truly understand what was going on.  Non-verbal can indeed be beneficial, but it can not give you adequate or ample information to obtain what is necessary to process I feel.  For examples the facial expressions of the individuals when the women were in their group meeting with their shirts off.  I do not believe it was a breastfeeding support group as when the show continued you see the other women in the group clothed.  As also when the one character receives news at the doctors office, her face tells she indeed received bad new or news that I am sure no woman would like to hear.  The best scene to me on the show that I truly understood from the actions and behaviors was at the very end.  The very dark- haired CEO mother is jogging with her child in a stroller on a trail in a forest.  She runs onto an area that a bear is rambling through trash cans.  She immediately stops.  The bear growls, yells or whatever sound they make.  She stands in front of the stroller and yells back at the bear.  The bear rubs off.  As a mother myself and the juggles I face, watching this show I could relate to her approach to the bear.  I am eager to listen to the dialogue between the characters, to get an accurate impression of the plot and characters.  I would like to see how accurate I was with at least the main characters.     

·         Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.

·         What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

·         Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

Once the sound was up and I replayed the show, I found some of my assumptions to be some- what accurate, but mostly off for the most.  For example one major mistake I made was of the blonde actor whom visited the doctor.  She did not receive the news I assumed she had.  My assumptions was that possible an abnormal exam occurred and she found out she diagnosed with cervical cancer or another medical illness.  When in reality the woman found out she was pregnant, which was shocking news for anyone in that situation.  As she had just delivered another child 9 months prior.  Another assumption I made was from the first scene, the women appeared to at a breastfeeding support group for mothers.  Well, these women were at a support group, but not for just breastfeeding.  Apparently they had previous feed, but was finished and just talking amongst themselves about the difference in their breast.  As the scene moves forward we see the facial expressions and comments of the other women.  Encouraging them to put their cloths back on.  I would say the greatest assumption I made would be related to a reality facing these women, postpartum depression.  Creating many emotions all at once and seening to feel overwhelmed.  For example this explains why the blonde realtor had submerged her head in the pool.  She had previous spoke with her significant other and child on face-time and was missing them, as this was her first day back to work.  Without the sound previously I was a bit confused.  I assumed she had some concerns, but of course realizing the situation now, we understand . 

            If my situation had change and I had watched a show that I was familiar with or already understood the plot and characters to “Workin Moms”, I feel my assumptions would have been a bit more accurate.  I appreciate the skills and understanding I gained from this exercise.  I feel honestly we all could benefit from the concept of how we misinterpret individuals and or a conversation from afar.  Not to mention the hidden bias or thoughts we may already have pertaining to the subject or topic of communication.  Through the gained knowledge from this week’s resource, I was able to gain the knowledge to be more attentive to the ques in communication.  “To receive the optimum amount of information in the message, it is important to interpret a speaker’s nonverbal cues correctly” (p.113).  When words are not put with these cues, it can indeed be misinterpreted.  Just as the nonverbal cues can be interpreted during the communication process.  The ability to demonstrate and interpret communication skills accurately is vital in comprehending a conversation in it’s meaning and or relaying a message accurately.  I challenge each individual to try this exercise and see indeed how factual you are and possibly why not, once listening with the sound.

Reference

O'Hair, D., Friedrich, G. W., & Dixon, L. D. (2011). Strategic communication in business and the professions. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.