Blog Post #5 Reflections: It’s something different!

My motivation for embarking on this module was possibly due to the practicality of the course. But having gone through the entire semester and being involved in collaborative work and assignments that drive at the importance of interpersonal skills and effective communication, it had led me to understand that effective communication is all-encompassing. It is a skill that goes beyond the means to attain a successful interview or job application, because communication skill relates the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect people and which is inherent in any situations.

Through the oral presentations, I have gained an awareness of how to structure a presentation. In illustrating my understanding of the needs of the audience to the intended action I hope for the audience to take, the organization of a presentation is crucial. The importance to create a presentation that is persuasive and  which addresses the needs of the audience had not been emphasised more enough. From the feedback gathered during the peer teaching exercise, I had been stiff; not moving away from the podium and which hindered my engagement with the audience. Although having kept in mind the feedback received and maintained eye contact with the audience; I thought that speaking with coherency is something I could improve on although it seemed a feat forming sentences in one’s mind and speaking at the same time. In this respect, I could have done away with the unnecessary pauses that affect the fluency of my delivery.

Besides, being passionate about the topic and letting that enthusiasm come through is something I look to improve on. Great content is still fundamental for a presentation, similar as for having professional and well designed visuals. But possibly the work from all these would not be justified if the presenter did not have a heartfelt belief in his topic, and this implies the ability to connect with his audience in an honest and exciting way. This will be a skill I need to focus in future.

Next, writing awareness, 7Cs! Through the blog posts and writing assignments, I have gained an awareness of writing techniques. I have learnt the importance of being concise and complete in writing; to be concise is to be to the point, and complete is to make sure that all the information has been included for the reader to do a complete job or make a reasonable decision. Effective writing has also to be clear and succinct so that the writing remains focused.

There were many instances aimed at encouraging participation, whether in-class discussions, feedback sessions or blog commentaries. These were definitely means towards developing one’s confidence and growing accustomed to one’s ability to engage, or even gain an awareness of how one relates to situations and be able to communicate effectively regardless the context. I have a better awareness of how I engage people, along with effective communication that includes having eye contact, appropriate gestures, although this could be better enhanced with more confidence in speaking.

Overall, it had been an amazing time with the people I have met and the knowledge I have gained. In fact, one of the reasons for taking up this module is because it offers a different module. There had been much learning, not only from Ms Happy, but also from everyone. There are many perspectives to empathise with and many more experiences to learn from. I would like to thank Ms Happy for her guidance and patience in giving feedback on our individual and group assignments. It has definitely been everyone’s collective search for better communication skills that has made the experience so positive!

An interesting depiction on varying interpretations to communication

Blog Post #4: Evaluating Intercultural Behaviour

Susaday!
‘Good day’ in Khmer

I have been to Cambodia on personal trips, but gladly, with children from an orphanage to guide me from place to place. Cambodia offers a pleasing experience. I remember fondly walking against congested traffic, alongside motorists with more than one passenger riding pillion, making my way through the streets that seemed to have no form of traffic order. It is the rustic feel of the country, and the friendliness of the people that makes me want to go back again.

– Jerina

Holding discussions with our Cambodian counterparts require much patience. A group of us had arranged for several meetings with the director of an orphanage, Mr Soch, to discuss on ways to allow the orphanage be self-sustainable. Cambodians do not convey their thoughts directly. While this had not ensued in a conflict, it was at times difficult to understand what our counterparts were thinking, and this opened to misinterpretations.

In a bid to achieve sustenance for the orphanage, we suggested an employment scheme to Mr Soch. This would allow the older children to gain workplace skills and thereby gain employability by the time they finish their studies. Mr Soch remained silent, and smiled pleasantly, which we perceived as he took in our idea. With the consent we thought he had given us, we went on to map out the businesses in the vicinity of the orphanage where the children could work at. Over the next few days, we continued to discuss on the same topic, but Mr Soch also suggested other areas where the team could help the orphanage with. As he had put his ideas across mildly, we thought little of his intentions in stating his preference.  And on several occasions where we had wanted to deliberate on the possible firms that could tie-up with the orphanage, he kindly explained that there were meetings he had to attend, and apologised for not being able to host us.

In our feedback to our organisation of the little progress out of our engagement with the director, we then realised the implications of his actions and communication style. Cambodians are indirect communicators, so some reading between the lines is a necessary skill. In fact, if Cambodians disagree with someone, they would rather remain silent, and smile as a form of politeness then to defend their opinions and state their thoughts outright. They would prefer ideas to be brought up in a gentle way and wait for others to respond. This would not have been the case in our local context, where we often feel pressured to make others understand ourselves first. In addition, we came to learn of the concerns Mr Soch had with sending the children out to work. Cambodia is still very much a developing country. However much we try to locate businesses with favourable environments for the children to work at; there lies the possibility of corruption and ill-treatment of workers, such as unjustified wages. And given the climate Cambodia prevails in, where financially many still struggle to make ends meet, the director do not wish to expose the children to such an outlook and thereby perceive money as a necessary commodity. Mr Soch emphasises on education for the children.

The misunderstanding was cleared, after considering the cultural differences.  Communication seems such a normal thing to do that we tend to think that everyone communicates in the same way that we do. But holding on to our way of communication and judging what others have to say in our own cultural context can give rise to misinterpretations, especially in a country such as Cambodia, where speech and manner is implicit.

Blog Post #3: Application Letter

Job Advertisement: Maritime Industrial Attachment Programme

12 February 2011

Application for Maritime Industrial Attachment Programme

Dear Human Resource Officer,

I am currently a Year 2 student majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. I had read about your attachment programme from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore website, and I am interested to apply for the programme as I believe I have the skills and qualities being sought.

I have gained a strong foundation in principle areas of mechanical engineering sciences, namely applied mechanics, electrical and fluid engineering. I am also equipped with skills to provide and interpret engineering drawings, having been exposed to SolidWorks 2010. Beyond technical aspects, professional communication, critical thinking and writing modules have prepared me well. These academic pursuits put me in a good position to face the challenges and demands of this field.

Being an active and versatile individual, I engage in various activities that enrich my well-being and hone my leadership skills. Through my involvement in UNI-YMCA@NUS, I have acquired the experience of organising overseas community involvement programmes and in my capacity as Social Enterprise Director, I have initiated business ventures that secured significant funding to sustain club activities. My commitment in leveraging the social entrepreneurial model can be testified by outreach efforts that extended beyond local grounds, where I realised a social enterprise plan for a foreign voluntary organisation. Having undergone an internship with the Ministry of Education, I have exemplified the ability to perform in a fast-paced and challenging environment. Independence, being results-oriented and teamwork are qualities that I believe identify with the nature of your work.

I believe I have the right attitude, personality and passion to excel in any responsibility given to me. The maritime industry portrays a dynamic and challenging outlook; I am thrilled with the prospect of learning something new and applying my engineering knowledge in the maritime industry. I wish to have the opportunity to learn and contribute in this industry. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Thank you for your consideration and attention.

Yours faithfully,
Tan Zi Hua Jerina

Blog Post #2: Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

An Unnecessary Dispute

Reflective of any team, collaboration is an essential skill that contributes to the success of the team. Each of us brought along our own aspirations for the voluntary organisation we were working for, unfortunately, this led to conflicting views on how work should be distributed.  The diversity in views had not work to our advantage, as each of us wanted to enforce our own ideas upon the organisation. This could be due to the nature of the work, since voluntary endeavours give one credentials. Thus, we wanted to be acknowledged for our work in contributing to the underprivileged. To further complicate matters, there was no leader to guide the team in a clear direction.

At a certain stage of the team discussion, it was evident that the team was not progressing. Realising the urgency of the project, Claire immediately took initiative and proceeded with plans of her own without consulting the rest of the members. She sent out an email, which detailed the tasks that needed to be done, and even assigned the job distribution and deadline.

When the deadline approached and Claire started emailing reminders to the members, she was surprised to receive an email from Hanh, another member of the team. Hanh asserted that Claire had not consulted the opinions of the team, which made it seem like the rest were delivering work for Claire.

Claire was indignant and replied Hanh with a long, formal and polite email. It clearly depicted her stance that the project needed someone to lead and she felt there was just her to take charge. Hanh became more aggressive in her subsequent correspondences with Claire. She refused to work with Claire, until she changes her authoritarian approach. The other members were torn apart between the two and it affected the dynamics of the team.

Looking at the dispute between Claire and Hanh, how do you think I should react to improve my team’s dynamics?

Blog Post #1: Why effective communication skills are important for me

Communication involves almost every aspect of our interactions with others. We cannot have a relationship with others without communicating with them. Because our ideas and interests are translated to other people through the way we communicate, we are more likely to get our needs met if we communicate effectively.

I have experienced ineffective communication that led to a mere display of politeness, both persons afraid of embarrassment, because we were unable to understand each other. Also, people form judgements about us based on the way we communicate; it influences how they communicate in return. Poor communication then inhibits us from holding meaningful conversations.

Effective communication is the ability to convey messages accurately to the recipient, such that the intended meaning of the message is captured. I have placed much emphasis on what I say, and less on how I say, thinking that what I am communicating gets though to the recipient. But sometimes varied interpretations arise from what was said. In fact, our body language, facial expressions and level of interest send a signal to the perceptive observer. They communicate our attitudes, ideas and beliefs.

Clearly, communication goes beyond the spoken word. It is interesting how we try to capture it within a communication model when it is so pervasive, yet important enough to be studied in detail.