A520.3.5_RB_Supportive Communication_Wathen_Sandra

A520.3.5_RB_Supportive Communication_Wathen_Sandra

This is my blog to describe how I can integrate supportive communication in my present position, utilize the guidelines detailed on page 265 and describe the expected outcomes that may result from my efforts.

There are ten behavioral guidelines for supportive communication as defined in Chapter 4 of the 8^th edition of Developing Management Skills (David A. Whetten & Kim S. Cameron, 2011):

1.       Differentiate between coaching situations, which requiring giving advice and direction to help foster behavior change, and counseling situations, in which understanding and problem recognition are the desired outcomes.

2.      Communicate congruently by acknowledging your true feelings without acting them out in destructive ways.  Make certain that your statements match your feelings and thoughts and that you communicate authentically.

3.      Use descriptive, not evaluative, statements.  Describe objectively what occurred, describe your reactions to events and their objective consequences, and suggest acceptable alternatives.

4.      Use problem-oriented statements rather than person-oriented statements; that is, focus on behavioral referents or characteristics of events, not attributes of the person.

5.      Use validating statements that acknowledge the other person’s importance and uniqueness.  Communicate your investment in the relationship by demonstrating your respect of the other person and your flexibility and humility is being open to new ideas or new data.  Foster two-way interchanges rather than dominating or interrupting the other person.  Identify areas of agreement or positive characteristics of the other person before pointing out areas of disagreement or negative characteristics.

6.      Use specific rather than global (either-or, black-or-white) statements, and, when trying to correct behavior, focus on things that are under the control of the other person rather than factors that cannot be changed.

7.      Use conjunctive statements that flow smoothly from what was said previously.  Ensure equal speaking opportunities for others participating in the interaction.  Do not cause long pauses that dominate the time.  Be careful not to completely control the topic being discussed.  Acknowledge what was said before by others.

8.      Own your statements, and encourage the other person to do likewise.  Use personal words (“I”) rather than impersonal words (“management”).

9.      Demonstrate supportive listening.  Make eye contact and be responsive nonverbally.   Use a variety of responses to others’ statements, depending on whether you are caching or counseling someone else.  Have a bias toward the use of reflective responses.

10.  Implement a personal management interview program with people for whom you have responsibility, and use supportive communication to coach, counsel, foster personal development, and build strong positive relationships.

Using the behavioral guidelines identified above will assist in increasing my abilities for developing effective supportive communication skills.  Applying these guidelines will provide a positive interpersonal relationship with people and therefore avoiding a feeling of distrust, hostility, defensiveness, etc.  It will also help me to foster interpersonal growth; both personally and professionally.  I also see how it will help me to have strong relationships that will aid in delivering negative news as how this type of information needs to be communicated in a sensitive manner.  Through reading this chapter, I now understand that one of the biggest problems with supportive communication and its affects with positive relationships and positive performance.  Effective supportive communication is essential for a successful leader or manager. 

These guidelines have also made me realize how in applying these guidelines will provide clarity and understanding of the message I am trying to provide and how it will be received by the recipient.  Basically, it is an effective tool for me to use to improve my competence level of communication with others.

In essence, supportive communication using the guidelines described above will provide me the ability to build positive interpersonal relationship in a way that enhances feelings of trust, openness, and support; hopefully long lasting.    It will also assist with the accuracy of the information that I am trying to transmit with little change from my original intent.    Basically, it will allow me to communicate accurately and honestly; especially during challenging times or circumstances.  It will encourage me to strive to maintain positive relationships between me and others – address the problem, give feedback (both positive and negative) and resolve the issue at hand. 

In summary, if I apply these guidelines, I feel strongly that I will be able to obtain positive interpersonal relationships, and as a result - the recipients will feel energized and motivated from our conversation.