I remember as a child telling my mother a problem and she told me that I was being ridiculous. “Being ridiculous” always stuck with me as I grew up. Those two words shaped the way I communicated with people most of my life. It is surprising that one person can have such a profound impact on my life. I certainly didn’t have a bad life in regards to most, but I now understand that words, and the way someone says them can carry ramifications that last a lifetime. “Most if not most of us, are brought up in environments where we are partially exposed to behaviors that are ineffective in developing a strong sense of self and sometimes are responsible for creating low self-esteem” (Neukrug, 2017, P. 4). It is time that I learn effective communication skills to be assistance to others as well as …show more content…
I think the most important aspect of communication is listening. All too often people do not take the time to listen, and most wait with the objective to rebuttal. Active listening is key into gaining someone’s trust. To do that a helper must come from a place of empathy, acceptance, and genuineness. “Individuals who show acceptance feel comfortable allowing others to express their points of view, and they do not feel as if they need to change others to their way of understanding the world” (Neukrug, 2017, P.8). I believe that these attributes are essential in assisting someone. I remember when I lost my job. I had to apply for SNAP benefits. The worker that I had, was understanding, listened to my plight and assisted me. She was able to provide me with a few other resources and assistance. I remember feeling relieved and cared about. It was just what I needed to help until I found another job. Her competency as a Human Service provider is something I aspire to be. The video touched on being sensitive to a person’s cultural and ethnic background. I think this is an important issue because what I feel is acceptable, may not be acceptable in other cultures. “The United States is becoming an increasingly diverse country. Soon, fifty percent of the country will be minorities” (Neukrug, 2017, P. 13). With that being said, it is important to be culturally sensitive.