Alexander Carter

Deborah Layton

Interpersonal Communications

1/24/19

Communicating is very important to me, rather understanding what people mean when

they communicate with me. I consider myself to be a very strong in understanding what people

mean to communicate. However, in my attempts to understand there are times where I come

off as insensitive to some people. One situation I can always explain as to why I know I am

strong in understanding is when I almost got into a fight with someone over a

misunderstanding. I was doing my work and reading the material from the class and this person

had thought I said something behind their back. Personally, I try my best to not talk bad about

anyone but sometimes it does happen. When confronted about it I simply asked them to slow

down and explain what they were referring to. After some talking I re-iterated my words in

what I meant versus what they heard. Thus, diffusing the situation and both parties coming to

an understanding about what was said.

Another time I was walking down a street and found myself in a conversation with someone

that mistook me for one of their friends that betrayed them. I was confused and asked them to

slow down and explain, when they got done I showed them my state id and continued the

conversation in hopes to make a new friend.

Personally, I think my weakest ability is that I sometimes lack empathy. My main reasoning for

saying this is due to the fact when people have a dog that just recently died I either try not to

talk or I say, “Sometimes these things happen.” Or “Death is normal, let’s keep moving

forward.” Whether or not it’s because I feel that death is natural or that I lack empathy

sometimes I am not sure. But it is something that I do need to work on. I do my best when it

comes to understanding but considering others’ feelings is not my strong suite. Do not confuse

this with the ability to take another’s life, I may sometimes lack empathy, but I can’t bring

myself to hate someone much less think about hurting them to the extent of never being able

to recover from it.

I don’t consider myself a bad person for thinking this way or miscommunicating situations or

not quite understanding feelings in it. When it all boils down to it, I am simply a logical person

and try not to let my emotions dictate my actions or sayings. This has its draw backs and its

advantages, but in the end, it allows me to try and understand people and what they mean

without having issues and letting my emotions run free and make judgment calls on their own.

If I were to think to myself how others feel I know that I will stop and think before saying what I

want to. It’s having the thought of others’ feelings that I need to try and take into

consideration more often. I recognize that I need to work on considering others’ feelings more

often and think about what I should say before saying what the logical choice or reason is for

the current situation.

As to how this relates to communication competence is easy to see. Although I get the results I

want and am truthful (sometimes brutally truthful) it is not always appropriate at the time.

Looking at how I am sometimes unable to take into consideration others’ feelings it seems self-

explanatory as to how it relates. I may get what I mean across to other people, but they may

see it as insensitive and not humane at times and too logical to the point they may think I am a

robot. This is without a doubt the most challenging area for me to try and improve on.