SELF-AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION

A variety of behaviours and other factors that can interfere with effective communication:

• Interruptions

• Judgments

• Angry intonation

• Too much/too little physical distance

• Environmental conditions (noise,

time constraints, physical obstacles)

• Threats

• Prejudice

• Gossip

• Accusations

• Lies

• Rumours

• Condescension

• Sarcasm

• Inappropriate use of technology

• Bias

• Cognitive/functional limitations

• Cultural dynamics and differences

• Individual characteristics and

personality types

Reflect upon a difficult conversation,

argument, or confrontation that you’ve

experienced. In your notes, jot down

the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND

WHY of the encounter.

Once you’ve established these details,

analyse HOW the encounter occurred,

using the list of factors and behaviours

that can interfere with effective

communication.

Carefully consider the following

statement:

Undesirable behaviour is often

generated

by anxiety (or other similar

feelings) that result from unmet

needs.

Now, with this in mind, imagine the same encounter, but

change the story you have about the person or situation.

For instance, the person you were dealing with was feeling

afraid, embarrassed, threatened, intimidated, in need of

help, etc. Which of their needs was not being met in this

situation?

Write down what you would do differently to handle this

encounter now that you have an understanding of effective

communication? Include some strategies from the “Facing

the Dragons: Some Key Skills” handout.

THE BIG IDEA

• What you tell yourself about the person (or the

situation) will often determine how you feel

• If you are imagining that the person in front of you who

is yelling is angry, rude, or just a jerk, overall, then you

are likely to feel defensive and respond in kind

• Fear makes people behave badly; managing fear

(yours and that of others) is of the utmost priority in

difficult situations

Using MBTI Self-Awareness to Communicate Effectively

• We all perceive and experience things differently

• It’s important to be able to consider what YOU

might be contributing to difficulties, or WHY the

other person might be behaving or communicating

a certain way

• Awareness of type differences can increase your

effectiveness by strategically speaking the “type

language” of the receiver