Read chapter 7, for autographed copy www.hci-global.netNovember 19, 2008
“We are not the Red States and Blue States; we are the UNITED States of America!” President Elect Barak Obama
Once again, the power of positive, clear communication inspired the hearts and minds of millions! If you can think of any single skill that most strategically helped President-Elect Obama achieve his goal as Commander and Chief of the United States of America, effective communication would have to be right up there with #1. The 2008 Presidential Election ignited conversation about the possibility of change around the world. I suggest, as we move from excited shock to the excitement of what it means to participate in change we will better understand the importance and power of Communication – the art and the science!
Isn’t It Time You Bring Communication to the Forefront of Your Life?
Dear PS: Conversations about Communication™
Welcome to the 7th and final 2008 edition of Dear PS! For the last 7 months we have taken step by step the 7 steps of the Communication Staircase empowering our communication awareness and skills. We hope you have benefited from our learned knowledge about applying effective communication tools in your life. In this edition, we are discussing the ever increasing need to be culturally competent in your communication. We now live in a global community. How prepared are you at making room for ‘others’ in your workplace or community? Make sure you read chapter 7 of The Art and Science of Communication: Tools for Effective Communication in the Workplace. Also we want to share ASC endorsement by Ken Blanchard of Ken Blanchard Companies:
“If you want to improve your relationships at work, you may need to learn how to communicate better. In The Art and Science of Communication by Pamela Perkins, you’ll learn how to express yourself more effectively and how to better understand the people around you. This interesting book is sure to perk up your people skills!”
-Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and The One Minute Entrepreneur™
Alert, we are moving forward globally with Humanity Unites Brilliance (HUB). Visit the HUB website at http://www.elect.hubhub.com/; it’s an opportunity to work together to uplift humanity.
Thanks for a momentous year of faith, love, support, struggle and triumph! See you next year!
God bless us all!
Visit our blog for Dear PS archives and please send your comments to:
http://www.dearps.blogspot.com/
Intercultural Communication Tips
Dear PS,
Q: I am a mentor to one of the newer staff members and she happens to be Vietnamese. She always seems
so mild mannered and I keep trying to get her to speak up for herself and be more competitive.
A: This is a very typical scenario in many diverse organizations. Those that are enculturated in U.S.
American organizational cultures, are very receptive to competition and its mandates. Not all
organizational cultures thrive in competition and not everyone is interested in scaling the corporate
ladder. Some are content where they are. This is not to say that this is the circumstance of your
colleague; however, she has been nurtured in a culture that is more cooperative and has more power
distance issues. Many thrive in a different framework of promotion. (See chapter 7 ASC) First, do not
assume everyone wants the same thing. Secondly, after you have given support and gentle nudges, let it
go and she will find her comfort zone.
Q: Now that Barack Obama is President-Elect Obama, often at work I get this “obviously you voted for
Obama look”, solely predicated on race. And yes, I voted for Obama; not solely on the fact that he is half white and half black, he was the only qualified candidate in my opinion.
A: You bring up a very important issue – “your opinion”, and its other people’s opinions that have them
looking at you cock-eyed. Perspective is a very interesting thing. There is a theory called “Standpoint”
that theorizes an individual can only see from where they stand. Pretty common sense unless you
truly attempt to walk in another person’s shoes. Try not to take it personal. Change is a hard thing for
most people. Make room for other realities while honoring your own.
Q: I work with all kinds of people and feel myself to be very open as a white, heterosexual male.
However, I have a new coworker that it is a bit hard for me to develop a relationship with. She is “out”
and always talking about her “family” when we are bringing up small talk as a group. The gay thing
always seems to be in the way. I am a bit surprised by my discomfort.
A: Yes, this is obviously a preoccupation with you. I am not sure how any of us expect not to see the
opposite of ourselves all the time. Six billion people on the planet; six million variations of
everything in the flesh. Spirit is something different. Kind of puts things in perspective doesn’t
it? Move over.
PS. Have a wonderful day. It’s always your choice! And that’s my word!
Pass It On!
http://www.hci-global.com/
16 comments:
Obama's call for unity is admirable but pretty standard, that is to say the idea of the statement has been used a lot by many other politicians and Presidents. Bush, Clinton, and all other presidents have used this call after an election to create a feeling of moderation towards their views and directed the message at political opponents. It will be interesting in his follow-through, so he is right we are not a country of red and blue in the sense many people suffer the same problems, but that does not change that he did not win more than 53% of the popular vote to McCain's 46%, and did not leave him with an overwhelming mandate. We are a polarized nation, always have been, of views and he does give me a amount of faith that compromises will be achieved. The country just as divided as it always has been, but the hope I see with Obama is that his effectiveness in communication might be the best chance to break partisan barriers in a Democrat majority congress to make end roads to real progress.-Trevor McKay
What up yong geezes its ya boy Gerardo! I would have loved to see baracks opposition be clinton, or fdr, or even roosevelt. I mean cmon mccain sucks as a public speaker. dont get me wrong obamas bad ass but it was tooooooo easy. i reiterate obamas one of the best in the last century (and thats saying alot hitler,fdr,mlk,churchill) but it was too easy for him. peace out playboys duece up a-town down
I believe that the president elect had something else to offer something different from his running mate. That difference was the way he communicated in all his interviews. The way he made his points with his word usage made all his comments and views on issues interesting to listen to and watch. Another thing that helped Obama was his non verbal communication. He used his eyes to make eye contact witch conveys a sense of confidence in himself. He also kept close to the interviewer to show that he really felt comfortable with the questions and was not nervous. He let himself be a human being and express his views and values on certain issues or as we like to call his policies. The way someone communicates changes our whole perception of that person. That perception carried over in the elections and that is why Obama is president. People began to buy into what he was saying and jus by being himself Obama gained backing by the people and his votes began to rise in the presidential race. He posses something that McCain did not. I think that we as people were looking for a new face in the presidential office and I think that we choose the new face that can hopefully bring change in our country. If our new president communicates with us the way he has in his interviews and speeches then we will become a stronger country because communication is the key to success. Communication helps build a bridge over any gaps disagreements or discrepancies we may have with each other. We are all people and we all have different views and values but that is what makes our country so great, and if we only just communicate and talk then we may understand each other.
i personally think that the communication skills and stages had to do alot with obamas win of elect president. i am extremely happy that he willl be our president, but i do believe that he was very clever in the way he presented himself, he knew how to communicate and respond to every different type of scenario and situation. his verbal language helped him alot but i mean mccain did a pretty good job as well, what really put obama ahead was his aproach to the new generation(us) and his body language, he was welcoming and comforting. so yes how professor perkins says, he who has the words has everything. :)
Obama is the new Lincoln. Obama's way of communicating to the people was really appealing. Obama possesed a sense of realism, humility and sincereness in him. This is what made him win everyone's hearts. Obama's non-verbal communication was impressing. Sometimes he wouldn't wear a tie, or have his suit coat on. This, for the younger generation made him look real and down to earth and this is what we want. We do not want another "corporate" looking president. Now when it comes to verbal communication, he was great on his debates, he was agressive but he always maintained himself professional. He made promises, just like any other president, however he owns honesty on his persona, which gives the masses hope. The country is still divided, many people do not accept this fact. However, the US is living through a critical time and now we have to start thinking as a whole and not as individuals. We need to unite, and by having a leader that's not the typical leader (algo saxon), this might show the masses that it doesn't matter if you're black, white, pale or yellow, everyone has the same abilities. We are all humans after all.
I think that the President elect has the ability to get his message across to people of all ages and views. Obama's ability to get people of different views to buy into his ideas is exactly what communication is all about. Also, I think that the economic crisis that is hitting the world will fixed faster by someone with a different view than the current administration. The next couple of years will be difficult for all Americans due to this fact. College tuition will rise, jobs will be lost, and salaries will decrease due to this crisis. However, with a President that can communicate and with new ideas this crisis will not be to deep and we will soon be back on the upswing towards a more secure economic climate. I hope more people will look at the president and see the importance of communication and make the effort to become better communicators. I hope I can be a better communicator. Gabriel Gilman
first off I would like to say wow,you are quite accomplished Professor perkins. I really like the insight that was given to the people above. I myself have found I need to be more open to people. Especally in the OBama election, I voted for Mr.Obama and I think there was such a ripple in the voting pond this year. It seemd like if you had one different opinion you were almost disliked.Like int the fish is fish book I think its important to try and understand things from other peoples perspectives. I wasnt mad at the republicans and I think they were mad at the democrats for winning. I took it into account that we have different values and I said well I would e upset if my canidate lost too so i dont blame them. Im not really positive where im going but im learning that everyone is different everyone goes about life differently and we just need to accept it and move on. Thats probably why we have so much war and political corruption because we are so individualized and this is true for other cultures,we all think our ways and morals are so right that everyone must hold them.
thank you
Jessica M. Wasserman, MC College.
I agree with Barack Obama's statement. After all the division that can occur in a country during an election, especially right before when things start to heat up,it is a good idea to come back together and realize that we are "one nation, under God, indivisible" and apart we will only faulter. Though a call for unity has been proven to be dangerous in certain times, such as when Lincoln called for unity during the Reconstruction. Lincoln wanted just 10% of all citizens to show that they could agree with one another on common issues. His idea was so hated, being a very conflicting time with the issue of slavery and the political, economic and social system of the south held in the balance, that there were actually many assassination plans to kill him. Booth obviously got him first. Though today I think a call for unity is very necessary. With all the economic troubles we are having in this depression and with our dealings in Iraq, there is a need for action and in order for that to happen there needs to be a unity in the nation and in congress. -Dane Chantrill
Now that we know who the President is, there can be change. If all the people living in the United States would work toghther and help overcome this recession, then we would assist the president in overcoming the barrier and move on.
President Obama's speeches have always been understood by the majority of the population. The way he delivers his speech is incredible to watch. With the help of the United States, people can start seeing that there is a change that will begin thiis comming year.
~Triana Ramos
Gizeth Saucedo
I am personally excited and happy that Obama got elected, he was the best candidate, and i find it very annoying when people say "oh you voted for Obama just because he is black" and its these comments that make me look at people and say that’s why we have a color issues in America because its people like you that look at things in black and white instead of looking at everyone as ONE we are all the same equal and live on planet earth.
On another note I would like to say that I have been privilege to have you professor Perkins as my instructor, I have not only learned how to communicate better in relationships and with others but also learned about myself and finding myself completing my circle instead of being half a circle and making a life script and
Stephanie Morales
Communication is important key in life. Every time Obama communicated with his audience it made it clear to what he was offering and how the people would benefit. He stuck to the point "CHANGE" which is what many are looking for. Obama's communication was in a level that always caught the attention of many. Especially the way he presented himself and the confidence he has. What convinced me about Obama was that he was realistic about the issues the United States faces. I think that everyone feels the same and this is why among other things that he is the President of the U.S.
Aura Gomez
12/8/08
COMM
These subjects presented were very intresting and cought my individed attention. It just seam amazing that through all these years people havent changed and are ignorant and still discriminated genders, race, and color.
But lets hope that now that our new elective president is able to make a change on peple and make a difference.
The most powerful leaders have always been great communicators (both good and bad), which is why, in my opinion, Barack Obama won the election. Yes, there is many that say "oh, its because he's black," which may or may not be true for most americans, but the bottom line is had he not been an effective, convincing, and charismatic communicator, he would not have won the election. This country was, and is, ready for change. -Jose Serrano
I'm proud to say I voted for
Obama and it was my first time voting I also made some of friends vote for him to make . I believe that his gonna make a great President make a difference in the United States and he brings hope to a lot the people. The way he communicated in his speeches with such a confidence it just shows that his gonna be a great President. -Carolina Medina-
I agree with all those who point out what a great communicator President-Elect Obama is and was during his campaign. But I think that another factor that helped Obama win, as well, was his charisma, unlike McCain who often came off as being arrogant and overly confident.
Linda B. (SWC Comm.103-77)
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