How important is Interpersonal Influence?

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WEEKLY JOURNALS ASSIGNMENT - 1 Point each toward Final Grade

Write Submission or Attach MS Word or PDF File only!

Write two pages for this current Module, which is approximately 900-1000 total words per journal entry in single-spaced paragraphs using Font size 12 in Arial or Times New Roman.  An average single spaced page in 12 font is 470-500 words.  You should have 10 journal entries by the end of the semester.

Your journals should reflect what you are learning from each Module class session and may include reflections, reactions and thoughts about what you are learning from the textbook chapters, exercises, discussions, videos, and assignments for that lesson/week.

DO NOT SUMMARIZE WHAT WE DO IN THE LESSON. Each Journal Entry is a Reaction and Reflection on what you are learning in class and how your are using it in your everyday lives-- personally and professional as you grow in understanding about Interpersonal Communication.

I will be grading on content quantity and your spelling, grammar, etc.  I want to know your true and honest thoughts on what you are learning and how you are applying it to your lives.

JOURNAL 8- POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF and ANSWER IN THE JOURNAL ENTRY

1.  How important is Interpersonal Influence?  What things do you need to work on to improve your own ability to have positive interpersonal influence on others?

2.  What did you think about the comments that Dr. Randy Pausch gave in his LAST LECTURE, and what points stuck out to you in what he said?

3.  What did you think about the concepts that were mentioned in the 2 videos on 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, and what points stuck out to you in what was said from Stephen Covey's book?

4. From Chapter 8 in the textbook, which Key Terms or concepts stood out as you become more familiar with what Interpersonal Influence is all about?  Which key terms can you relate to and how?  What examples from your life can you give us about some of them?  Write about those examples.

5.  What are your thoughts between the power of Persuasion (Ethical) and Manipulation (Unethical) interpersonal influence?

6.  What do you think about the five (5) types of Power?    (Coercive, Reward, Legitimate, Expert and Referent) Which ones stood out to you as you read about them?

7.  What do you think about the six (6) types of Heuristics?  (Reciprocity, social proof, liking, authority, consistency, and scarcity)  Which stood out to you as you read about them?

8.  What is your reaction to having to do the 8.1 Assignment - Attitude of Gratitude?  Choose five (5) people who have been a positive influence in your life and thank them.  Each of us has gained success through help from others who have invested time, energy, money and love in us.  That's a truism.

9.  Explain the three (3) Factors of Credibility:  Competence, Trustworthiness, Likability

10. How can you use the technique of Assertiveness in a positive way without being too aggressive or passive-aggressive?

11.  Do you understand the techniques and ways that people try to persuade you personally?  To manipulate you personally?  To be a Critical Thinker and analyze what they are doing to you personally, so that you can make wise choices even though you may think you are street smart?

Journal Example:

John Sample - COM 101-OLE - Summer 2020

Week 5 - Chapter 5   Nonverbal Messages

This week we studied Nonverbal Messages and how we use it in our lives, both professionally and personally.  I am still amazed that 90 to 93% of our communication that we have with one another is actually Nonverbal.  I'm beginning to see that now and agree that "Actions speak louder than words." If you want to know who someone really is, it's better to see what actions they do because we've learned that nonverbal communication is continuous and primary.  It transcends all other communication which means to me that it's higher and is more believable than verbal.  I know people who talk a good game and say things that make them seem credible, but I've learned from my neighborhood that talk is cheap.  So many of my friends talked about what they wanted to do in their future, but few have set goals of made plans, or actions to actually make those come true.  Again, Actions speak louder than words.

The second thing that stuck out to me in this week's lesson about Nonverbal Communication is the use of Body language, eye contact and facial expressions.  I often notice first thing about people--  their body language in that they are either confident, tired, slow, fast, slumped over, hurting in some way, or walking with a purpose.  This is an example of posture.  I also notice their eye contact or lack of eye contact and what they may mean at that moment.  We are normally taught to look people in the eye when we want to engage them in conversation or communication, but I notice that some people avoid eye contact for various reasons and I'm left to interpret what that lack or eye contact means.  From the lesson, I remember that it's important to connect with people and by using eye contact you are trying to engage them and make them an active part of your communication at that moment.

The third thing that was memorable to me is the idea of how important our Nonverbal communication is in an interview or professional setting.  We should want to come across through our nonverbal cues that we are confident, professional in appearance and demeanor of how we carry ourselves.  This will help us to gain respect in whatever field that we are in.  In an interview, you want to have a strong and confident demeanor-- starting with your posture and your handshake.  I've met people before in professional settings who have greeted me with a limp handshake and it's not a good nonverbal signal to start off with.  I particularly hate when I shake someone's hand and they only shake my fingers.  That always feels weird.  I'm just being honest here.

The last thing that stood out to me was the whole idea about what wearing different and certain colors means.  I never really thought about that before, but I can see how it does make a different in how you are perceived and judged.  Most of the time I like to wear casual clothes if I’m not working.  I have a collection of Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour brand sweats and casual wear.  My girlfriend hates when I mix brands because she says it looks sloppy and like I didn’t put any thought into what I’m wearing for the day.  I guess she does have a point from a fashion statement standpoint and it is cool in my opinion when I see someone who matches their brands—Nike with Nike and Adidas with Adidas.  I’ll have to pay attention to that more now that I understand the whole concept of being judged non-verbally on what I wear and who I look to other people.  I don’t want to come across sloppy since I still am somewhat of a competitive athlete.  Come to think of it, I usually do wear Nike shirts and shorts when I play basketball in my Nike Shoes.  I do notice when guys wear mix-matched gear like an Adidas shirt with Puma Shorts and Nike sneakers.  That kind of looks stupid to me.  Now I sound like my girlfriend who thinks she is a captain in the fashion police or something, right?  Not that I’m going to get an endorsement deal anytime soon, but I guess I do need to represent as they say in my old neighborhood, wherever I go and not look dopey in random brands.   “Represent,” they say, “Come on, Man, you gotta remember where you came from and Represent!”  I guess they’re right.  I want to both play good and look good on the court at all times.

I do agree that darker colors - Navy Blue, Black, Grey and Brown can make you look stronger and more confident in your appearance while brighter and more colorful outfits can project a totally different image.  It's true that you have to Dress for Success and that's the reason why the US President usually always wears Dark Blue, Black or other power suits to project an image.  This is also true for lawyers and business people like on Wall Street or Fortune 500 companies who have a certain dress code or image that they want to portray.  We are definitely judged by what we wear, and colors do say different things about us.

If 9 out of 10 of our communications that we have with one another is nonverbal, I'm going to start paying more attention to not only my own nonverbal messages that I'm sending out- but also others as well.  It's continuous and you can't stop communicating.

Journal Schedule:

1. Journal Module 1- Chapter 1: Orientation to Interpersonal Communication

2. Journal Module 2- Chapter 2: Forming and Using Social Perceptions

3. Journal Module 3- Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication

4. Journal Module 4- Chapter 4: Verbal Messages

5. Journal Module 5- Chapter 5: Nonverbal Messages

6. Journal Module 6- Chapter 6- Life Cycle of Relationships

7. Journal Module 7- Chapter 7- Listening and Chapter 9 Empathy

8. Journal Module 8- Chapter 10- Interpersonal Influence/Ethics

9. Journal Module 9- Chapter 11- Managing Conflict

10. Journal Module 10- Chapter 12- Intimate Relationships

*Write Submission or Attach Entries in MS Word or PDF File only!

Resources:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_sacv_5WiJyc5JaDyofXOPLqSFk5LKKq/view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncoSRKoU6GQ&t=3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFc08j9eorQ&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LbCRx1UbWY