Week 7

I have never be one who enjoys working with a group because there are always issues and conflict even if  you try and avoid them. Also it probably does not help when I have had some bad experiences when working in a group. But in life it is necessary to work in groups whether it is a school project, club activities or working on a project for your job. One problem is communication sometime only one person is communicating with the group or no one is until the very last minute. But along with working in groups, communication is all so essential in life. Inorder to successful the lines of communication have to be open and free of judgement. This does not always happens because we do not live in a ideal world. Another aspect to have a successful group is making sure everyone has a task and are doing their part along with being one time with deadlines. Another thing to keep thing running smoothly is having a positive atmosphere for everyone which will make for happy group members and allows individuals to feel free to say an idea which can be a good one for whatever the project the groups is working without making them feel insecure about sharing. Knowing this traits to create a successful group it can help make thing run smooth with the next group project I have to work on.

Week 6

I am a person who tries to solve problems on my own with little to no help at all so working with others can be somewhat of a challenge when other members of the group do not know how I operate and can frustrate them along with causing friction. When I attend one of the confidences, there was a session about conflict styles. Everyone filled out a worksheet reading statements and rating them 1 - 5. On the back  there was a section with each conflict style along with what letters on the front page coincide with the particular style. After adding all it up the one with the most points was your strongest still and the one with the lowest was your weakest style. The first time I took it my top two styles were compromise and avoid then with I took it again about two weeks later it was compromise and collaborating. It was surprise to me that my styles can change then when I said my styles have changed to another peer they said it probably change with the situations I am in at a particular time. It was also interesting discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each style along with how it may frustrate someone who's strength is not the same as yours and vice versa. Another aspect I need really thought about is how each style may be more beneficial than the other even when one of those styles is not my strength. Conflict is never easy, but when you understand different styles and how to work with those style is can be easier to navigate the waters.

Week 5

Reading chapter four it the book the on thing the stood out to me the most was the defense between interpersonal communication and advice giving. Because we someone is seeking help to understand something or help figuring what they want to do with their life or whether they should A or B was all advice and that is what the person asking for help was wanting. But when you start stepping into authoritative  role like a peer mentor you have to separate when you should be giving advice and when you should be using interpersonal communication because advice is based on personal experiences and you are giving your opinion which is not always the best. Being a peer mentor is your job to help your students figure things our on their own, but ask helpful questions which will make them think deeper and draw connections on their own. Also sometime they just need someone who is neutral to vent to or bounce ideas off. When thinking of the difference of interpersonal communication and advice giving my grandma comes to mind. Even without knowing the correct terminology or flipping a switch she automatically does this on our weekly phone calls. There are sometime I will talk and talk and talk until the end of whatever is on my mind has been exhausted then an aha moment happens then a say something which would be something she would say. And by reading this chapter it has helped me understand the different and identify someone in my life who uses both styles of listening.