{"id":1550,"date":"2016-09-07T14:27:57","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T14:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-collegesuccess\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1550"},"modified":"2024-04-30T22:49:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T22:49:11","slug":"text-communication-strategies-for-effective-interactions","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/text-communication-strategies-for-effective-interactions\/","title":{"raw":"Effective Communication Strategies","rendered":"Effective Communication Strategies"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify communication\u00a0strategies for effective\u00a0communication<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nSocializing is generally considered a leisurely, enjoyable activity. But depending on your personality and attitude, it can also feel like work or provoke anxiety.\r\n\r\nWhatever your natural inclinations are, you can learn how to communicate more effectively with others and foster supportive interactions. The steps to achieving more <strong>effective social interactions<\/strong> are threefold:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Examine your reservations.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Engage with others.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Expand your social circle.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2>Examine Your Reservations<\/h2>\r\nEverybody feels shy or insecure from time to time, but if you feel inhibited by your shyness, you may have developed certain habits of thought\u00a0that don\u2019t serve your best\u00a0interests. Below\u00a0are some strategies to help you examine reservations you may have about engaging in social activities.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Change ideas and thoughts<\/strong>: In our busy lives, it's not always easy to be aware of our thoughts, especially habitual thoughts that sometimes lurk behind the others. But if we make a point to listen to our thoughts, we may discover some that we\u2019d like to change. Once you begin to recognize thoughts you\u2019d like to change, you can train yourself in new directions. For example, you can start by closing your eyes and visualizing the negative thought. Let it slowly dissolve until it disappears completely.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Turn a negative thought into a constructive thought<\/strong>: If you find yourself thinking that you're not suited\u00a0to joining a group that interests you, turn this thought into a positive one by saying, \u201cI am an interesting person and I have a lot\u00a0to offer and share.\u201d This affirmation is true! You might want to come up with three or more replacement thoughts.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Acknowledge that everyone is unique<\/strong>: Everybody experiences high and low points in life. But even if we cannot change external circumstances, we can change our perceptions and attitudes. A happy attitude will always serve you well. As Abraham Lincoln said, \u201cMost people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.\u201d<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Engage with Others<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Smile<\/strong>: One of the easiest ways to compel yourself into socializing is to smile. Smiling can instantly make you feel more positive. It also draws other people to\u00a0you.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Use welcoming body language<\/strong>: If you are at a social gathering, be aware of your body language. Does it signal\u00a0that you are approachable? Make eye contact with people, give them a small wave or a nod, and look in front of you instead of at your feet or at the floor. When you look happy and ready to talk, people are more likely to come up to you.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Put your phone away<\/strong>: If you look busy, people won't want to interrupt you. Your body language should say that you are ready to interact.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Be genuine<\/strong>: Whether you are talking to an old friend or somebody you have just met, show genuine interest in the conversation. Being fully engaged shows that you are compassionate and makes for more stimulating and fulfilling interactions with others.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Keep conversations balanced<\/strong>: Ask people questions about themselves. Show that you care by asking others to share.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Be open-minded<\/strong>: The old adage \u201cDon\u2019t judge a book by its cover\u201d is relevant\u00a0here. Someone you're ambivalent about could end up being your best friend. Give yourself a chance to get to know others. What interests might you share?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1552\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/605\/2016\/09\/07142625\/6975385619_3d03b45279_z.jpg\" alt=\"a group of people at a networking event\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" \/>\r\n<h2>Expand Your Social Circle<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Offer invitations<\/strong>: As you reach out to others, others will be more likely to reciprocate and reach out to you. Call old friends that you haven't seen in a while and set up a time to get together. Invite a friend to the movies, a baseball game, a concert, or other activity. Consider having a party and telling your friends to bring guests.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Accept more invitations<\/strong>: Granted, there are only so many hours in the day for socializing. But if you're in the habit of turning down invitations, try to make a point to accept some\u2014even if the invitation is to attend something out of your comfort zone. You might even want to make a habit of arbitrarily saying yes three times for every one time you say no.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Join a club or group with like-minded people<\/strong>: Making new friends and expanding one\u2019s social network can be accomplished by joining a club or group. You may even want to consider joining a group focused on something different from what you\u2019re used to.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Meet mutual friends<\/strong>: Meeting friends of friends is one of the easiest ways to meet new people. Try to view every\u00a0person you meet in your life as a doorway into a new social circle.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Look for unique opportunities to be social<\/strong>: This can be as simple as starting a conversation with a checkout clerk\u2014\"Hey, how's your day going?\"\u2014instead of\u00a0remaining quiet.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nAll in all, make your social life one of your top priorities. Everyone needs some alone time, too, but it's important to stay connected. Keeping those connections alive contributes to healthy interdependence and personal success.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/cffe2f91-763c-45ca-80f7-97caa0c938e6\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>glossary<\/h3>\r\n<strong>effective social interactions:<\/strong> those which are beneficial and lead to growth for all involved, ideally resulting in a healthy interdependence\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify communication\u00a0strategies for effective\u00a0communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Socializing is generally considered a leisurely, enjoyable activity. But depending on your personality and attitude, it can also feel like work or provoke anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever your natural inclinations are, you can learn how to communicate more effectively with others and foster supportive interactions. The steps to achieving more <strong>effective social interactions<\/strong> are threefold:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Examine your reservations.<\/li>\n<li>Engage with others.<\/li>\n<li>Expand your social circle.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Examine Your Reservations<\/h2>\n<p>Everybody feels shy or insecure from time to time, but if you feel inhibited by your shyness, you may have developed certain habits of thought\u00a0that don\u2019t serve your best\u00a0interests. Below\u00a0are some strategies to help you examine reservations you may have about engaging in social activities.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Change ideas and thoughts<\/strong>: In our busy lives, it&#8217;s not always easy to be aware of our thoughts, especially habitual thoughts that sometimes lurk behind the others. But if we make a point to listen to our thoughts, we may discover some that we\u2019d like to change. Once you begin to recognize thoughts you\u2019d like to change, you can train yourself in new directions. For example, you can start by closing your eyes and visualizing the negative thought. Let it slowly dissolve until it disappears completely.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Turn a negative thought into a constructive thought<\/strong>: If you find yourself thinking that you&#8217;re not suited\u00a0to joining a group that interests you, turn this thought into a positive one by saying, \u201cI am an interesting person and I have a lot\u00a0to offer and share.\u201d This affirmation is true! You might want to come up with three or more replacement thoughts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Acknowledge that everyone is unique<\/strong>: Everybody experiences high and low points in life. But even if we cannot change external circumstances, we can change our perceptions and attitudes. A happy attitude will always serve you well. As Abraham Lincoln said, \u201cMost people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Engage with Others<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Smile<\/strong>: One of the easiest ways to compel yourself into socializing is to smile. Smiling can instantly make you feel more positive. It also draws other people to\u00a0you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use welcoming body language<\/strong>: If you are at a social gathering, be aware of your body language. Does it signal\u00a0that you are approachable? Make eye contact with people, give them a small wave or a nod, and look in front of you instead of at your feet or at the floor. When you look happy and ready to talk, people are more likely to come up to you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Put your phone away<\/strong>: If you look busy, people won&#8217;t want to interrupt you. Your body language should say that you are ready to interact.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be genuine<\/strong>: Whether you are talking to an old friend or somebody you have just met, show genuine interest in the conversation. Being fully engaged shows that you are compassionate and makes for more stimulating and fulfilling interactions with others.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep conversations balanced<\/strong>: Ask people questions about themselves. Show that you care by asking others to share.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be open-minded<\/strong>: The old adage \u201cDon\u2019t judge a book by its cover\u201d is relevant\u00a0here. Someone you&#8217;re ambivalent about could end up being your best friend. Give yourself a chance to get to know others. What interests might you share?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1552\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/605\/2016\/09\/07142625\/6975385619_3d03b45279_z.jpg\" alt=\"a group of people at a networking event\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Expand Your Social Circle<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Offer invitations<\/strong>: As you reach out to others, others will be more likely to reciprocate and reach out to you. Call old friends that you haven&#8217;t seen in a while and set up a time to get together. Invite a friend to the movies, a baseball game, a concert, or other activity. Consider having a party and telling your friends to bring guests.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accept more invitations<\/strong>: Granted, there are only so many hours in the day for socializing. But if you&#8217;re in the habit of turning down invitations, try to make a point to accept some\u2014even if the invitation is to attend something out of your comfort zone. You might even want to make a habit of arbitrarily saying yes three times for every one time you say no.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Join a club or group with like-minded people<\/strong>: Making new friends and expanding one\u2019s social network can be accomplished by joining a club or group. You may even want to consider joining a group focused on something different from what you\u2019re used to.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Meet mutual friends<\/strong>: Meeting friends of friends is one of the easiest ways to meet new people. Try to view every\u00a0person you meet in your life as a doorway into a new social circle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Look for unique opportunities to be social<\/strong>: This can be as simple as starting a conversation with a checkout clerk\u2014&#8221;Hey, how&#8217;s your day going?&#8221;\u2014instead of\u00a0remaining quiet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All in all, make your social life one of your top priorities. Everyone needs some alone time, too, but it&#8217;s important to stay connected. Keeping those connections alive contributes to healthy interdependence and personal success.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_cffe2f91-763c-45ca-80f7-97caa0c938e6\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/cffe2f91-763c-45ca-80f7-97caa0c938e6?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_cffe2f91-763c-45ca-80f7-97caa0c938e6\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>glossary<\/h3>\n<p><strong>effective social interactions:<\/strong> those which are beneficial and lead to growth for all involved, ideally resulting in a healthy interdependence<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-1550\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Text: Communication Strategies for Effective Interactions. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Linda Bruce. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>How to Become a More Social Person. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: WikiHow. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Become-a-More-Social-Person\">http:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Become-a-More-Social-Person<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of seated woman. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Indabelle. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/bCoF8i\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/bCoF8i<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":19,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Text: Communication Strategies for Effective Interactions\",\"author\":\"Linda Bruce\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"How to Become a More Social 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