Short Answer Assignment
Name: Student’s Name Date: December 1, 2019
Answer the following three questions using 300 to 350 words for each response. Each question is worth 10% of your overall grade and there is additional scoring for proper grammar and citations for a total of 7 points. You must use course material to support your work, with full APA citations, to earn the most points. Please be sure to double-space the document. You will score few to no points for not using course material. Be sure to include a reference list at the end. Finally, don’t forget to ensure you’ve covered ALL ELEMENTS of each question.
1) Explain one way one can alter your verbal and one way you can alter your nonverbal communication to enhance their job satisfaction at work, using and citing Bevan (Section 6.2). Then, discuss how following these guidelines could help you or some hypothetical worker to be more satisfied at work.
Verbal and non-verbal communication are areas that we must always be working on. One way
that I can improve my verbal communication at work is to focus on using more formal language. Formal
language is “clear, articulate, and not overly emotional” (Bevan, 2020, Section 6.2). I have a tendency to
use informal language, which is by nature less professional and sometimes unclear, even at work because
with the co-workers I see every day I have a familiar relationship (Bevan, 2020). Unfortunately, that
tendency means that I sometimes use informal language when speaking with the leader of other
organizations. Using more formal language would increase their job satisfaction by showing them that I
have respect for them, and their position, whereas the informal language may be taken as a sign of
disrespect (Bevan, 2020). It will help me be more satisfied at work because it will allow me to be viewed
in a positive light, even if I am interacting with someone new. I could also be better at non-verbal
immediacy, that is eye contact and smiling, particularly when interacting with the co-workers I do not
socialize with outside of work (Bevan, 2020, Section 6.2). With the colleagues I socialize with they may
chalk up my lack of eye contact to having a bad day or needing to finish something up quickly while
they’re asking a question because they’ll give me the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, those that I
do not socialize with regularly may view this as standoffish. It may contribute to dissatisfaction at work
Commented [KC1]: Given this is not a formal paper, all of the APA guidelines do not have to be followed.
Commented [KC2]: Great link between the idea of respect and formal language. Using formal language can definitely make others feel we hold them in high regard.
Commented [KC3]: The student makes a nice link back to self-concept, though they could have been more overt in making the point.
Commented [KC4]: A new paragraph was needed here.
on both of our parts because it adds a level of animosity that may not need to exist. In actuality, I have no
problem with the individual, and failed to make eye contact for a benign reason. Doing better at this will
provide both parties with increased job satisfaction because the animosity or miscommunication resulting
from the interaction will be reduced; no one enjoys going to a workplace where there is conflict whether
real or perceived (Bevan, 2020).
2) In section 7.2, Bevan discuss many elements of conversation management. Here you will address establishing rapport specifically by doing the following:
A) Explain what rapport is and why it matters.
B) Define and describe one of the first three principles building rapport – confidence, creativity, or caring.
C) Share an example to illustrate how one of the principles can enhance either a personal or professional relationship.
Rapport is the initial connection that one first has with a person, it is a step beyond a first impression, and
begins to establish the relationship between the two (or more) people (Bevan, 2020). Rapport is
something that begins nearly immediately when two people are first connected (Bevan, 2020). It is
important to build rapport with others, as it is the beginning of the bond that you will have throughout the
course of the relationship. There are four principles that enhance one’s ability to build rapport; these are
confidence, creativity, consideration, and caring (Bevan, 2020). Confidence is a belief that you are good
at or successful at something, and while not having it will occasionally garner sympathy, it is best to at
least attempt to convey a belief in oneself (Bevan, 2020). There is a fine line, though, as too much
confidence may also lead to negative perceptions if it is seen as false or otherwise untrue. That being said,
if one exudes an appropriate level of confidence on a given subject, it is likely that the new person in the
interaction will find it attractive. In addition, showing that you care will help build the rapport that one
Commented [KC5]: Nice point. They might read it as a lack of interest. Different cultures have different standards here, so I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself. But if you are aware of it, you might want to “accommodate” them.
Commented [KC6]: The student needed to cite Bevan here as they are drawing on their ideas. Be sure to give others credit for their ideas and also be sure to use experts to support you and build your expertise.
has with a new person. Caring, or showing interest in the other person through listening, questioning, and
giving full attention, is one of the best ways to build rapport (Bevan, 2020). When the other person feels
heard, or considered, they are more willing to continue the interaction (Bevan, 2020). For example, if you
have just met your significant other’s family for the first time, they will view you in a better light if you
put your phone in your pocket, rather than scrolling through a social media site while they are speaking. If
you ask them questions about themselves, then truly listen, only interjecting your feelings at appropriate
times, the rapport that you are starting to build will benefit the relationship in the long run. Conversely, if
you are distracted the entire time, or constantly talk over the family members, it is likely that more than
one relationship will be affected.
3) Self-disclosure is an important part of relationship-building and maintenance and is also important for self-awareness and mental health. To demonstrate understanding of this topic, please do the following:
1) Define self-disclosure, using and citing Bevan. 2) Explain at least two of the rewards of self-disclosure (e.g better self-understanding and personal
mental health and building and maintaining meaningful relationships). 3) Explain at least two of the risks of self-disclosure. 4) As an activity, share something personal that is going on in your life with a friend or co-worker
face-to-face. Then, share this same information with someone else via electronic communication (e.g. email, text, or social media). What were the differences between the experience of sharing information and receiving the response in person versus electronically? Discuss both the verbal and/or nonverbal cues you observed in both yourself and the other party.
Self-disclosure is when you provide someone with an intimate detail about your life or reveal something
more than general information to a person (Bevan, 2020). Sharing this otherwise private information
allows you to learn about yourself in addition to continuing to build the rapport you have with the other
person (Bevan, 2020). One of the rewards of self-disclosure is the reinforcement of your self-concept
(Bevan, 2020). This is because when you are explaining your beliefs or thoughts to someone else, you
obtain a deeper understanding of them overall (Bevan, 2020). You also may see an increase in your self-
esteem, due to what the other person feels about your disclosure. Bevan used the example of a co-worker
commenting on your strength after hearing about all of the responsibilities you are juggling (2020,
Commented [KC7]: Great point as it speaks to both meaning and significance of showing interest.
Commented [KC8]: Nice example. To improve, I’d like to have seen just a bit more on caring, and how this example is linked to the ideas mentioned earlier, but this is good generally.
Commented [KC9]: How does it lead to self- understanding if it is information we already know? I know some reasons why, but I needed to see the student explain more.
Commented [KC10]: Good point. Or, it could be a risk, I suppose. It depends on their reactions. Overall, this begins to speak to how we learn about ourselves through the reactions of others.
Section 7.2). On the other hand, vulnerability is just one of the risks associated with self-disclosure
(Bevan, 2020). This means that a person could use what you tell them against you during a fight or if you
are no longer friends. It also means that you may be rejected by the person if they do not like or disagree
with what you have disclosed (Bevan, 2020). I opted to share information about my current financial
circumstances with two different people. In person, I was able to describe the situation – paying for
school, car repairs, and the general increase in holiday spending – thoroughly. I felt the person understood
and had empathy for the situation. They showed this in the look on their face, as well as the kind words
they used in response. I noticed that I had a more subdued tone than normal, which conveyed the
seriousness of the subject. In text message, the interaction was much shorter. While the words used were
similar, it was hard to know the tone that was being used, and I felt that my friend’s use of emojis
indicated they did not take the interaction all that seriously.
Commented [KC11]: Good points. A bit more detail would have enhanced this explanation but what’s here is good.
Commented [KC12]: Interesting point. While not graded on this component, the student did a good job here but could focus a little more on these communicative details. It would have been stronger to explain how they read tone with the other interaction.
References
Bevan, J.L. (2020). Making connections: Understanding Interpersonal communication (3rd ed.).
Zovio.
https://content.ashford.edu/
Short Answer Assignment
Name: Student’s Name Date: December 1, 2019
Short Answer Questions
Name of the Student 1st of December 2019
Fill in the blanks with 300 to 350 words for each of the three questions below. Each question is worth ten percent of your overall mark, with an additional seven points awarded for good grammar and citations. To get the most points, you must use course material to support your work and provide full APA citations. Make sure the document is double-spaced. If you do not use the course materials, you will receive little to no credit. Make a reference list at the end of your paper. Finally, double-check that you’ve addressed ALL ELEMENTS of each question.
1) Describe one way to change your verbal communication and one technique to change your nonverbal communication.
