Interpersonal effectiveness

Interpersonal effectiveness is a broad topic that entails many aspects of how we view and interact with the world. In each module, you will take in a great amount of information from a variety of sources—your reading, media presentations, case studies, etc. Throughout the course, you also have the opportunity to journal, which allows you to reflect on how the course content applies to your life as a person, professional, and student. In this module, you will reflect on how mindful you are in your relationships.
Plan to have a thoughtful conversation with a friend, family member, or colleague. Before you have the conversation, note the following things that you will be required to do during your conversation:
Focus on what the person is saying.
Don’t think about what you are going to say next.
Truly listen to the person.
Let the person finish his or her sentences.
Don’t interrupt while the person is talking.
Make note of the person’s nonverbal communication.
Be mindful of how you are saying things (verbal and nonverbal communication).
Take note of how the person is reacting.
After having the thoughtful conversation with another individual, please write a one- to two-page reflection paper focused on the following questions:
Briefly, with whom did you have the conversation and where?
How easy did you find it to be mindful? Why?
What did you notice during the moments when you were able to be mindful? How were you feeling?
How did mindlessness—both yours and the other person’s—show up in the conversation? What effect did it have?
Identify two or three things that you learned in class, which were evident in your conversation. Explain how they were evident in your interaction.
What would help you be more mindful in your life? Identify two actions (i.e., new behaviors you can practice). How will these actions improve your relationships with others?