HOW TO COMMUNICATE | Video Skills
HOW TO COMMUNICATE | Video Skills
EMPATHY FOR A GROUP MEMBER
One way to improve your communication competence is by adapting your messages to others' behaviors. Learn how to express empathy by going to LaunchPad at bedfordstmartins.com/choicesconnections and completing the How to Communicate video scenario for Chapter 2 to practice your skills.
CONSIDER THIS:
You're assigned to lead a group project for a class. One team member, Alex, has missed two of the first three meetings. When you meet with Alex to discuss this, you discover that she has a three-year-old she is raising as a single mother and that she is working full-time to put herself through school. She genuinely wants to contribute to the project, but is struggling to juggle all of the competing demands in her life.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
The following advice illustrates how to express empathy for Alex's situation while still keeping the group's goals in mind. As you watch the video, consider how the dialogue reflects perspective-taking and empathic concern. Then, test your knowledge of key skills, and create your own responses to the What if? video prompts.
1 OPENLY EXPRESS CONCERN for Alex as a person, not just as a group member.
2 LEGITIMIZE HER SITUATION, letting her know that feeling overwhelmed when faced with such demands is perfectly understandable.
3 REAFFIRM THE IMPORTANCE of her contribution, making it clear that you want her to stay in the group.
WHAT IF? But what if things don't work out as shown? Test your ability to adapt your communication by watching the What if? videos below and planning a response for each situation.
- How would you respond to Alex when she says, “Why would I talk to you about my problems? It's not like we're friends or anything.”
- What can you do to show empathic concern when Alex says, “Yes, you're right: you can't imagine, or understand, what I'm going through.”