Z I O V N R PASSIO ICE, OU YOUR VO Why can’t we get along?? Bridging the Communication Gap between Boomers and Gen Y Days of your Youth Apple in the Bowl Silence is ‘golden’ The Communication Style Assessment Quiz Cross-Cultural Communication Communicating: if only I could get it right! What Do your Body Angels Say? Foreword Table of Contents First off, we would like to pat our shoulders and shout, “Congratulations and Well Done!” We have successfully sailed through 2010 with serial publications on Love, Friendship, Family and Finale for 2010. And now in 2011, VOIZ is back! Yeah! Of course, we truly appreciate your continued support and good response. Without active readers like you, VOIZ wouldn’t be the recommended knowledge-gaining tool that we hope it would be. So, what is there to be excited about in 2011? What are the highlights for this first 2011 issue? Yes, you are right, the hot topic is – Communication. We have come to realise that there are pronounced differences between the generations today than there has ever been before; specifically between parents and their teenage children. Both generations have perpetually strived to narrow the gap between them to facilitate them communicating and getting along better with each other. “Why can’t we get along?” and “Days of your Youth” are for you to discover what are the inner voices from both generations that obstruct this smooth flow in communication and how to improve understanding between them. So, don’t miss it! What about you? Has anyone described your communication style? Are you communicating passively, assertively or aggressively? Or do you prefer to remain silent rather than to create waves? Find out the kind of communication style you practise from the two reading references here, “Apple in the bowl” and “Silence is golden”. Consider the statement “changes won’t take place if a person isn’t aware of the areas of change”. How can you ascertain you are a good communicator or team player if you don’t know your own communication style? For this reason, we would like to draw your attention to complete the communication style assessment quiz for you to understand the different communication styles available and to help you to tune in with another person. In life, there is always the need to interact with your friends and those around you. But why do we all experience difficulty in holding conversations with other people sometimes? How can we change this? For those who wish to establish good rapport and cultivate authentic communication, even in cross-cultural environments, don’t walk away. Stay tune with us, and read “Communicating: if only I could get it right!” and “What do your body angels say”. Finally, we also offer a platform to recap what had gone before in Past Events; and to update you on the present to prepare for what will come next. By now, we hope that you will have realised that learning, un-learning and re-learning is indeed an on-going life-long process in our lives. Why can’t we get along?? Bridging the Communication Gap between Boomers and Gen Y Page 4 Days of your Youth Page 6 Apple in the Bowl Page 8 Silence is ‘golden’ Page 10 The Communication Style Assessment Quiz Page 11 Cross-Cultural Communication Communicating: if only I could get it right! Page 14 What Do your Body Angels Say? Page 16 Past Events Page 18 What is Next? Page 19 Disclaimer: Information in this bulletin is subject to changes and is for internal circulation only on a strictly without prejudice basis. All information and comments / contributions written by individuals on this bulletin do NOT represent the views of UCSI University. UCSI University will not be held responsible for the views of individuals connected or otherwise to UCSI University’s articles that are posted. 2 3 This statement is written by an editor, Emily Nussbaum in the New Work Magazine about the world of Millennials to describe the disparate perceptions of privacy held by the younger and older generations. Why do the younger generations, the Millenials or Gen Ys have the perception that a truly private life in this day and age is a mere illusion? And why do the Boomers, the older generations of the same time not share a similar perception of privacy? Is this what the Generation Gap is all about? This disparity is viewed by the Boomers with growing alarm and misapprehension not seen since the breakthrough of the rock and roll where the future seemed to belong to the uninhabited. What is causing this Gap? Is it caused by a communication breakdown between the two generations? Generally, Boomers view the younger generation as pampered beings who are enjoying the results of the hard work invested by the Boomers in building up their families, businesses, property empires, superannuation and investments. On the other hand, Gen Ys regard Boomers as ‘old’ and ‘nagging’, who are resistant to change and to technological advancements. Due to the explosive use of the internet, Gen Ys are always seen to be engaging in technology which is somehow disturbing to the Boomers. Consequently, Boomers perceive Gen Ys as lacking in social skills due to their extensive reliance on internet social networking channels like the Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, Skype, etc., rather than face-to-face communication. ong? l a t e g we a ti o n G a p n ic e Commu B ri d g in g th m e rs a n d G e n Y Boo b e tw e e n mong the a d n e r t l ra w in g n a t u a r c h iv e t h e ir li v e s It is a g r o e ir e r a t io n t o n e g r c lu d e s t h e g in n ly b you ia r ng h ic h in v a n d r e v e a li a n io t o n - li n e , w a m o n a l in f o r ts. more pers e momen t a iv r p t s mo e v e n t h e ir o u ld a t ? ” T h is w r h t o d e n 16-yea ld a n y o “ W h y w o u v a n t q u e s t io n t o a c r e a t iv e . e le n o t b e a r e m , “ L if e is f u n . It ’s t h e a t re, th o ld . Fo r t o e ir f r ie n d s a r e . It ’s d, th t h is li n k e In : y it It ’s w h e r e n u h in k ls o c o m m p la c e t o t a e b u t it is a v a h et o r ld , y o u t o, t o m e d e n e lo g g e d w t s li and be h f r ie n d s .” it w r e o u t lo u d p e e and go d s t ra n g e r s ls : Li fe An ge W rit te n by 4 For the Boomers who were raised on a certain set of beliefs and value system, they are perceived as self-righteous, even narcissistic and rigid, who are not growing with the technological flow. For the Boomers, becoming fodder for public speculation is the prerogative of celebrities, politicians and public figures since privacy is regarded as something to be valued and guarded. Meanwhile, Gen Ys believe that with everyone’s actions being traceable and detectable in America, your life is already being lived in public, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. Under the circumstances, what value is ‘privacy’ then? Consequently, Gen Ys feel that if someone could trace your picture twenty years later, it would be far better for you to ensure that the picture traced were a great picture; so they would rather be “doing their own publicity than have someone else doing it for them”, Emily expounds. This explains Gen Ys tendency to archive and reveal their activities on the Internet; an act that is perceived by the Boomers to be lacking in shame, as self-centred show-offs or as “fame whores” to whom “it is more important to be seen than to be talented” sneers Lakshmui Chaudry of the current issue of The Nation. In this instance, Boomers need to communicate with Gen Ys to convince Gen Ys of their genuine concern over the aftereffects of such self-revelations, like being adversely-judged and regretting them when they begin to age themselves since the tapes can never be erased. However, being the more experienced generation, the Boomers should be able to appreciate the similarities between Gen Ys present predicament with what the Boomers themselves had undergone when their Elvis and rock and roll critics have been proven wrong with the passage of time. Gen Ys on the other hand, need to be more respectful of the Boomers and appreciate their concerns instead of dismissing them as the views of people who are narcissistic. Generally, we all like others to understand us and our perspectives. So, although the two generations have a gap of at least 18 years apart, it is possible for communication between them to be improved, with effort, of course, to appreciate each others’ viewpoints. For ultimately, it is not a matter of which generation you come from, but more of treating each other with respect and learning to understand each other from the others’ perspective, while also practising tolerance and acceptance of views other than your own. In a nutshell, Gen Ys need to appreciate the knowledge and experience Boomers have in some aspects of life and practise more patience with them on the issue of technology. Boomers, in turn, need to acknowledge that Gen Ys are different from them and therefore cannot always fit their mould or be like them. Only then would the communication gap between the two generations be reduced and ironed out to facilitate a closer relationship between them. Remark: Boomers are born in 1946–1964 while the Gen Ys or the Millenials are born in 1982–2000 Obviously, the issue here is not about which generation’s perception of privacy is wrong or right, but rather it is more a matter of understanding each other and respecting each other’s opinions on the matter of privacy. This inevitable cross-generational tension phenomenon is a large factor of the escalating communication breakdowns within our society, even within the family unit. So, how do the Boomers and the Millennials see each other? More importantly, how do they talk to each other to acknowledge their differences? 5 Written by: Joseph Cheong, Vice President of Student Council, Faculty of Music, Social Sciences and Design *Silence reigns while the father and son are dining at the dinner table.* Son : Dad, I’ll be going out for a movie with my friends this Saturday. Dad : What time? Son : Around 3.00pm after lunch. Dad : What time will you be home? Son : Last movie starts at 8.00pm, which means most probably I’ll be back by 11.00p.m. Dad : Do you have enough money? Son : Yes. Dad : Ok. Take care then. *And the lull of silence which was broken for a few moments now continues for the rest of the dinner.* There must be a reason for this rift of silence between parents and children. Some sort of void exists between most children and parents when it comes to family relationship. They are two sides of a coin. When parents say, “My children don’t open up to me as much as I’d hope they would”, children on the other hand exclaim that, “My parents don’t understand me”. What then, is the real problem? This actually is the much-tooted generation gap. In layman terms, it simply refers to the inability for children and parents to relate at a mutual level of understanding. Therefore, teenagers find it hard to relate to their parents at certain moments. Of course, there are times when a random topic might just spark a whole conversation between these two entities. For example, which team would they support for the World Cup? Then again, this generation gap may seem alien to some children. This is obviously due to their affection for their parents and their ability to communicate well with each other: somehow, when they talk, they jive with each other like honey to tea. So, they find comfort and solace confiding in their parents, talking to them, spending time with them either during meal times, or catching a quick 30-minute series with them. Although we are all teenagers, this generation gap does not necessarily apply to all teenage-parents relationships. Even if there were a minute gap, it is not so obvious that it would affect our relationship with our parents. In the end, it still matters to us to build a bridge or lay the stepping stones of communication with our parents. After all, we bear their DNA’s, right? 7 p assive Choice 2: AGGRESSIVE COMMUNICATION Aggression is about dominance. A person is aggressive when they impose their will onto other people and tries to force them to submit to him / her while ignoring other peoples’ feelings, e.g. grabbing the apple before anyone else had a chance at it. It means you are emotionally honest with yourself, direct, expressive and selfenhancing at the expense of others. a ggresive Choice 1: PASSIVE COMMUNICATION People behave passively when they let others push them around, do not stand up for themselves, or when they do what they are told regardless of how they feel about it, e.g. hungrily eyeing the apple and not saying anything about it. It means you are emotionally dishonest with yourself, indirect, inhibited and selfdenying. Passive people might end up being taken for a ride, as people would take advantage of them; feel hurt and anxious at times; to probably feel anger and resentment later. Meanwhile, other people might feel irritated, pity or be disgusted with their ‘lack of backbone’ reaction to a situation. A PPLE I N T HE B OWL In general, applying an assertive behaviour is considered to be the more balanced approach in life. Ultimately, it is not just a choice between an aggressive or a passive style of communication. It's about respecting the rights (personal boundaries) and feelings of others and expecting others to respect your rights and feelings too. Practising assertiveness is about having respect for yourself and other people. a 8 e Let’s have a look at the characteristics of each type of behaviour and their effects: s s e r t i v So, what would be your reaction in the above situation? And what kind of response would you expect from other people with the choices that you had made? Choice 3: ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION Assertiveness is about finding the middle path, e.g. you may ask “I’m hungry, would anyone like to share this apple with me?” It means you are emotionally honest with yourself and direct, expressive and selfenhancing. Assertive people stand up for themselves (when required), express true feelings, are confident and will not allow other people to take advantage of them, while simultaneously being considerate of other people’s feelings. Consequently, other people will feel they are appreciated and are valued, too. Nevertheless, there are advantages to possessing passive or aggressive behaviours, e.g. being passive and giving in to the demands of others may prevent disagreements or confrontations, or be generally liked by everyone. However, a person who is always aggressive won’t have others pushing him/her around. Then again, you may also get things done by tactfully agreeing with others, which is the best communication style in times of emergency. Written by: Life Angels In considering communication styles, an assertiveness training activity, i.e. “ The Apple in the Bowl”, comes to mind. In this activity, we were asked to observe human behaviour in approaching something that they want, specifically to determine passive, aggressive, and assertive behaviours. In brief, we noticed that while the passive person would hungrily eye the apple and not say anything; the aggressive person would grab the apple before anyone else had a chance; while the assertive person would say, “I’m hungry, would anyone like to share this apple with me?” Besides this, you might feel superior, deprecating at times, and would probably feel guilty later. If you are aggressive and pushy, people might feel angry and vengeful against you and might prefer to avoid you. A communication works or a misunderstanding arises not really because of what you want to say, but HOW you say it. So, make your own choice today and respect your right and people’s rights too! 9 Silence is ‘golden’ Words like ‘I don’t care, I want it to be done this way’ will probably be what come out automatically for an aggressive communicator like me. Used to saying things in a direct manner, it sometimes causes people to dread talking to me. This is because I would not just back down from my stand. I would always stand true by it. Thus, I’ve been told that this makes others wonder: don’t people like me have a softer side? Well, indeed we do! Along the years, I have learned that ‘I don’t care…’, ‘Why didn’t you….!’ and many other similar phrases are taboo for most people because they sound too cruel and ruthless. However, I do not push my way through just because of my loud voice and stern demeanour. More importantly, I do not point my fingers and reprimand others over trivial matters. So, I’ve learned to make things easier for everyone concerned. 10 Assessment Quiz Look at these four groups and browse through the characteristics below to determine your major communication style. You should have at least four points in your selection. Written by: Life Angels People around me always say that I’m a very ‘vocal’ person. Sometimes I wonder what they mean by that, because as far as I am concerned, I just speak my thoughts and opinions. Perhaps being vocal means being able to express myself well. Maybe it could also mean that I make sure my points get across and people hear me. When I have an argument or disagreement with my friends or family members, I will usually approach them to talk about it. Having said that, it also means that there are people who will approach me and say “Hey, I think you’re being too harsh”. The Communication Styles I have found that everything can be worked through, over a not-so- sweet cup of coffee. Will it hurt me to take this approach to convince others of my stand? Will the whole world or the whole system crumble if I were to use this approach to win approvals? Of course not! That being the case, why must I be so sarcastic with my words? Grace, I’ve come to realise, is more appreciated than a cynical and mocking personality. And with that realization, I began to change. Although it was not easy to do, this approach seemed to work better for me. Now, I still get things done my way, but in a friendlier and more amicable manner. I obviously sound so much better that my friends commented that I have turned from being an aggressive communicator to becoming an assertive communicator. That’s when people around me felt that I had ‘mellowed’ down a lot. Not because I’ve changed my principles or values, but I have changed the way I view things and the way I say things to others. Either way, I still get what I want. However, with my former aggressive way, I left bad memories instead of good memories of me in people’s mind. As the days passed by, I have also learned to be silent. It has been a while since I debated over issues with some of my friends. Now, whenever an issue pops up, I will put in some them thoughts to consider if they were worth a confrontation. Although, this is not a natural reaction for me, the years of being told that I needed to mellow down has made me think twice about reacting spontaneously over certain matters. Though my principles and values remain steadfast with me to respond strongly most of the time, I have also learned to listen and observe more now and to also change the way I speak and do things. Now, even when I feel some things are not right, and would like to make them right, I do not burst speaking out anymore. This could be because I feel they are not worth talking about anymore. Hence, I resort to silence being ‘golden’. Hands-on person • prefers hands-on experiences and activities • is task-oriented • refrains from discussions, is solutionfocused • practices logical thinking; doing things in an orderly way • does not welcome change. Thinker • enjoys analyzing problems and finding systematic ways to solve them • likes structure and organization • enjoys creating ideas based on theory and information • needs facts and information to make decisions • is more interested in ideas than people. Explorer • likes to try new things by trial and error • spontaneous and quick in making decisions • a risk-taker; welcomes changes • resists boredom • explores practical uses of ideas • relies more on people for information. Free-Thinker • works based on views and opinions on feelings • likes to brainstorm • views problems and experiences from different perspectives • makes decision based on intuition, not logic • dislikes structure. 11 The Hands-on person prefers hands-on activities or experiences. For them, since time is precious, they like brief and to the point statements. Thus, they rarely get involved in discussions, preferring to focus more on the tasks to be completed. Their logical and organized thinking lead them to do things in an orderly and systematic way to make decisions without thinking too much. Efficiency and productivity are the essential elements in their lives. The Thinker enjoys analyzing problems and finding systematic ways to solve them. Their minds never stop working as they find abstractions interesting and enjoyable. For them, key decisions need to be done in a cautious way with the facts and data to support them. They prefer to focus on issues rather than people. To them, emotions create problems. However, they tend to be cool when facing problems. Tips to accommodate the Hands-on Style • Avoid procrastinating or giving excuses • Try to make brief and “to-the-point” comments • Minimize discussions or talks and get the tasks completed • Apply concrete terms and ideas either in making presentations or explanations • Pay attention to deadlines • Try to work things in an organized and precise way. Tips to accommodate the Thinker Style • Avoid procrastinating or giving excuses • Pay attention to deadlines • Apply visual arts like charts, graphs, outlines and mappings to present information and explanations • Be open on the use of terms and ideas which are abstract • Support information with facts or views with logic and evidence • Provide opportunities for research-type tasks. The Explorer enjoys using his / her imagination for innovation. Regarded as a quick thinker who is impulsive and always looking for new possibilities, with a tendency to start things without completing them. Likes tasks which offer variety and intellectual stimulation. Dislikes details. Tips to accommodate the Explorer Style • Be open and allow for ideas which are new and innovative • Show interest and be attentive to ideas • Relate the ideas with real world examples • Focus on the process and its applications rather than the facts • Be patient with disorganization • Be patient with ideas switching from one side to the other • Try to share humour and jokes for a laugh • Provide opportunities for creative and innovative-type of tasks. The Free-Thinker people / person who views problems from different perspectives. They rely on intuitions rather than facts when making decisions. To them, a good relationship is essential in one’s life. Talking and working collaboratively with people is a creative art. Learning is enjoyable when it is learnt through discussions. They believe people need to work together in order to get things done. You vs Others Tips to accommodate the Free-Thinker Style • Avoid questioning or challenging the person’s logic • Be willing to share personal experiences • Be friendly, show interest and be attentive • Show how the ideas are applicable in life • Be open to use the language of metaphors and expressions • Allow room for flexibility • Provide opportunities for interactive-type of tasks. None of the styles is greater than the other but they illustrate how differently each person thinks, acts, learns and communicates. How successful you tune in with another person is greatly dependent on your ability to recognize, respect, and adjust, as well as your ability to accommodate another person’s style of communication and ways of doing things. Flexibility and compromise are the keys. Disclaimer: Information in this assessment has been collected and used with the written authorization from the related parties for use in the VOIZ magazine only and may not be duplicated or used by any other party without the written consent from the original author. All information written in this profile does NOT represent the views of UCSI University. 12 13 Oops! Living in North Africa, I took my family to join the crowds celebrating the arrival of the king. I shouted along with the rest, “Hail the King”- or so I thought. To my great embarrassment, I later realized I was yelling “Hail the Spoon” all afternoon instead of “Hail the King”! All it took was one syllable difference and letter pronunciation, and I had managed to transform the Arabic word for ``King” into ``Spoon”. At UCSI University, the only common language we all share is English. However, it isn’t the first language for the majority of us. Have you ever considered how many different English dialects and accents are represented at UCSI University? Rough estimates would be around seventy! On top of this, Malaysians themselves vary in their English accents, depending where they come from in the country and what their first language is. Here in Malaysia, I am often caught off guard by a word spoken by someone who speaks English very well. I have to stop, and try pronouncing the confusing word in my mind with a different pronunciation before it makes sense to me. What are they talking about? I have had many students tell me that they understand English, but they don’t understand one certain person or another because of the accent that person might speak with. This includes the speed of speech, pronunciation, inflection, and the use of expressions or idioms, among other things. Some cultures speak very quickly. Some use their hands as much as their tongues to communicate! Heads or Tails? The use of expressions and idioms is another confusing barrier at times, which can make the listener think the speaker is either crazy or very strange! Idioms are usually cultural expressions, so even fluent-speaking English speakers from different countries in the world might not understand each other when they use idioms to express their thoughts. When I googled “idioms” for this article, I found several rants about how, “English is difficult enough without using idioms!” Hmmm… Different languages use different vocal sounds. For example, Chinese languages are tonal, and German is guttural. Most Mediterranean languages roll their “r’s”. When speed and language sounds, as well as voice inflection and syllable emphasis are transferred into English pronunciation, the result is a local accent. So, what to do, lah? Or is that, eh? Well, when it comes to better communication, especially in a cross-cultural environment, the best place is to start with a good sense of humour. My American friend told a funny story: Not knowing the correct Arabic word for “mortar and pestle”, but needing to purchase one, she proceeded to make the motion with her hands to the local spice seller. After many attempts, he finally seemed to grasp her meaning, and told her to return the next day. The following day, he proudly held out a toilet plunger to her, at a very good price of course! Clearly, learning vocabulary is an important first step! However, after that, you need big doses of understanding, patience and persistence. Start with trying to understand your own language assumptions and practices. If you realize you speak quickly or use a lot of idioms in your speech, try to adjust your speech. If you find it difficult to understand another English accent, work hard at active listening and look for non-verbal clues to help you. Communicating: if only I could get it right! Written by: Sally Nelson, International Student Centre, UCSI University 14 # ? *^ ? & ! @ Whatever you do, don’t judge or criticise another person’s attempts at communicating. Worst of all, don’t dismiss them by jumping to all kinds of negative conclusions about them or their culture. Cross-cultural communication needs work, but it is worth the reward. I have spent a life-time building relationships with people from vastly different languages and cultures than my own, and I consider myself exceedingly wealthy in life experience as a result. You will be similarly rewarded if you take the effort and time to communicate as effectively as possible, and open your mind to understanding and accepting other people. s Cross-Cultural Communication @ * Communicating effectively is difficult at the best of times, but what happens when you add language or cultural differences into the mix? Well, if you keep your sense of humour, cross-cultural interactions add spice to life and richness to relationships. If you take yourself or others too seriously, it can cause friction, frustration and misunderstanding. Effective communication is the responsibility of both the speaker and the listener. We need to actively listen for understanding. ? o eh? ? t a wh 15 What Do your Body Angels Say? Written by: Life Angels It’s always interesting to study and identify the signals and meanings of the nonverbal communication or the body language of others. Nonverbal communication is the single most powerful form of communication which cues you to the other person’s mind. Body language covers from the head down to the toes, your facial expressions, gestures, signs, and the use of space. However, the multicultural differences in nonverbal communication are enormously open to misinterpretations. Body Talk for Personal Space There are some nonverbal exchanges which I have witnessed occurring in an organization. An individual from a different nationality tried to establish rapport by communicating with another individual of the opposite gender from another nationality. He tried to narrow the distance between himself and the individual who kept backing away and attempting to maintain her level of spatial comfort. However, he didn’t recognize the signals she had sent. All in all, she appeared terrified of this individual who was constantly gesticulating in his speech and moving forward to a distance that narrowed her comfort zone. Each of us has our own personal space with clearly marked boundaries which we guard. Only those whom we feel close to are permitted to enter this space. Thus, the closer people feel emotionally to each other, the closer they will be to each other. So, pay attention and heed every gesture with your eyes. Body talk for Building rapport Is there ever any doubt in your mind that you have the power to express your body language for social networking? Your body language which includes the tiniest facial expressions and body movements, can give you an advantage if you use them correctly. One such aspect is mirroring. Nonverbally, mirroring says, “look at me, I’m the same as you” (in expression/movement) which is how we tell others that we agree with them or vice versa. But before you mirror somebody’s body language, it would be better to take into consideration your relationship with the person as mirroring is also effective in intimidating or disarming superior types who try to take control of a situation from you. Assessment: Which body languages can you use to empower your ability to communicate better with others? 16 17 Past Events What is Next? Leadership Enhancement through the DISC Profile Leadership Enhancement through the DISC Profile Workshop was conducted on 4 & 11 March 2011 by the Student Development & Counselling Unit. 60 students had signed up for this programme to discover their individual unique personality and to learn how each personality influences their leadership style. Since everyone is a leader within ourselves, it would be good for us to learn about our own style in order to manage ourselves better when dealing with others, especially when we are leading a group of people as a leader. Some participants’ testimonials: 1.I’ve made new friends, learned how to interact with others and to increase our teamwork efforts as the group’s leader through the activities I experienced. 2.The DISC profile highlights the different types of people and techniques in dealing with the different leadership situations. 3.I learned about my own personality and also the qualities of a good leader. 4.The DISC Profile helped me to understand myself better. 5.I have a clear understanding about own personality and learned how to interact with different personalities. 18 19 Join the following Learning Groups in May 2011 semester: Transition to University Self Discovery Gender Identity Student Development & Counselling Unit 3 rd Floor, Block A, South Wing, Kuala Lumpur Campus Tel: +603-9101 8880 ext 3161 / 3164 / 3167