COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on understanding and developing interpersonal communication skills from a holistic perspective. It is designed to broaden students’ repertoire of effective communication behaviors and strengthen their skill at performing them. The fundamental skills taught in this program are designed to foster competence in: Self-Awareness – knowing one’s inner state, preferences, resources, and intuitions; Self-Regulation - managing one’s inner state, impulses, stressors and resources, Personal and Emotional Accountability - utilizing appropriate emotional motivation and tendencies to guide or facilitate goals, Empathy - awareness of others’ feelings, needs, and concerns, and Social Skills - adeptness at being able to interact respectfully and reciprocally with others to achieve mutual goals.
Some specific skills include listening and reflecting skills; building rapport and interpersonal trust; expressing feelings congruently at both the verbal and non-verbal levels; understanding the communication needs and expectations in both personal and professional contexts, and appropriately responding to miscommunication and interpersonal conflict situations.
These practical skills will be acquired experientially through participation in group exercises and follow-up discussion and will be supported by readings and suggestions in the text and additional activities. It is essential that students make these skills their own through practice.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
1.Understand the role of relational processes in the development of personal/collective identity.
2.Explain how interpersonal communication helps maintain personal and societal wellbeing.
3. Increase awareness, tolerance and respect for different perceptions, beliefs, and values.
4. Increase self-awareness and personal accountability in interpersonal communication.
5. Identify interpersonal strengths, weaknesses, and sensitivities.
6. Utilize a personal development plan to address gaps in their interpersonal skills.
7. Practice self-regulation and stress reduction skills to manage emotions in difficult situations.
8. Listen and reflect empathetically, and paraphrase effectively.
9. Increase their verbal and non-verbal communication competencies.
10. Identify and develop appropriate responses to the needs and expectations of others.11
11. Outline strategies to develop and maintain trust in interpersonal relationships.
12. Demonstrate respectful disagreement strategies.
13.Demonstrate effective conflict resolution strategies.
14.Demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary for positive workplace interactions.