Communicating Under Pressure

UNDER PRESSURE

Communicating

COMMUNICATING

UNDER PRESSURE

How we talk and how we listen are always

important, but when the pressure is on, this

becomes even more important. During stressful

times it is easy to experience misunderstandings

that sometimes result in adding more stress to the

situation. At times like this, it is helpful to

reexamine how we communicate. Whether we are

communicating with lenders, creditors or family

members, the three principles for effective

communication are speaking carefully, listening

effectively and responding accurately.

Multiple Choice

According to the passage, why is it important to reexamine how we communicate during stressful times?

• To avoid misunderstandings that can add to the existing stress.

• To improve our listening skills when interacting with lenders, creditors, or family members.

• To reduce pressure and maintain effective communication.

• To learn new techniques for speaking carefully and responding accurately.

SPEAK CAREFULLY

Listeners are not mind readers.

Specifically define the problem or name

the feeling. It is unlikely that others will

know what we are wanting or feeling if

we leave them guessing.

Be Specific

Discuss only the issue at hand. Getting

off the track and bringing up old issues

is confusing and irritating. Don’t say

things you don’t mean and threaten

things you won’t carry out.

Stay Focused

Multiple Choice

You and your friend, Sarah, have been planning a surprise birthday party for your mutual friend, Alex. However, recently, you've noticed that Sarah seems distant and disengaged during your discussions about the party preparations. You're not sure what's causing this change in behavior, and you want to address the issue to ensure smooth communication and avoid misunderstandings.

Select the most appropriate approach to resolve the situation based on the communication guidelines provided:

• Avoid the issue and assume Sarah is simply busy with other things.

• Send Sarah a text message asking if something is bothering her.

• Schedule a face-to-face meeting with Sarah to discuss her recent behavior.

• Ask other friends if they have noticed any changes in Sarah's attitude.

SPEAK CAREFULLY

Silence is helpful when emotions are

strong, and we feel stressed or tired.

Often, during those times, we say things

we do not mean. We tend to exaggerate

or escalate the situation to a magnitude

that is not real.

Say Less

Ban blaming. Keep comments

descriptive rather than critical, blaming

or all-knowing. Avoid criticism and

sarcasm. “I” statements are less

threatening to the listener.

Say It With Tact

Multiple Choice

You are a high school student who recently received a graded assignment from your teacher, Mr. Johnson. Upon reviewing your assignment, you notice that Mr. Johnson has made several critical comments that you feel are unfair and demotivating. You want to address this issue with Mr. Johnson while adhering to the provided communication guidelines.

Select the most appropriate approach to resolve the situation based on the communication guidelines provided:

• Confront Mr. Johnson about his unfair comments in front of the entire class.

• Stay silent and disregard the critical comments without discussing them with Mr. Johnson.

• Schedule a private meeting with Mr. Johnson to express your concerns, using tactful and descriptive language.

• Complain to your classmates about Mr. Johnson's grading methods without discussing it with him directly.

  
  

Multiple Choice

You and your classmates have been working on a group project for a few weeks. Lately, you've noticed that one of your team members, Sarah, has been consistently arriving late to meetings and not completing her assigned tasks. This behavior is affecting the progress of the project, and you want to address the issue in a constructive manner, taking into account the provided communication guidelines.

Select the most appropriate approach to resolve the situation based on the communication guidelines provided:

• Ignore Sarah's behavior and complete her tasks yourself to avoid conflict.

• Complain to the teacher about Sarah's lack of commitment without discussing it with her directly.

• Schedule a meeting with the entire group to discuss the project's progress and address Sarah's behavior collectively.

• Have a private conversation with Sarah to express your concerns, using tactful language and focusing on the impact her actions have on the project.

LISTEN

ATTENTIVELY

LISTEN

ATTENTIVELY

Put yourself in their shoes. Try to

understand their perspective. It is not

necessary to agree with the other point of

view to understand or empathize with it.

Listen With Empathy

Sometimes it is necessary to stop talking

to hear all of the words. Concentrate on

the words and pay careful attention to the

nonverbal gestures. Eliminate both mental

and physical distractions.

Listen Without Interrupting

Multiple Choice

Juan is upset about something that happened in class and approaches his friend Maria to talk about it. What should Maria do?

• Interrupt Juan and give her input on the situation.

• Ignore Juan and keep doing what she was previously doing.

• Listen attentively and with empathy, trying to understand Juan's perspective without interrupting or getting distracted.

• Tell Juan to stop being overly sensitive and to get over it.

LISTEN

ATTENTIVELY

Put your shields up. Act like a coffee filter.

Strain out the emotional grounds — like

fear or anger — from the facts.

Receive Criticism Successfully

There are times when we believe the

speaker is wrong, and it would feel so

good to tell them what to do. However,

even when the advice is eventually

followed, the timing is important. It is best

to listen, to support and to let the feelings

be heard before offering any advice.

Accept What is Said Without

Giving Advice

Multiple Choice

Question: Maria is upset after getting into a disagreement with a classmate during group work. She goes to her teacher, Mr. Rodriguez, to discuss what happened. What should Mr. Rodriguez do?

• Offer Maria advice on how to improve her communication skills.

• Ignore what Maria is saying and continue with his lesson plan.

• Listen, filter emotions and understand facts without clouding judgement.

• Criticize Maria for not being able to work well with others.

RESPOND

ACCURATELY

Remain honest by saying, “I

understand why you feel that

way.” Acknowledging and

accepting the speaker’s

feelings does not mean that

you agree with them.

Be Honest
The goal of communication is

understanding. Listeners interpret

what is being said. It is important

to check with the speaker to be

sure that what you heard is what

the speaker meant. Ask the

speaker if your perspective is

accurate. For example: “Do I

understand you to mean...?” “Did

you say...?”

Check Your

Interpretations

Listen carefully until you

understand what is being said. Ask

the speaker to clarify anything that

you don’t understand. But don’t ask

too many questions, as that can be

distracting.

Get All The Facts

RESPOND

ACCURATELY

RESPOND

ACCURATELY

Make a conscious effort to hear how you speak. Do you have

a positive or negative attitude? What is your tone of voice? A

steady stream of snappy responses puts others on the

defensive.

Although we may not always get what we want, it is important

to clearly make our wishes known so we don’t build up

resentment. Listening to understand others’ needs and wants

with sensitivity demonstrates a car- ing attitude. When

everyone involved in the communication process speaks and

listens carefully, it is easier to share perceptions and feelings

while moving toward understanding one another.

Listen to Yourself

Multiple Choice

John is having a difficult time at school and decides to speak to his teacher, Ms. Rodriguez, about the issues he is facing. What should Ms. Rodriguez do?

• Refuse to listen to John's concerns and tell him to toughen up.

• Accurately acknowledge John without agreeing. Accept feelings, but remain honest.

• Ignore John's complaints and continue working on her own tasks.

• Judge John harshly for not being able to handle his job.

Open Ended

Explain and describe what you have learned from this lesson, and how you plan to use the skills with your interactions with teachers and other students.