MAKAYLA WRAY
Bachelor of Science in Communication
Leadership
COMM. 421 Communication & Conflict Management
Communication and conflict management taught me more than I ever could have imagined. It taught me about myself, but also about others. The best way for me to understand the way that others handle conflict and their communications styles is to first understand my own. I learned both verbal and nonverbal communication styles, different culture communication styles, and the many ways to properly handle conflict if it does arise.
Case Study
The biggest and most impactful assignment that I completed in this class was our Case Study assignment. This assignment was due near the end of the semester and counted as our final project. It consisted of about six pages of content and research related to the case we reviewed. To make a long story short, the case study was about a married couple and the different conflicts that they were facing. We analyzed their situation and used material that we learned throughout the semester to determine why this couple was going through these phases and what helped them come to a resolution. While completing this assignment I often thought about the things that I would do if I placed myself in their situation. After I completed the case study I discussed it with my partner and it helped us to understand that if we didn’t continue to practice open communication and compromise during conflict, then we could very easily end up in their shoes. I have always been a strong communicator and I recognize that, which is why I have felt so comfortable being a leader and expressing my thoughts and concerns when necessary. Something I realized that I could work on would be to give myself time to think and not act off of emotions. Realizing this and being more conscious about this has helped me in a number of ways. Through lectures I have learned techniques to help me clear my head and understand what I am truly feeling. The best way to have an open conversation with someone else about conflict is to be understanding and respectful. In order for that to happen, it is best to take a step back and understand why you are feeling the way that you feel. In the event that you can’t take a step back and give yourself time, it is best to listen to the other person and show respect. This will be very helpful to me in all aspects of life. Not only is it helpful in my relationship, but with my family, too. These lessons will continue to be useful for my future career and everything that I do for the rest of my life.
Real World Experiences
The different skills that I learned throughout this class were able to help me in a very specific part of my life. I was VP - Standards for my sorority, Kappa Delta. Also better known as risk management. I was able to listen effectively and help my sisters solve conflict with each other. This allowed me to be a leader and show them skills to work through their specific situations and to guide by example. While helping sisters avoid conflict in the healthiest way possible, it allowed me to have the time to also plan our formal events for the semester, as pictured.
Skills That Employers are Seeking
I never truly understood how important and impactful strong leadership skills could really be. In order to be a strong leader you must be able to understand those who you are leading. Communication and conflict management has helped me do that because I have a better understanding of how quickly conflict can arise and how to diffuse the situation. I now know that there are so many different ways to handle conflict resolution and that will be so helpful in my professional endeavors. Whether I end up working in public relations or human resources, conflict management is key and recognizing that is the first step. It has also been found very useful when working in groups. Peoples emotions are so different and there are different triggers for everybody. I learned to be more mindful of others cultures and background about how their family and home life may have impacted the way they choose to handle conflict. My communication skills have improved greatly with what I have taken away from this class.