week 5 chapter 11: mindful

Mindful is defined as "a mental and relational activity that is both purposeful and strategic." I can relate this concept to my previous job. At my last employer we had something called "carefrontation." When someone had an issue with another person instead of confronting them they would carefront them. This was a way to sit down and have a discussion with the person but not let the discussion become an argument. Showing the person that you are trying to help them and this conversation is benefitting them rather than pointing out flaws ussually was successful. Before I did this I would have to be mindful and plan out the situation so it did not blow up in my face.

week 5 web lecture: deliberative democracy

Deliberative democracy is a impartial discussion that requires everyone to be involved and gives each person an equal opportunity to present and listen to arguements that have to do with the topic. In order for deliberation to be effective one must listen to all sides and be open to different perspectives and ideas. The example of deliberative democracy in the web lecture is a jury deliberation. When on a jury all the members of the jury must review the facts, consider the evidence, and work together to come to a verdict. It is the responsibility of the lawyers to present a good case so it is easy for the jury to come to an agreement. This is the same in organizational communication within a company. Many companies have large groups and meetings to form a plan of action for different things. If the group doesn't come to a conclusion and consider all ideas and perspectives involved than someone may leave the meeting unhappy and friction could form within the group.

week 5 chapter 10: strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is making a concious choice about organizational values, niche, and direction. This definition is based on a professional level. In the book it talks about using strategic thinking to get ahead and meet the terms of employee morality and loyalty. This example is based on a work setting but strategic thinking can be used for other situations as well. If I use startegic thinking to help me make my school schedule than I can try to graduate early by taking the right amount of classes each semester. Also strategic thinking can be used when planning financed for the household. Wise spending will allow all the bills to get paid and not be passed due. I used strategi thinking at my old job through out the work week. Each day I would plan it out so all of my work would get done and it would not fall into the following week.

week 5 chapter 9: motivation

I feel motivation is necessary for a person to get a job done. Whether the job is work, or something that relates to school without motivation there is not a basis to do the task. The book defines motivation as the degree to which an individual is personally commited to expending effort in the accomplishment of a specified goal or activity. I agree with the book that a leaders encouragement or discouragement can effect the motivation of an employee. When I left my last company we were looking within our team to promote someone to the position I was in. There was a girl who assumed she should get the position but after trying it out and giving her more responsibility it was clear she could not handle the position and my supervisor told her she wanted her to focus on her current position and being as strong in that position as she could before trying to move on. Without the idea of an immediate promotion her performance decreased and she sloly started getting other tasks pulled from her plate because she began to have a bad attitude. She should have took the feedback as motivation to do better so she could get promoted in the long run.

week 4 web lecture: pervasive communication

The pervasive communication enviornment has three major components. These are Mobile digital media, Mobile Analog media, and Location specific media. These three concepts are how we communicate with each other. Mobile digital media is cell phones, laptops, media players, personal digital assistants, media recorders and satellite radio. These forms of communication I can not live without. On a daily basis I use my cell phone and laptop multiple times a day. Sometimes I wonder how our society got his way? Our parents did not have these methods of communication and they were fine but now days it seems as if we can't live without them. I agree with Coopman that the pervasive communication enviornment has changed how group and team members communicate.

week 4 web lecture: pervasive communication

week 4 chapter 8: communication network roles

Communication network roles are always different based on the group. Individuals occupy a different position in the network based on where he/she plays a part in the flow of communication. If an individual is well connected in an organization than that individual is most likely the most influential and it is not likely he/she will leave the organization. In this concept there are four types of communication roles. The four concepts are the isolate, member, bridge, and liason. I can identify strongly with the bridge role because at my previous employer I worked in HR and had to interact with members of informal groups all the time.