Exam 12: Build Supportive and Diverse Relationships

Nate found out his roommate Jeff is an active member in a religious sect that supports ideologies he does not agree with.While he does not mind if Jeff is a different religion, he does not want to live with someone with whom he disagrees so strongly, so he has asked Jeff to leave.This is not discrimination.

In college, Ted was involved in a sports team and a political group.He has always tried to see people for who they and without bias, and has purposely gone out of his comfort zone with people who seem culturally different than himself just to learn more about other cultures and perspectives.He has landed a systems analyst position with a global corporation, which will require him to work with teams in different countries.In his first week, he has anxiety about communicating by phone and email knowing that one of his strengths has always been reading body language.He also does not understand a lot of what is being said through heavy accents.Based on what you have read in the chapter about communicating in diverse environments, discuss 3 strategies he should use to communicate successfully on the job.

Brenda is assertive; thus she will likely:

Frank is assertive in his communication style.This means he is likely to:

A group of women in the dorm find it socially acceptable to sexually harass men and women they see as easy targets in the dorm lounges.Terry is an extremely shy and introverted person and although the harassment bothers her, she does not want to lose focus on her studies and tries to ignore it.One night she got fed up with a situation and went to the Resident Assistant (RA) to complain.How could she have handled this better?

If a person is not willing to offer solicited constructive feedback, they could be considered passive.

Allie and her roommate Kristen live in the same dorm room.They had a disagreement about bedtime rituals, and both women are extremely agitated with one another.Kristen likes to sleep with the window shades open and with music playing, while Allie needs the room to be dark and quiet.Here is an excerpt of their recent conflict: [ALLIE] Hi Kristen (smiles).[KRISTEN] Hey.[ALLIE] Do you have a minute to talk? [KRISTEN] Sure.(rolls eyes behind Allie).[ALLIE] I was hoping to talk about our bedtime rituals since it seems like we both have very different ways we like to sleep.[KRISTEN] Allie, I've tried sleeping in total darkness with no music and I just can't! My mind can't rest without the music and I've always had a fear of the dark.It's silly I realize but believe me, my parents tried to change these habits for years with no success.I'm sorry.[ALLIE] Kristen, the music you listen to drives me crazy... [KRISTEN] I'm not listening to this.(Kristen leaves the room).Which approach would have helped the most in avoiding the conflict?

Christopher has always been shy but was able to rely on an older brother to make friends.As a college freshman, an effective way to overcome shyness when encountering new people will be to:

To respect diversity in ones' environment, one must be aware of their feelings and beliefs, and be willing to admit their own prejudices.

Caitlin has been asked by her manager to offer constructive criticism to a colleague as part of the colleague's yearly evaluation.This particular colleague is difficult to get along with, and her workspace is so messy, other employees are afraid to go near it.What advice would you give to Caitlin to help offer criticism?

Sam has very low self-esteem and lives with a codependent housemate Danny who also lacks confidence.In previous conflicts they have gotten into, they have not spoken to each other for days.Sam tends to be passive, while Danny is aggressive.With your knowledge of communication styles, conflict resolution, and constructive criticism, provide this pair with advice using at least 6 strategies you have learned in the chapter.