46 Chapter 2 Skills for Career Success
Communicating
Positive Feelings
Each person is responsible for his
or her own happiness. Do you want
to be happy? If so, you must work
toward that goal. Thinking positively
about most situations in life will help
you be happy. Your positive attitude
encourages open communication.
Good feelings are contagious.
If you are a positive person and
communicate this to others, they will
feel happier, too. See 2-6.
Barriers to Open
Communication
Communicating with others is not always easy. Many barriers stand
in the way of open communication. A few of the barriers are physical in
nature, such as speech and hearing disabilities. However, most barriers
to open communication are social or psychological. Understanding these
differences can help you avoid them. Some of the most common ones are
described on the following pages.
Stereotypes
One barrier to open communication is stereotyping. A person who
stereotypes others has a set belief that all members of a group will
behave in the same ways. Stereotypes put labels on groups of people.
These labels may be based on a group’s age, sex, race, or religion. For
instance, some people may
believe that all young men should
participate in sports or all older
people are forgetful.
Because every person is
different, neither of the above
statements can be true for all people
within these groups. If you pay
attention to stereotypes like these
instead of accepting individual
differences, you may misinterpret
messages. To be a good listener,
you must have an open mind. You
must ignore stereotypes and give
people the chance to communicate
as individuals.
Healthy Living
A Positive Outlook
Use the following tips to communicate
positive feelings:
•
Whenever you meet someone, be the fi rst one
to say hello.
•
Offer praise and compliments when they are deserved.
•
Defend people who are the object of harmful gossip.
•
Smile and look happy. Show your positive personality
traits.
•
Look others in the eye when you talk to them and speak
clearly.
•
Show concern for others by asking them about matters
that are important to them.
2-6
People who communicate
their positive feelings
enrich the lives of others.