When I think about
communication, I think about poise, gestures, and speaking with intent. As I
began to exam the people in my circle, one name comes to mind, Sarah Garrison.
She is one of my former professors from The University of Southern Mississippi.
She taught me how to listen, engage, and respond to others while conducting
interactions. Some typical behaviors one would see while conversing with Mrs.
Garrison is, she looks directly in one’s eyes while she is speaking. She also
maintains a positive attitude, she keeps her voice at a low tone, and she
always allows one to finish his or her thoughts. When I first met her, she was
hard for me to read; I thought, why is she nodding so much and not responding.
Later, I realized she was the perfect conversationalist; she was responding
with non-verbal cues. She nodded when necessary, leaned in when she spoke, she
kept her hands in her lap, she never interrupted while someone else was
speaking, and her facial expressions were always positive. If I could model my
communication skills after anyone, it would be Mrs. Garrison. All of her
behaviors, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills make her an effective
communicator. I would want to model the positive facial expressions she
displays, and I would like to have her calm demeanor, and low tone of voice. She
always had a way about her, which allowed me to calm myself when I was in her
presence. The reason why I would choose to model her communication skills is that
she allows a person to feel open; her willingness to listen makes one want to
communicate with her. Although she is a Marriage and Family Therapist, I
believe many of her skills come from her temperament. I do not think one could
teach another how to be so calm, patient, and respectful of others.
Lah-Lah Devine
