University of Maryland, College Park

Pearl Diving Assignment 1

Lindsay Yee

Communication for Project Managers: ENCE424

Dr. Shana Webster-Trotman

June 12, 2021

Introduction

It has been just over three years since I took a communications related class. During my
freshman year, I took the required oral communications credit course while I was in Freshmen
Connection. Most people took INAG or COMM107, while I took a course called
“Self-Presentation in the Age of YouTube,” which focused on presenters on various online
platforms. Technology is bigger than it ever was before and online outlets are thriving in a
pandemic as everything has turned virtual. As an engineering student, it is interesting to take
another communications class, but now related to my major and minor. Communication skills are
crucial in a technical environment. Whether it is networking, in an interview, or working with a
team, knowing how to communicate to various audiences is very important to how others
perceive you. Coming into this class, I would say I have decent communication skills. I feel like
I know how to analyze audiences well and therefore prepare for anything to come, but I still get
nervous before speeches and presentations, so there is always room to improve. I hope through
this course I can get over my pre-speech jitters and become more confident in my
communication skills. This essay will highlight key concepts or techniques that I have learned
from the readings and class discussions thus far, and my results from: the DISC personality
assessment, the conflict management styles assessment, and the Jung personality assessment.

Concepts from Readings

One concept that I found particularly interesting from the readings is the idea of crucial
conversations. The reading, Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High,
highlights the idea that as humans, most of us try to avoid and run away from those important
conversations because we are too shy, we do not want to hurt others feelings, or we do not know
how to say it. We either go silent or go violent. This is me. Crucial conversations are those where
opinions vary, stakes are high, and emotions run strong. I had no idea this type of discussion had
a name and the various ways to manage one. As of right now in the book, I have not gotten into
the specific techniques to manage these crucial conversations, but it is interesting how most
avoid them, face them and handle them poorly, and the few that actually face them and handle
them well. Most people are too shy to truthfully speak up to another because they fear what the
truth will reveal. But, when it comes to these crucial conversations, it's important “At the core of
every successful conversation lies the free flow of relevant information” also known as dialogue
(Switzler 38). This has become more relevant for me over the past year as I was my sorority’s
chapter president, might I add during the pandemic in a fully-virtual year. There were many
times my committee chairs would come to me to say someone was not fulfilling their duties or
causing issues within the team. As the chapter leader, I had to have these difficult conversations
with people who I considered good friends of mine. One thing I stressed to them was that these
conversations were not personal attacks, but a professional conversation between two people
regarding the future of our organization. As a leader, I had to be the one to kick-start these
conversations because otherwise these acts would just continue and become a bigger problem. At
the moment, I dreaded having to be the bad guy, but looking back at it, I am already one step
ahead of others. The faster I can master crucial conversations, the more I am helping my career
in the future.
The Law of Crucial Conversations is when you feel you are stuck, there are crucial
conversations keeping you there. In order to fix it, identify where you are “either not holding or
not holding well” and get better at it (Switzler 28). As shown previously, this is not only in career
fields, but personal life. If you want to get the results you want in your life, you have to master
these skills that will allow you to excel personally and professionally. It is bound that you will
have disagreements with others. Confronting the problem is the first step for the better that is to
come. This idea of crucial conversations really resonated with me since I had to discover this
realm of my own this past year.

A second pertinent topic covered by the readings is the idea of persuasion. In Five Stars:
The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great, focuses on Aristotle’s ancient art of
persuasion and how beneficial it is to be able to combine words and ideas to actually make
people move to action. This idea of persuasion has never really been a huge idea in my head, but
when I really think about it, on a day to day basis, I am constantly using persuasion in my life.
For example, I work at a local restaurant in College Park, MD called Hard Times Cafe. I
probably get asked this every shift, “What’s good here?” or “Is the burger or wings better?”
Without even noticing, I am convincing someone why my idea or personal taste is better than
another. Those who master the skill of persuasion are irreplaceable professionals. In this reading,
it describes how those “who [are] a little better at expressing their ideas can see a sudden,
massive increase in wealth that is unprecedented in human history” (Gallo 10). It focuses on the
benefits of human persuasion over artificial intelligence. A machine or robot cannot express
ideas into persuading an audience. Humans still have an edge over “that no robot or machine can
currently replace: critical thinking, creativity, and communication” (Gallo 13). Machinery lacks
the emotional appeal that humans succeed at. Humans naturally speak with emotion, which helps
us when it comes to communicating our ideas to others. For example, when I was running for
president one year ago, I had to make a speech as I was up against others for the position. One
huge factor in any speech is persuasion. I was trying to convince my peers that I am the best
candidate for the position by using skills of persuasion to bring up past positions and experience,
goals for the future, and qualities that fit the role. Carmine Gallo dives into the benefits of human
persuasion and why it will always outshine artificial intelligence. In the end, we cannot have
robots without humans making them into ideas first. In Part One, Gallo brings up the idea of the
communications gap. This is where people lack communications skills needed to succeed in a
position, which makes it hard for employers to fill these roles. When a person lacks
communication skills, it makes everything entirely more difficult. The need to know how to
communicate to various people is prevalent everywhere and it is a skill that is timeless. Those
who struggle with communication skills will ultimately struggle in expressing their ideas to
others, resulting in a failed use of persuasion and never becoming a true leader. It is interesting
how it all connects together in the end, where if you lack communication skills, the future is not
going to be so nice to you. These skills are something everyone needs to learn and adapt to
because otherwise, there’s not many options left that do not utilize them.

Another important and interesting topic discussed in readings is the idea of networking
and branding yourself. Networking is crucial anywhere and anytime. You never know who you
are going to run into and you should always be prepared in any type of situation. In Networking
for College Students and Graduates: Nonstop Business Networking That Will Change Your Life,
focuses all about networking specifically to recent graduates. When it comes to branding
yourself, 77% of employers feel that soft skills are most critical when it comes to the hiring
process (Faulkner 24). Soft skills refer to communication, leadership, work-ethic, etc that come
along with any new job. This reading is my favorite so far as it most pertains to my current
situation: the internship process. Over the past couple of months I was applying to many
internships and having interviews with potential companies. I personally think I have a lot to
learn when it comes to networking and branding myself properly. Sometimes I often think I am
too honest, which comes off poorly to employers. From the reading, it is very relieving to hear
that most often soft skills are weighed more than technical skills. But then again, communication
skills are the most important skill to have because if you cannot efficiently brand yourself to
others, you will not get the position. For our upcoming speech assignment, the idea of branding
statements is what we will be doing in order to hopefully increase our networking skills. I look
forward to this assignment, yet fear this assignment because it is not my strongest suit. I do not
like to talk about myself and I also do not know what I should or should not be saying. I hope
that as I read more of the book, I will learn more about networking and branding statements that
I can use to help form my own statement. From the book, there are fourteen easy-to-use
techniques for when it’s time to network, which I plan to use and adapt to in upcoming
professional networking opportunities, such as getting my own business card. This is something I
rarely see students my age doing so I think this would not only help me stand out, but also
provide the employer easy access to my contact information. Along with developing my own
branding statement, I hope to become more confident in my networking skills as I continue to
read this book and learn within our class.

DISC Personality Assessment

Communication skills are necessary in any aspect of life. My DISC Personality

assessment results were majority compliance (45%), followed by steadiness (29%), dominance
(18%), and influence (7%). These results are pretty accurate to what I would describe myself as.
I am very conscious, diligent, and pay attention to detail. I have certain standards in what I
accomplish and I want to meet those standards. I also believe I have an inner drive that pushes
me to be the best I possibly can. It is important to me for things to be precise and orderly when it
comes to my personal or professional life. Like I have said before, over the past year as my
sorority’s chapter president, there were many forms and deadlines I had to do for my National
Board. I made sure to put every deadline in my Google Calendar to make sure those
requirements were to be complete by that date. I took every deadline seriously because I did not
want to risk getting any fines. Being organized and on top of my responsibilities is something
that I take a lot of control in. Although, I am surprised that influence is the weakest trait of mine.
I thought dominance would be the weakest trait of mine because I usually tend to let others take
control of situations. I truly believe I am a decent communicator. Working part-time at a
restaurant has allowed me to talk to hundreds of strangers, where I have met engineers and
business men and women that give me their contact information, or just learn about how they are
RV traveling across the country. I do think I could improve my communication skills because
they are not the best, but I do not think they are the worst. So, that result I do not agree with.
I think it is important to be self-aware of your own personality type to help you become a
more effective communicator and project manager because it will help you understand your
preferences when it comes to working with other people. This allows you to effectively
communicate to others the way you work, lead, manage stress, etc to then result in a better work
environment. It also makes you self-aware that the way you work or do something may be a
different way than someone else. It is important to realize there are many different personality
types and you must be able to communicate effectively with them all once you acknowledge it.

Conflict Management Styles Assessment

My top conflict management styles were tied between collaborating and avoiding.
Collaborating can be beneficial because it allows everyone to be happy. Compromising between
all groups allows for a win-win situation for everyone because you took all parties in
consideration before coming up with a solution. This can also be a con because it is
time-consuming having to talk to all parties to hear them out and develop a compromise that will
make everyone’s needs heard. Avoiding can be helpful because it allows all parties to cool down
and really think about the situation at hand. Time and space can allow people to reflect on
themselves and others, which may solve the conflict in the end. This can also be seen as a
negative result because people may think you are ignoring the situation at hand and are not being
confrontational.
Every conflict management style has its pros and cons and situations where one is better
than the others. It is important to realize that everyone handles conflict differently and
acknowledge that you might handle a situation differently than your coworker. For example, for
collaborating, one time a member of my sorority came to me that another member was not
completing her tasks on time. I then met with both individuals separately to hear both of their
sides of the story. One concern was she wanted her to finish her tasks by the deadline and the
other did them, but forgot when the deadline was. In order to satisfy both members without
kicking anyone out of the committee, I told them to hold each other accountable and give each
other reminders of when deadlines are. Another time, compromising was not effective was when
two members got the same amount of votes for a year long position. To compromise, we gave
one member one semester in the role and the other the second semester. This was not their ideal
solution since they both wanted it for a full year. Since compromises are short-term, it is most
likely that the conflict will arise again. When we allow one special thing to occur one year,
someone will try to use it to their advantage in the future, which can create issues down the line.
We should have just talked about who was a better candidate to fulfill the entire year-long
position because having one person throughout the year is much more efficient for the chapter.
An example of avoiding a situation was when my best friend and I were looking for housing for
one year with a group of four girls. We were looking for cheaper options to accommodate all
households and when we finally wanted to sign a lease, my best friend and another girl backed
out. I was so upset with her but I just avoided her for a while until I was no longer mad anymore.
This was better than having a verbal argument with her at the time because that would have
ruined our friendship forever. Today, we are still best friends and we talk about that situation as if
it was nothing. An example where avoidance hindered communication is another instance where
a best friend of mine completely cuts all communication with me. I never confronted her about it
and I still till this day do not know why she did it. We have not spoken since then and we
probably have a lot left unsaid, but it is too far in the past to bring up. At the moment, we were
not effective communicators and we both completely avoided the conflict.
One technique I will apply to my life is having crucial conversations. No one wants to be
confrontational, but it is so much more effective if you do. Put everything out on the table so
nothing is left unsaid. Dialogic communication is the open sharing of thoughts in an atmosphere
of respect, like a roundtable. This safe space will allow all parties to speak freely with no
judgement. This will be extremely helpful to handling conflict because each side will be able to
tell their side of the story without interruptions and punishment. It will help resolve the conflict
much more efficiently. Another technique I will implement in my life is active listening. A main
cause of conflict is because people miscommunicate with each other and then assume things.
Using active listening will allow me to listen for main ideas, watch nonverbal cues, and set
listening goals (O’Hair 31). This is something I need to implement because as technology is
overtaking our lives, I find myself not listening to someone when I am on my phone. I need to
take a step back and rethink what I am doing, and pay attention to the person I am speaking to.
These techniques will help me be a more effective communicator in the future.

Jung Personality Assessment

I do agree with my test results. I got an ISTJ: introvert-sensor-thinker-judger. I think this

describes me perfectly. I tend to be more reserved and shy in an environment until I feel
comfortable, then I will branch out. But, I definitely tend to be more of a quiet, social person
where I go towards people I already know and stay sitting on the couch. My parents always tell
me I am so literal and practical with my thinking. I like to rely on facts and practical matters.As
an engineer, I am a thinker. I think with logic and facts and base my life around that. I do not
think emotionally and I would not consider myself an emotional person. It takes a lot for me to
cry, and a whole lot for me to cry in front of others. A judger life is one that is orderly and
decisive. I also like when things are concrete and precise. When I tell you I will be there on
Saturday at 8 PM, I will be there. I do not like when plans change at the last minute or people
cancel on me. Overall, I tend to be that person in the background that keeps things running
efficiently behind closed doors. I perform the best in an orderly environment, which means I
keep my room clean, I use a Google Calendar, and I stick to my word. I think my Jung
Personality assessment was a more accurate representation of myself than the DISC Personality
assessment.
My DISC Personality assessment results were majority compliance (45%), followed by
steadiness (29%), dominance (18%), and influence (7%). As stated before, I am very organized
when it comes to my responsibilities. I am conscientious, diligent, and pay attention to detail. I
constantly strive for accuracy and I have high standards for myself and others. I work hard to get
the things I want in life and it requires that I be precise and systematic in all that I do.
Compliance is pretty similar to sensor and judger. The Jung Personality assessment put me as an
introvert which is definitely true. This is most similar to DISC’s influence characteristic. The
way I tend to deal with others is not the same as an extrovert would. I talk to people I know of,
and dread meeting new people in a forced situation. Overall, these personality assessments gave
me pretty similar results. I am a pretty reserved individual that analyzes my surroundings and
pays close attention to detail when it comes to my responsibilities and staying organized. I take
pride in being loyal and reliable in any situation.

Conclusion

In almost three weeks of this class, I have had to analyze my communication skills in
many aspects of my life: personal and professional. I have learned many things about crucial
conversations, the importance of soft skills, the communication gap, the art of persuasion, and
the idea of branding yourself. There are things I knew of but did not know they had a name, and
some things I had never heard of before. Communication skills are crucial in any situation in life.
Through the remainder of this class, I aim to create a branding statement for myself and I hope to
work on my persuasion skills. As Gallo stresses, an individual that can express its ideas to others
is irreplaceable. I aim to strengthen all aspects of my soft skills in this class, especially my
communication skills to hopefully become unstoppable and irreplaceable in my future career.
 Works Cited

Faulkner, Michael Lawrence, and Andrea R. Nierenberg. Networking for College Students and

Graduates: Nonstop Business Networking That Will Change Your Life. Pearson Learning

Solutions, 2017. Print.

Gallo, Carmine. Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great. St. Martin's

Press, 2018. Print.

O’Hair, Dan, and Hannah Rubenstein and Rob Stewart. A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking.

Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2019. Print.

Switzler., Kerry Patterson. Joseph Grenny. Ron McMillan. Al. Crucial Conversations: Tools for

Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.
Appendix