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Schizophrenia What You Need to Know Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Someone with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary; may be unresponsive or withdrawn; and may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations. Contrary to public perception, schizophrenia is not split personality or multiple personality. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a danger to others. Schizophrenia is not caused by childhood experiences, poor parenting or lack of willpower, nor are the symptoms identical for each person. What causes schizophrenia? The cause of schizophrenia is still unclear. Some theories about the cause of this disease include: genetics (heredity), biology (the imbalance in the brain’s chemistry); and/or possible viral infections and immune disorders. Genetics (Heredity). Scientists recognize that the disorder tends to run in families and that a person inherits a tendency to develop the disease. Schizophrenia may also be triggered by environmental events, such as viral infections or highly stressful situations or a combination of both. Similar to some other genetically-related illnesses, schizophrenia appears when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes, like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years. Chemistry. Genetics help to determine how the brain uses certain chemicals. People with schizophrenia have a chemical imbalance of brain chemicals (serotonin and dopamine) which are neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters allow nerve cells in the brain to send messages to each other. The imbalance of these chemicals affects the way a person’s brain reacts to stimuli--which explains why a person with schizophrenia may be overwhelmed by sensory information (loud music or bright lights) which other people can easily handle. This problem in processing different sounds, sights, smells and tastes can also lead to hallucinations or delusions. What are the early warning signs of schizophrenia? The signs of schizophrenia are different for everyone. Symptoms may develop slowly over months or years, or may appear very abruptly. The disease may come and go in cycles of relapse and remission. Behaviors that are early warning signs of schizophrenia include: Hearing or seeing something that isn’t there A constant feeling of being watched Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing Strange body positioning Feeling indifferent to very important situations Deterioration of academic or work performance A change in personal hygiene and appearance A change in personality Increasing withdrawal from social situations

Cross-cultural communication, Essay

The purpose of this essay is to use reflection on an aspect of my learning that I have come across so far as a student nurse, and how I plan to use this knowledge when I start my placements. This will give me a good base on which to build my interpersonal skills. After having a brief introduction on various religions, it brought to my attention the diversity in multi cultural societies and how, as a nurse I need a good understanding of treatment and communication barriers that I will come across. The United Kingdom (UK) has welcomed a mixture of ethnic groups, each bringing with their own culture, with their own language. Multiculturalism is an ideology that promotes the institutionalism of communities containing multiple cultures. I have taken it upon myself to find out information to gain more knowledge on different religions, values and beliefs, and the different aspects of care this relates to. This will then enable me to support patients and their families more efficiently, effectively and in a patient centred manor. In terms of using reflection throughout this essay, I Plan to use Gibbs Reflective Cycle (Gibbs 1988). This will help with structural preferences. I will also be reflecting individually on some of the knowledge I gained. Reflection aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice to show the interrelation of skills and knowledge. Reflection relates to me as a student nurse as suggested by Hargreaves (1997 pp.04) â€Å"that reflective practice is often included in professional education programs as a way of encouraging practitioners to critically evaluate their behaviour, beliefs and ideas on practice†. She states that this will lead to improved clinical expertise and, consequently, improve nursing care. Description The first Lecture I received on Religion was an Introduction to the chaplaincy team. They provide spiritual guidance for anyone needing advice, courage and support. Wittenburg-Lyles E, (2008) explains that The Chaplaincy team are able to provide visits to local places. This lecture increased my awareness of faith and moral issues. During my placements, I will come across many different cultures and religions. This is when I realised I needed to do a lot of research into different faiths to enable me to support my patients and their beliefs. I was given an example that I may come across. Some religious belief in praying on their knees, if a patient for some reason needed to have their leg amputated, this would then effect a certain aspect of their life. Therefore I would need to support them in a way that they could still meet there religious needs. I will reflect on this in practice by widening my knowledge on different religions. Next, we explored Morals, Values and beliefs; here I learnt about the responsibilities I will have as a nurse, for example, how to respect patient’s dignity and privacy (Baillie, 2011). I have an understanding that each individual is unique. I will reflect on this in practice by treating each patient as an individual. Regardless of their race, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs or political beliefs. Thirdly in another lecture, I was introduced to two service users and cultural perspectives in health care. A Buddhist from the Chaplaincy service came in to the university. I found it very interesting finding out some Buddhism’s beliefs. For an example, death is inevitable and Buddhists like to prepare for death when meditating. Buda’s also like to carry a small Buda, picture of a Buda or beads for chanting to remember their teacher. We then had a talk about Christianity from a Catholic Farther. I learnt that there will be dietary requirements inside Christianity, as some Christians will only eat fish on a Friday, no meat. They also like to carry on them a symbol of Christianity. That may be beads, holy water or a wooden cross. Christians do not like to be overly exposed during personal care needs. This has now widened my knowledge on two different religions. I shall reflect on this by taking the knowledge I have gained into practice, for when I come across patients with these beliefs. As a nurse sometimes there will be conflict when it comes to religions of employees but you must not to be judgemental, (Nursing and Midwifery council (NMC), 2010). Because of being a nurse, this is mainly due to infection control. Some staff maybe asked to remove clothing or jewellery, which could be against their religious beliefs, although head wear is now allowed for nursing and doctors. Some would argue this is discrimination, as some can get away with it. I think this is a typical example of how religious beliefs can also affect staff as well as patients and relatives. NMC (2010) states that as a nurse I may recognise diversity and respect with cultural differences, values and beliefs of others including the people you care for and other members of staff. Feelings I feel the lectures I attended were very interesting, it was not until this point that I realised it would be a very interesting topic to reflect upon and learn more about. Both the Buddhist and the Christian, were very helpful when anyone wanted to know anything, they both leased with the class at the start of their lecture by making a plan of what, we as a class wanted to cover throughout the duration of the lecture. I do feel that I held back too much when it came to questions at the end and could have asked some more questions myself, all though others asked similar questions to what I was thinking. The information I gained during these three lectures has been useful. But I felt as if I still needed to widen my knowledge further by doing some research. I believe the first step is to be self aware of my own cultural beliefs. Being self aware is crucial as will identify any prejudices or attitudes that could be making a barrier in front of good communication, best practice and patient advocacy. Festini F (2009) comments that, Effective communication is the main aspect of delivering culturally competent care. This is where I needed to reflect upon myself by looking into the Johari Window and the four Quadrants. Being self aware is a two way process. If we do not know who we are, we don’t know how we appear to others. This made me realise I need to become more confident in myself when asking questions in front of my group. This will take time with feeling comfortable. Evaluation Throughout my learning on this topic so far, it has been very useful to see where my knowledge is lacking. I know need to research further into this topic. It has given me the incentive to widen my knowledge. These lectures on religion have been an eye opener. I have realised there is so much complexity in relation to region and different faiths that as a nurse, I will need to know about. Previously I would have had no knowledge on this. I will improve on this by using a range of research ideas to gain knowledge which will then increase efficiency, I will continue to reflect on this area in order to develop as a nurse. Analysis It was at this point I realised that although the information that I have gained so far has been more than useful, it did not answer all my questions. As I still need some more guidance on what to do in situations I may come across when out in practice, whether this may be communication or treatment barrier issues. Morals are influenced by cultural values, beliefs and religion, not only by the law (Griffith and Tengnah, 2010). Morals values and beliefs and assumptions influence healthcare. I understand that cultural and language barriers can complicate situations. As a professional I must have the ability to interact effectively with clients and other professionals. During social interaction, I believe that nurses should avoid stereotyping when caring for patients from different cultures, suggested by Alexis, (2011). I have come cross a few patients from different religions with their own languages whilst I have been working in care. When communicating with a patient that does not speak English as their first language, care can be compromised if effective communication is not used. When explaining something to the patient, there needs to be a balance between using simple sentences without being patronising. For example I would ask do you hurt anywhere, or are you in any pain? Instead of saying, are you in any discomfort? I would encourage staff not to use as many medical terms, I understand this may otherwise be confusing and distressing for the patient. I would only ask one question at a time to avoid overwhelming the individual. When asking patients these questions, I must also understand a patient’s cultural perceptions and experiences regarding pain (Magnusson, 2011). I can reflect on this when I go into practice by involving their cultural perceptions when decision making on pain relief. I think sometimes a quiet time is a good time to access your patient’s communication skills. I would then have more time to look at their non-verbal clues, posture, facial expressions, is there any eye contact used or maybe there are signs of anxiety. When situations arise around communication barriers I work with other members of staff, the patient’s relatives and different members of the multidisciplinary team so that I can find out the best ways possible to communicate with them, and any particular activities of daily living or rituals (Roper, Logan and Tierney, 1998), that are important and relevant to their cultural needs. In some of my findings, I came across some good examples of how there could be a barrier between you and your patient in terms of personal care. I found that some patients do not feel comfortable if they are being touched by the opposite sex. Others dislike their heads being uncovered, they must keep it covered with clothing for modesty. These views come mainly from Jewish and Islamic religions. I found it very interesting to know that two different religions may not like a certain part of care to be carried out but for two completely different reasons. Asian Americans do not like any touching of the head as their view is that it is impolite, as they believe that their spirit resides there. I found out that in some cases all you need to do is ask for permission. This reflects back to good communication skills. I consider the main objective of communication between the nurse and patients is that messages are understood accurately. My research told me that most health agencies have access to medical interpreters for major languages. There is usually a member of the family that maybe helpful by speaking English, but they are not as reliable as interpreters, explained by, Griffith, (2009). Another reason why not to use a family member as an interpreter is that they might only translate the bits that they want the patient to hear and not the full story. I understand that if there is a family member interpreter or a professional interpreter, the potential for misunderstanding can increase. I found the information from Ting Toomey (1999) very interesting for this. She describes three ways that culture can interfere with effective cross cultural understanding. These being, Cognitive constraints, Behaviour constraints and Emotional constraints. I believe that it is crucial that all staff should document the specific communication skills that are needed with each individual patient and the patient’s response. As suggested by Festini, (2011). Weather this be in the medical record or a care plan. In my past experiences it is also crucial that these affective communication skills are past on through handovers, which increases the opportunity for successful staff-patient interactions, (Randell, 2011). I plan to take my ideas and past experiences into practice with me. As I feel it works brilliantly and is effective in terms of meeting patients, beliefs and preferences. I am also aware that each placement I go to may have a different way of doing things. I look forward to gaining new knowledge that may better my communication skills for people with cultural preferences. It is also essential to remember privacy when assessing a patient from a different culture. A quiet setting is always best, most importantly somewhere where you will not be disturbed. This is where I would utilise my background knowledge into different religions, and use different strategies with in my knowledge. For example, some religions do not like direct eye contact. I read more into this when I spoke to some of the students in my class, as some of them are from different cultures. One from Zimbabwe explained to me that in Zimbabwe they only look people into the eye when they are looking for a fight or trouble. He also explained how he had to change his perception of others looking at him when he moved to the UK as every English man he came across looked into his eyes, this at first was scary for him, but he is now okay with it. This has brought to my attention that although this cannot be avoided, I as a nurse should still be respectful to their beliefs and consider the patients preferences. I also researched some of the decisions that patients make in connection to religious beliefs regarding treatment. Law can be used to challenge the decisions a parent or next of kin (NOK) decides but this usually only happens when the treatment is life saving. The NOK or the patient themselves need to be able to make an informed decision in order to give consent or refuse treatment. I am aware that some religions refuse certain life saving treatments, and understand my role as a nurse is to advocate in my patients best interest, inform the patient or NOK of treatment options and consequences of refusing treatment. Emergency situations will not arise everyday in my nurse training or career, but I have more knowledge of my role should I be faced with this type of situation. Where religion may sway a patient’s decision all other options for treatment should be considered (Haan, 2005). As a nurse, it is my job to ensure my patient has an advocate, alternatives, and support to understand consequences of treatments and what will happen if they refuse. Conclusion Initially I was unsure of which area of my learning I should reflect upon. After having worked in care previously, I felt looking into religion would not only be something good to reflect on but something interesting I could also learn upon. After everything I have learnt within this topic so far, I have gained a new perspective on religions, morals and beliefs. . I wasn’t sure whether I was going to use a reflective model because I wasn’t sure if it was going to be appropriate as it is very structured. Once I had started to educate myself on a Multicultural Society and throughout planning my notes I began to realise how helpful it was to have a structure, I was able to structure my notes into different sections which proved to be very useful. Throughout writing my essay I have learnt to have a lot more belief in myself and the ability I have in writing an essay. But I have been able to identify my lack of knowledge on religion and culture. I think social issues will arise when staff members have a lack of understanding and knowledge of different religious beliefs, other than their own. This gave me the incentive to learn and research more to gain a better understanding, and widen my knowledge. Therefore I will be able to educate other nurses. I belief I could still now, expand on this knowledge further and I plan to do this throughout my time as a student and in my future career. Action Plan My action plan will include and implement a method of reviewing everything that I have learnt from past experiences and research, thereby using reflective thinking. I will be apply the knowledge I have Learnt and encompass this in practice as a student nurse and also a registered nurse, which will help me become a safe and competent practitioner. If I was to come across a patient with specific religious beliefs I feel I could support them as well as their family by, not only by ensuring I provide good holistic care but also allowing them to maintain a good link with their religious beliefs. If I was to come across a patient that I could not talk to, I would use past experiences by using models and pictures which to a degree would be a great help. This would help the patients to identify their treatment procedures or help me to identify their needs. I understand that some patients I meet may have a family member that may make the decisions as their next of kin, or medical power of attorney. I believe I would also need to communicate well with the family member. I would take into consideration maybe a spiritual advisor, not just painkillers as a healer. In some people’s eyes, their god or spiritual leader is their way of healing. If in my career I come across a child patient for example in A&E, which had a religion barrier in the way of treatment. I would have to support certain legislations to ensure the refusing of medical treatment did not cause death, if parents deny this; I would have to involve other professionals. From my findings I now have good cross cultural communications skills, this can enhance my nursing. I could build the patients confidence in situations I may come across. By being aware and alert I feel I could improve the patient’s safety and wellbeing by minimising any cultural differences. I will enable my patients to continue with their religious practice whilst in a health care setting. â€Å"Word Count: 3004† References Alexis, O. 2011. Health and cultural sensitivity in a diversifying society. British journal of healthcare assistants , 5 (6), p.297. Baillie, L. 2011. Respecting dignity in care in diverse care settings: strategies of UK nurses. International Journal of nursing practice. 17 (4) p.336. Festini, F., 2009. Providing transcultural to children and parents: an exploratory study from Italy. Journal of nursing scholarship, 41 (2), pp.220-7. Forrest, M.E.S., 2011. On becoming a critically reflective practitioner, Health information and libraries journal, [online] Available at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2008.00787.x/full [Accessed 01 may 2012]. Griffith, J.K., 2004. The religious aspects of nursing care. 4th ed. UBC School of Nursing. Griffith, R. and Tengnah, C., 2010. Law and professional issues in nursing. 2nd ed. Cornwall: Learning matters Ltd. Haan, J., 2005. A Jehovah’s witness with complex abdominal trauma and coagulopathy: use of factor VII and a review to the literature. American Surgeon, 71 (5), pp. 414-5. Hargreaves, J., 2002. Reflecting on your expert practice. Nursing Times Net. [online]28 February. http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice-clinical-research/reflecting-on-your-expert-practice. [ 29 April 2012]. Logan, Rogan, Tierney., 2000. The Roper, Logan and Tierney (1996) Model: perceptions and operationalization of the model in psychiatric nursing with in a health board in Ireland. Jan Journal of advanced nursing, 31 (6). Pp.1333-1341. Magnusson, JE., 2011. Understanding the role of culture in pain: maori practitioner perspectives relation to the experience of pain. New Zealand medical journal. 124 (1328), pp.41-51. Randell, R., 2011. The importance of the verbal shift handover report: a multi-site case study. International Journal of medical informatics, 80 (11), pp. 803-12. Wittenberg-lyles, E., 2008. Communication dynamics in hospice teams, understanding the role of the chaplain in interdisciplinary team collaboration. Journal of palliative medicine, 11 (10), p.336. International online training program on intractable conflict, 1999. Cultural barriers to effective communication. [online] Available at: www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/problem/cultrbar. htm [Accessed 10 April 2012) Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2010. Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwifes, London: NMC

Nonverbal Communication: a Serious Business Advantage

Business Advantage 2 Nonverbal Communication: A Serious Business Advantage Whether it is called intuition or just good judgment, the ability to perceive and to use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage gives the business person the power and the skill to be more successful. T. S. Eliot wrote in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, â€Å"There will be time, there will be time / To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet. † Perhaps he meant that those in business must be prepared in such a way as to make their face agree with the message that the consumer expects to receive.The communication experts agree that when two people have a face-to-face conversation only a small fraction of the total message they share is actually contained in the words they use. A portion of the message is contained in the tone of voice, accent, speed, volume, and inflection. However, approximately 93 percent of it is understood through nonverbal communication behaviors (Source needed). The c ombination of gestures, postures, facial expressions, and even clothing can support or interfere with the verbal messages that a person delivers.The importance of nonverbal cues in the business world has not been studied extensively, but it only makes sense that it can have a strong impact on any communication within or outside the business realm. For instance, selling is an area where the nonverbal actions can make or break a deal. People are unlikely to want to buy from a sales person who refuses to make eye contact, who has poor posture, who lacks energy, and who seems unconvinced about the products and services represented. The importance of nonverbal communication in conjunction with appropriate verbal skills can make a difference to the success of a business transaction.Therefore, this paper will Business Advantage 3 examine nonverbal communication as an important and integral component for business organizations and will determine nonverbal cues that are beneficial for succes sful business interactions. The ability to perceive and use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage gives the business person the power to be successful. Nonverbal communication includes any part of the body used by a person to send a message to another person. A person’s dress, attitude and movements are all contributions to personal business transactions.Sentence and Verbal CommunicationThese cues can help a business owner get the message across or be able to correctly interpret a message received from a customer. Often the nonverbal messages express true feelings more accurately than the actual words. A study by Fatt (1998), notes that any communication in interpersonal relationships is insufficient with just mere words (p. 1). Consequently, he states, â€Å"Nonverbal communication thus becomes the yardstick against which words and intentions are measured† (p. 1). The most common use of nonverbal communication in business has been in marketing research.It is used t o determine consumers’ attitudes towards new products. For example, executives watching a focus test group pay more attention to the nonverbal cues of the group. They are able to more closely identify the test group’s true feelings by observing their body language, facial expressions and eye contact. Facial expressions especially are particularly helpful as they can show hidden emotions that contradict their verbal statements (Remland, 1981, p. 18). Additionally, in business settings, the way one is viewed affects his transactions. Martin Remland (1981) writes that as much as 90 percent of a manager’s time is spentBusiness Advantage 4 communicating with others face-to-face (p. 2). Therefore, business people especially managers have to present themselves as a complete package that includes knowledge of their products, appropriate dress, and adequate use of nonverbal behaviors that depicts sincerity and trustworthiness. Nonverbal behavior is a major component of p ower perception in a business setting. Within a business, the main function of nonverbal communication is to facilitate relationships. Organizations have two major sectors—management and staff—who are usually at odds with each other.According to Aguinis and Henle (2001), â€Å"The effective use of power and the perceptions of one’s power by subordinates, peers and superiors are critical determinants of managerial and organizational success† (p. 537). In this study on perception of power bases, Aquinis and Henle used three specific nonverbal behaviors—eye contact, facial expression, and body posture (p. 538). They defined power as the â€Å"potential of an agent to alter a target’s behavior, intentions, attitude, beliefs, emotion, or values† (p. 538). They also used French and Raven’s power taxonomy that includes five types (p. 538).The first is reward power that means the target believes he can get â€Å"something† from the agent. Second is the coercive power where the target thinks the agent can and will punish him. The third power is legitimate power where the target must obey what the agent requests. Referent power is the need for the target to be associated with the agent. Lastly, the expert power is the target’s belief that the agent is very knowledgeable. Using these definitions of power in vignettes, Aguinis and Henle manipulated one employee’s nonverbal behavior while asking a second employee to rate the power base.Business Advantage 5 They found that direct eye contact and a relaxed facial expression increased perception of power except for coercive power. Body posture had no effect at all. There are other less sophisticated indicators that also signify status. These include behaviors and appearance cues such as clothing, age, gender, and race. In a study by Mast and Hall (2004), the accuracy of judging other people’s status based on behavioral and appearance cues was investigated. They found that only one cue was used to determine if a woman was in higher status.That was a downward head tilt. In males, the observers used both formal dress and a forward lean (p. 161). Mast and Hall also indicated that erect posture was not indicative of status in their research (p. 161). Communication experts agree that in face-to-face communication 93 percent of the message is nonverbal and only seven percent is in the actual words which is absolutely necessary to understand in a business setting. Garside and Kleiner (1991) state, â€Å"This implies that what we say is not as important as how we say it† (p. 26).Today’s businesses need employees who are not only knowledgeable in their field but who also have exceptional interpersonal skills. It is understood that most successful executives prefer verbal communication because it allows them to read body language and to hear tone of voice. Fatt (1998) believes that knowledge of nonverbal processes of communication can improve business success. According to Fatt, â€Å"†¦face-to-face communication, which is heavily weighted with nonverbal information stimulates the greatest number of senses, and provides more complete information than any other mode† (p. ). Business Advantage 6 Since knowledge of nonverbal processes can enhance business success, it is important to recognize and use appropriate nonverbal cues. The first of these is face-to-face communication which provides immediate feedback that allows the business person to modify one’s approach to meet the needs of each encounter. In a research study by Graham, Unruh, and Jennings (1991), they gathered information on the importance of nonverbal feedback to accurate assessments in business transactions.Their findings indicated that nonverbal communication was important to all surveyed and showed that most relied on facial expressions for accurate information. Their recommendations for businesses included, â₠¬Å"†¦paying more attention to nonverbal cues, engaging in more eye contact, and probing for more information when verbal and nonverbal cues are discrepant† (p. 60). One way to do so is through reinforcement behavior that demonstrates approval or disapproval. Also, response-matching is a way in which the business person uses a similar style of speech, posture, or gestures.Thirdly, accommodation is a way of adjusting to personal styles of those involved. It involves â€Å"issues of territoriality, dominance and/or submissiveness, and intimacy† (Fatt, 1998, p. 5). Professionals must use this feedback to note the body language to modify and adjust to the receiver’s behaviors. Another factor to consider is that face-to-face also allows a portion of the message to be contained in vocal elements. These include tone of voice, speed, volume and inflection (Graham et al. , p. 58). Establishing rapport is also a valuable result of face-to-face communication.Rapport is essential in building good business relations with customers and co-workers. It helps Business Advantage 7 to communicate understanding and acceptance of the other person. There are behaviors that greatly contribute to establishing a personal relationship. These include: a sincere smile, a relaxed open stance, a slight lean towards the other person, and maintained eye contact. Mirroring is a very useful technique that can send as well as receive subtle nonverbal messages. In order to mirror another person, it is necessary to match their rate of breathing, speak at the same rate of speech and in their tone of voice.It is also necessary to assume a similar posture and body language to confirm rapport and a comfortable environment. According to Fatt, â€Å"A salesperson who mirror customer’s behavior well and out of a sincere desire to communicate or to be of service usually established a strong rapport with a customer† (p. 6). A business person also utilizes information from nonverbal sources to overcome any barriers to communication with clients. Effective communication is an important aspect of management and sales positions.By decoding nonverbal behaviors, business people can increase their knowledge and understanding of what the client desires. In the first initial contact first impressions can affect both sides of the business transaction. Therefore, a a person who displays confidence has a great advantage in developing rapport and trust with business associates. One’s ability to signal trustworthiness is a significant result of knowledge of nonverbal communication. In a research study conducted by Wood (2006), the findings were that â€Å"nonverbal signals are a particularly important mode of communication between the sender and receiver† (p. 02). Wood also stated that there is an â€Å"importance of the immediate encounter between salespeople and Business Advantage 8 customers. During the first encounter, these nonverbal signa ls are sought out, perceived, and used by customers in their assessment of the trustworthiness of salespeople† (p. 202). Therefore, by using and focusing on nonverbal techniques, the business person can give signals of trustworthiness. Additionally, Wood found that for salespeople all nonverbal signals have a significant impact on the customers (p. 202).Along with confidence, the business person must have an adequate knowledge of reading nonverbal signals. For those with confidence, this type of communication is very natural and they give little thought to it. They greet customers and associates with a firm handshake that send a statement about their confidence. In addition, unflinching eye contact is a sign of frankness and interest which are both essential to sway and sell. David Morand (2001) presented research that suggested management also needed to be able to appraise emotional expressions of customers.He stated, â€Å"Sensing others’ emotional states is obviousl y a skill central to the whole notion of interpersonal communicative competency† (p. 23). He found that it was essential for â€Å"managers to have the ability to decode messages sent by others, specifically focusing on messages existing at a nonverbal emotional level† (p. 23). There are also nontraditional uses of nonverbal communication in the business setting. For instance, the business facility makes a visible statement that reflects its own perceptions. It makes a visible statement about its culture and the way business is done at that facility.One example of this is the head-quarters of Bank of America. It is a very dark, large structure that looms over all the other buildings near it. This sends a powerful message of the perceptions of their company image (Fatt, 1998, p. 2). Larson and Kleiner Business Advantage 9 (2004) claim, â€Å"A company with a strong culture and a lot of pride in itself will typically reflect that pride through its physical environmentâ⠂¬  (p. 2). Additionally, the office furnishings give more information to customers. The furniture of employees gives clues as to the status of that person in the company.If one is on the bottom of the work hierarchy, there probably would be a small, cheaply-made desk with a small chair. The next class would add arms to the chair and some other piece of furniture. Management would have larger desks, a bookshelf and a table. Finally, the top executives would have plush carpeting and a sofa in addition to what those below had (p. 2). Included in the physical aspects of a business is the office environment. Businesses that are more open with very few walls rely on constant communication. They send the message that there are few barriers to communication.They physical aspects of a business help customers to gain insight into the organization and to the people who work within it (Larson & Kleiner, p. 3). Another nontraditional use of nonverbal communication in the business setting is th rough the use of computers with growing online businesses. Online businesses are at a disadvantage without the assistance of nonverbal interactions. However, according to Timothy Bickmore (2004), there is a huge need for programs that recognize and receive nonverbal signals in order to increase sales volume (p. 9). In addition, many companies are utilizing text messaging and instant messaging for customer assistance. Qiu and Benbasat (2005) investigated advancement for programming to develop a trust relationship since this medium is void of any nonverbal signals (p. 75). They state, â€Å"With the help of emerging multimedia technologies, companies can now use computer- Business Advantage 10 generated voice and humanoid avatars to embody customer service representatives, thus enriching the interactive experiences of their customers† (p. 75).Bickmore adds, â€Å"Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are animated humanoid computer characters that emulate face-to-face conversat ions through the use of hand gestures, facial display, head motion, gaze behavior, body posture, and speech intonation† (p. 39). However, Bickmore also states, â€Å"There is no cookbook defining all of the rules for human face-to-face interaction that human-computer interface practitioners can simply implement† (p. 44). Until ECAs are fully functioning, companies should continue with the proven face-to-face interactions to improve sales volume.Because businesses try to eliminate unnecessary travel and expenses, they are utilizing such mediums as videoconferencing. Even though videoconferencing can replace business meetings, there are disadvantages. The immediate feedback that comes with face-to-face contains cues from the facial expression, voice inflection, and gestures is often not as effective with videoconferencing. For instance, Bekkering and Shim (2006) state, â€Å"With a slow signal, it may appear to the viewer that the speaker hesitates, and hesitation in ans wering is generally considered to be a sign of dishonesty† (p. 105).Another concern is that the camera used can be manipulated to improve one’s advantage such as making one appear taller and giving more influence over the meeting. A third concern involves turn-taking cues. â€Å"In face-to-face conversations, participants alternate speaking and listening by using an intricate mechanism of verbal and nonverbal cues† (p. 105). These researchers go on to say that in videoconferencing one gives up eye contact because it is distorted by separation of screen and camera (p. 105). This infers Business Advantage 11 that perhaps the speaker is being deceptive, and, thus, there is a lack of trust.Therefore, business people will find face-to-face communication a better source of feedback as well as a better rapport builder. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, â€Å"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say† (Inspirational Quotes). This has never been truer than in today’s business world. There is a vital link between nonverbal communication and business success. Because of this, body language and other nonverbal cues are communication tools that are too powerful to be ignored. Nonverbal communication can enhance a business person’s powers to persuade while removing any communication barriers with clients.It can improve relationships between the work hierarchies, thus changing the work atmosphere to be more productive. Additionally, it can serve in a nontraditional manner where the business facility itself makes a statement about the company image. The uses of understanding nonverbal communication in a work environment are endless. Therefore, there is still a definite need for training in this area for all employees of a business. This training would complete the business person’s package that includes required knowledge of the business represented, charisma, and employability skills.In conclusion, since effective comm unication is based on skills, and skills can be learned, then communication abilities can be improved in the business environment. It is an integral part of hearing what is said in a business transaction. Business Advantage 12 References Aguinis, H. , & Henle, C. (2001). Effects of nonverbal behavior on perceptions of a female employee’s power base. Journal of Social Psychology, 141(4), 537-549. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (6002448). Bekkering, E. , & Shim, J. P. (2006). i2i Trust in videoconferencing. Communications of the ACM, 49(7), 103-107.Retrieved March 27, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (21469769). Bickmore, T. W. (2004). Unspoken rules of spoken interactions. Communications of the ACM, 47(4), 38-44. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (12713418). Fatt, J. P. (1998). Nonverbal communication and business success. Management Research News, 21(4/5), 1-8. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from Proquest database (295500641). Garside, S. G. , & Kle iner, B. H. (1991). Effective one-to-one communication skills. Industrial and Commercial Training, 23(7), 24-27. Retrieved April 12, 2007, From EBSCOhost database (4636901). Graham, G. H. Unruh, J. , & Jennings, P. (1991). The impact of nonverbal communication in organizations: A survey of perceptions. Journal of Business Communication, 28(1), 45-62. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (5765878). Inspirational quotes for business and work: Nonverbal communication. Retrieved March 18, 2007 from http://humanresources. about. com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/ Business Advantage 13 a/quotes_nonverb. htm Larson, J. , &Kleiner B. (2004). How to read nonverbal communication in organizations. Management Research News, 27(4/5), 17-22. Retrieved March 27, 2007, fromProquest database (656765051). Mast, M. S. , & Hall, J. A. (2004). Who is the boss and who is not? accuracy of judging status. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 28(3), 145-165. Morand, D. A. (2001). The emotional intell igence of managers: Assessing the construct validity of a nonverbal measure of â€Å"people skills†. Journal of Business and Psychology, 16(1), 21-33. Qiu, L. , & Benbasat, I. (2005). Online consumer trust and live help interfaces: The effects of test-to-speech voice and three-dimensional avatars. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 19(1), 75-94. Retrieved March 7, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (18324428). Remland, M. (1981). Developing leadership skills in nonverbal communication: A situational perspective. Journal of Business Communication, 18(3), 18-29. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (5765673). Wood, J. A. (2006). NLP revisited: nonverbal communications and signals of trustworthiness. Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, 26(2), 197-204. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from EBSCOhost database (6456374). Business Advantage 1 Nonverbal Communication: A Serious Business Advantage Wesley George Nonverbal Communication Dr. Lynn Meade Apr il 27, 2007

An Update About Deforestation in Canada

An Update About Deforestation in Canada Deforestation, or the loss of forests, is progressing at a fast pace worldwide. This issue gets much attention in tropical regions where rainforests are converted to agriculture, but large swaths of boreal forests are cut each year in colder climates. Canada has long enjoyed an excellent standing in terms of environmental stewardship. That reputation is being seriously challenged as the federal government is promoting aggressive policies on fossil fuel exploitation, dropping climate change commitments, and muzzling federal scientists. What does Canada’s recent record on deforestation look like? An Important Player in the Global Forest Picture Canada’s use of its forest is significant because of the global importance of its wooded lands – 10% of the world’s forests are located there. Most of it is boreal forest, defined by stands of coniferous trees in subarctic regions. A lot of the boreal forest is far from roads and this isolation makes Canada the steward of much of the remaining primary or â€Å"pristine forests† not fragmented by human activity. These wilderness areas play important roles as wildlife habitat and as climate regulators. They produce large amounts of oxygen and store carbon, thus reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is a key greenhouse gas. Net Losses Since 1975, about 3.3 million hectares (or 8.15 million acres) of Canadian forest were converted to non-forest uses, representing about 1% of the total forested areas. These new uses are primarily agriculture, oil/gas/mining, but also urban development. Such changes in land use can truly be considered deforestation, as they result in permanent or at least very long-lasting loss of forest cover. Cut Forests Does Not Necessarily Mean Lost Forest Now, a much greater amount of forest is cut each year as part of the forest products industry. These forest cuts amount to around a half million hectares a year. The main products issued from Canada’s boreal forest are softwood lumber (typically used in construction), paper, and plywood. The forest products sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP is now only slightly more than 1%. Canada’s forestry activities do not convert forests into pastures like in the Amazon Basin, or into palm oil plantations as in Indonesia. Instead, forestry activities are done as part of management plans prescribing practices to encourage natural regeneration or the direct replanting of new seedling trees. Either way, the cutover areas will return to forest cover, with only a temporary loss of habitat or carbon-storing capabilities. Around 40% of Canada’s forests are enrolled in one of the three leading forest certification programs, which require sustainable management practices. A Major Concern, Primary Forests The knowledge that most forests cut in Canada are managed to grow back doesn’t detract from the fact that primary forest continued to be cut at an alarming rate. Between 2000 and 2014, Canada is responsible for the greatest total loss, acreage-wise, of primary forest in the world. This loss is due to the continued spread of road networks, logging, and mining activities. Over 20% of the world’s total loss of primary forests occurred in Canada. These forests will grow back to, but not as secondary forests. Wildlife necessitating large amounts of land (for example, woodland caribou and wolverines) will not come back, invasive species will follow the road networks, as will hunters, mining prospectors, and second-home developers. Perhaps less tangibly, but just as importantly, the unique character of the vast and wild boreal forest will be diminished. Sources: ESRI. 2011. Canadian Deforestation Mapping and Carbon Accounting for Kyoto Agreement.Global Forest Watch. 2014. World Lost 8 Percent of its Remaining Pristine Forests Since 2000.Natural Resources Canada. 2013. The State of Canada’s Forests. Annual Report.

Making Ethical Decisions For The Society Example

Making Ethical Decisions For The Society Example Making Ethical Decisions For The Society – Article Example Ethical decision al Affiliation Every career as a discipline is founded on a number of ethical guidelines. Ethics stream linethe working environment. In this particular case the ethical issues are set in a medical related situation. The ethics are based on two factors, which are the individual factor and organizational context. The process of decision making is mostly determined by the influence of these factors. The ethical dilemma in this case was the treatment of a patient with a rare type of internal bleeding. After consideration of his condition the physician, nurses and hospital administration agree to admit him. However his condition didn’t improve but instead strained the hospital resources.Through the hospital policies and procedures the employees were able to make a decision by considering the mission, vision and values of the hospital. These considerations gave guidance to the staff to make a critical decision of saving life. The patient’s condition did not i mprove even after getting much treatment. After some time the hospital could feel the financial strain it was getting from keeping the patient. However, they struggled to treat the patient with the hope that he would get well. From this analysis, it’s clear that the hospital practiced medical ethics to their best with even the condition of the patient deteriorating.The entire process faced many challenges to achieve the objectives. The hospital was goal driven and all key players where expected to play their part for a common goal. To some extend the entire process was effective since it valued the life of the victim more. Employment of a new physician to the hospital saw the end of the entire life saving procedure. The new physician felt that the survival chances of the patient were slim and put him on sedatives. This gave the chance to breaking from what most nurses believed in as per the ethics. From this entire case, we learn the roles played by everyone in an organizatio n to meet the ethical recommendation.

Understanding Citizen Journalism

Understanding Citizen Journalism Citizen journalism involves private individuals, who are normally the consumers of journalism, generating their own news content. Citizens collect, report, analyze, and disseminate news and information, just as professional journalists would, creating what is known as user-generated content. These amateur journalists produce news in many forms, ranging from a podcast editorial to a report about a city council meeting on a blog, and is usually digital in nature. It can also include text, pictures, audio, and video. Social media plays a major role in disseminating news and promoting citizen journalism content. Since the general public has 24/7 access to technology, citizens are often the first on-scene for breaking news, getting these stories out more quickly than traditional media reporters. However, unlike professional journalists, citizen journalists may not have conducted the same background research and source verification, which can make these leads less reliable. Collaborations vs. Independent Reporting Citizens are able to contribute content, in one form or another, to existing professional news sites. This collaboration can be seen through readers posting their comments alongside stories written by professional reporters, like a 21st-century version of a letter to the editor. To prevent obscene or objectionable messages, many websites require readers to register in order to post. Readers are also adding their information to articles written by professional journalists. For instance, a reporter may do an article about disparities in gas prices around town. When the story appears online, readers can post information about gas prices in areas not covered in the original story and even offer tips on where to buy cheaper gas. This collaboration allows both citizen and professional journalists to craft a story together. Reporters might even ask readers with expertise in particular areas to send them information on that topic or even do some of their own reporting. That information is then incorporated into the final story. Some amateur journalists operate fully independent of traditional, professional news outlets. This can include blogs in which individuals can report on events in their communities or offer commentary on the issues of the day, YouTube channels where citizens give their own news reports and commentaries, and even unofficial print publications. Revolutionizing News Citizen journalism was once hailed as a revolution that would make news-gathering a more democratic process - one that would no longer solely be the province of professional reporters. It has had a significant impact on todays news, with many believing that citizen journalism is a threat to professional and traditional journalism. Social media has played a vital role in revolutionizing news. Many citizens are the first to report on breaking stories, with eye-witness videos, first-hand accounts, and real-time information, all using social media. Even news outlets will share breaking stories on social media before traditional means, but they have to still follow up with larger stories quickly or risk being outdated with their material in this fast-paced news environment. Social media doesnt just play a role in disseminating citizen-generated news; it also stands as a source for professional journalists to identify the stories they need to cover. A 2016 study by Cision indicated that more than 50% of professional journalists used social media to find and build stories. Despite its vast impact on our daily news, citizen journalism is not without its flaws. The biggest concern is the reliability of news, including fact-checking and the risk of incorrect information being disseminated.

Terrazas' Entrepreneural Skills and Power in Chihuahua Essay

Terrazas' Entrepreneural Skills and Power in Chihuahua - Essay Example Wealthy miners, haciendas and the landholder had no faith in the leadership and had to relocate locations that were more favorable. However, Terrazas once he took power in the 1860’s he managed to carry various form of transformation that saw his success. Consequently, this period saw the return of both the state and Hacendos to Chihuahua. After the defeat of French, he managed to establish a stable administration. The Apaches were fought to the end and new military colonies were established. There was also guarantee of land to the settlers so long as they could fight against the Indian raiders. His capability to fight off the Apache raiders made him popular among his people. He also managed to divert the tax revenue meant for the federal government and could fund the militia to fight the Indians hence majority of Chihuahuas population and the military colonist. He also used his power to acquire the largest and most progressive haciendas in this region. Moreover, Luis Terrazas had interest in mines and industries and imported machinery that raised production and this enabled him to compete in global arena. His political inclination was also geared toward his interest (Wasserman 15). In this reign, the Creel Terrazas family controlled nearly all the cattle ranches, mines and other form of business. This mostly generated a lot of dissatisfaction among the poor and the less privileged most of which were landless. This occurred mostly during the reign of dictator of Porfirio Diaz (Truthout Web). The role played by haciendas was significant to the elite as it provided much income for their business empire. The main reason for employing act of brutality was to annex land chunk of land from the local indigenous people for business expansion. Moreso, this was usually done with no authority from rural population and communities. During this reign, there was significant development that saw expansion in agriculture, mining and improved transport