"So that we may listen twice as much as we speak"
I can not recall from when or whom i heard this from. What it meant was the proportion used in listening double more then we speak. Through out the placement I had applied this thought and it has helped ease my navigation.
Being the only Asian within the Western context and along with its communication side effects equals chaos. This was one of my main concerns at the thought of having my placement done here versus back home where every corners are filled with the same culture.
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Any one recalling 'Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory' during our previous unit, Pr Principles? It has helped me kept an open mind ever since. When ever odd times struck, i found Hofstede's theory lightening as i could reciprocate better with an idea of whats norm and what is not.
Having said that fear, i landed as the only Asian within the events department at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA. A pair of black eyes surrounded by pairs of beautiful blue eyes. I was pretty worried that i would be alienated out or that whatever words which parted my mouth would equate puzzled faces and worst still, a toll on my working experience.
As agreed with many of our dear fellow interns' experience about the importance of being active at asking plenty of questions through out to strive towards a better learning curve, i found that the Two ears One mouth quote together makes a great combination.
Many times i noticed the stress faces of my colleagues and the war they waged against time. I applied this theory with questions asked. Filter my questions, ask the precious ones and keep an active listening approach at all times and it has enabled me to understand better and provide better with what was expected of me as i piece them together.
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I was handed this invitation last week. My colleagues kindly pushed me repeatedly, 'It's free lunch, go!' I understood their well intentions and surrendered after a few refusals because i felt that time would be better spent at the office.
I will attend the lunch tomorrow with this blog in mind and hope there would be something useful that i could post.
Warmest Regards
Grace Ye
2 comments:
Hi Grace,
I too have been taught a very similar principle... I have been brought up by the phrase, "Think before you speak". Honestly it must have saved me many 'foot in mouth' moments throughout the years, but most importantly, it has saved me from some embarrassing moments in the industry!
By the way, how was the lunch? Sounds like a great opportunity. Possibly a great networking opportunity as well :).
Thanks for posting!
Thor.
Hey Grace, haha, its funny how i always find myself relating to all your posts. (: guess we asians think alike huh. haha. Anw, when i first came to to my workplace at the City of Stirling, i freaked out because i was the ONLY ASIAN there. I was so worried i couldn't catch their slang, accent, lingos whichever so yes the saying 'two ears one mouth'definitely applies to me. However, sometimes i find that only listening gets me into 'trouble'. There were a couple of times when i was instructed to write a media release on the topic: Community Garden grant. So as per norm, i read through the report on the background, statistics etc but i kept going over and over the concluding paragraph and one of the introductory paragraphs that mentioned something along the lines of community garden grant "pass" but the City of Stirling will consider it in the 2013 development plan. So after 123456787 times i went up to my manager to clarify and discovered the garden community grant went through meaning the discussion on a garden community fund went through but the no funds were allocated for it. So the topic went through but the content of the topic was on an altogether different matter.Thank god i've clarified, and you know what, i didn't end up writing that media release because there was nothing to write about! haha, saved myself some work there too huh.
(: Hope you know you're not alone in your industry, there will always be someone of a different skin colour but he or she i am sure will always be willing to help you out. I've learnt that with the City.
Cheers,
Jolyn Law
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