Mentoring For Communication Strategy And Implementation

The Importance of Communication Strategy in Social Work

Discuss about the Mentoring for Communication Strategy and Implementation.

Communication strategy and implementation of the appropriate communication process is an important aspect of professional work. At any field of work, communication is the means of expressing and sharing information and ideas. Implementation of a good communication can help to achieve success; on the other hand, implementation of a wrong communication approach can diminish the way to success. Therefore, communication is a major aspect of importance in the way of professional development. Understanding the communication strategies and implementing the right communication strategy in the business environment is one of the major priorities in the professional development (AbuSeileek, 2012). I am a social worker, in social context; the importance of communication is more in comparison to the other professional field. It is because, there are different kinds of people in a society and social workers have to deal all of them without discrimination, for which we have to understand every individual’s perspective and use the suitable process of communication to which they are comfortable. This assignment focuses upon the development and implementation of effective communication strategies in the professional aspects for enhancing the professional relationship development and the critical reflection on the development of my own communication practice (Verlinde et al., 2012). In the following section, I would discuss my own professional development while working in different social scenarios.

I have worked in a nongovernmental organization Prerana in Mumbai, India. It is a non-governmental organization (NGO) which has been focused upon dealing with the sex workers in red-light areas of Mumbai for protecting vulnerable children from commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking. In this organization, I have played the role of senior social worker for implementing new programs for the advancement of the children of sex workers. Our team has been decided to promote a program for the sex workers which would make them aware of the importance of education in life (Adams et al., 2012). In this context, I have to communicate directly with the sex workers. Here, I have attempted to use the best possible communication strategy for interacting with them. Analyzing their status I the community and society, I have to understand their social status before interacting with them, as they are one of the vulnerable population in the community. The purpose of the communication process and implementation of the appropriate communication strategy is to protect the girl children in the red light area and to give them a better life through the light of education in their life (Beardsley et al., 2012).

Effective Communication Strategy Implementation with Vulnerable Populations

I have applied both verbal and non verbal communication strategies to interact with the sex workers. Initially, we visited individual people’s home in the red light area and attempted to talk with them individually about the importance of education. We targeted especially women who have girl child. Before talking with women, we had to set the environment which could enhance the efficiency of the interaction and communication. As a senior social worker, it was my responsibility to set the communication objectives and to direct my team for implementing the communication strategies. The objective was to making them aware of the of the sex workers about the importance of education (Connor & Pokora, 2012). After setting the objective, we have analyzed the socio-economic and political environment, local culture and the accessibility of the educational program services. After setting the environment favorable for interaction, we have met individual sex workers and children. I learned that I should be relaxed and talk openly in a neutral tone while interacting with sex workers.

Then, I attempted to explain the purpose of the communication and educational program. After explaining the purpose, I waited for their feedback and asked if there were any problem to understand (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2012). In this context, I tried to facilitate the non-verbal behavior. In this regards, while interacting with the sex workers, I always showed respect towards them through my body language and tried to maintain eye contact. I analyzed that the making eye contact helps to enhance their confidence and willingness for participating. After meeting them individually, we arranged group meetings, where I attempted to listen them carefully and allowed them to express their feelings, queries freely. It helped to establish a positive relationship with the sex workers. I promoted silence through the meeting for making them comfortable (Cooper et al., 2012). While talking with them, nodding, smiling, showing interest towards their experience helped them to feel comfortable. In this context, I was successful to establish a good image which helped me to develop professional development. I tried to control my negative facial expression while talking with them, thereby promoting positivity in the communication. In the case of verbal communication, I shared my personal experience and asked their feedback for enhancing their participation.

I asked open ended questions as well as close ended questions for eliminating any kinds of confusion or misunderstanding. I have understood that analyzing the background and situation is very important to enhance the success of the communication strategy implementation. Based on their background, I attempted to use their accent and language to give them more comfortable environment. While planning educational program for their children, I encouraged the sex workers to participate and share their ideas about the educational plan. While communicating with women about the educational promotion of children, we also assured them to provide financial and mental support, both of which were very important to them to proceed with the plan (Cowles, 2012). Through this program, my professional relationship development was promoted significantly. I understood how to deal with lower socio-economic level people by understanding their social, mental and emotional needs which made me more efficient to develop professional relationship with them.

Post-Trafficking Support: Importance of Communication in Reducing Trauma

In this context, it can be said that I have developed experience related to the fact that how to apply communication skills while working with low socio-economic group of people, especially if they are more vulnerable than others (Forrester, Westlake & Glynn, 2012).

In another scenario, while working in Prerana, I have also led my group of post trafficking support. In this team, I have also worked as the senior social worker in my team. Our project was post rescue operation. In this operation, our role was to support girls who are the victims of the human trafficking. We mainly supported the victims with financial, moral and emotional assistance. We also offer residential care, job placement, psycho-social counseling, vocational training as well as legal support where it is needed. In this context, I played the role of team leader of my team (Gordon, Darbyshire & Baker, 2012). I personally talked with every girl who was the victims of the trafficking. Most of the girls were within the age group of 12-18 years which is the most vulnerable period of life. I realized that each girl was going through their own emotional phase where they need additional care and support along with respect and friendly behavior. I have also realized that the only way to reduce their trauma is to communicate with them effectively. Therefore, at this phase, I realized the importance the implementation of appropriate communication strategy at the right place. Initially, I discussed the issue with my team and take ideas from my team mates to understand how to proceed with the correct communication skills delivery (Klasen & Clutterbuck, 2012). After analyzing all ideas, I realized that we should start with an induction period with all the girls in our residential care.

I showed respect towards each girl and promoted their autonomy while discussing the issue. Initially a group discussion was done, but after that I preferred the person centered communication strategy and talked with individual girl with each problem. While talking with each girl, always tried to show positive facial expression for encouraging them in the discussion session. I taken care about the fact that they should not feel down or guilt while discussing bout the incidence happened to them. I used assertive words along with the facial expression showing positivity. In this context, my priority was to establish a positive relationship with the girls for enhancing their trust towards me and my team (Moss, 2012). While discussing about their incidence I tried to cheer them up and tried to provide a friendly environment. While talking about the bad incidence, I gave them assurance that we will support them for any kinds of legal action. In addition to the residential care, we commit them to provide financial support. Influencing autonomy was one of the major priority of me and my team. In this context, I always visit them regularly and talk them about their personal lives for diverting their mind and enhancing their thinking power towards a normal life.

Person-Centred Communication Strategy: Showing Respect and Encouragement

I have tried to communicate with them about their happy moments of their previous lives; it helped them to think positively and enhanced their hope to recover towards their normal life. I continued to strengthen my relationship with individual girl. I realized that establishing the positive relationship through verbal as well as non verbal communication can help them to recover faster from their current position (Thistlethwaite, 2012). We have arranged social work activities for the girls with the help of a cultural organization. I encouraged the girls to participate in the art and crafts workshops where they got the chance to meet other girls which helped them to enhance their self confidence. In the workshops I always showed positive facial expression while talking with them. Every week, I planned a group meeting with those girls where we used to plan about the activities in the coming weeks and I individually asked to every girl to participate in the discussion. In the group discussion, I used to encourage them to give their ideas by showing assertive body language and positive communication (Muller et al., 2012). I used to listen all of their queries and attempted to paraphrase their questions to show that I am valuing their comments and their existence. Through this session, i have always tried to encourage them to involve in the social activities, but never forced them to do anything against their willing. It helped me to enhance my critical thinking skills and problem solving skills. After completing each of the sessions, I used to evaluate the improvements of each girl as well as the development of my own communication skills. Evaluating my own communication skill development helped me to evaluate my abilities to be an efficient social worker and direct my career path with effective communication (Sørensen et al., 2012).

In conclusion, it can be said that, being a social worker, I should have excellent communication skills and should understand where to implement the right communication strategy for enhancing the success of the program where the communication strategy and skills are being implemented. I have discussed about my personal experience regarding the development of communication skills through interaction with people. Being a social worker, I have learned that I should have those skills with which I can deal with diverse socio-economic class of people. Here, in this assignment, I have critically reflected about my experience while playing role as a senior social worker in different scenarios. Here, I have reflected about two different scenarios in this assignment. Then, I have critically discussed how I have understood the appropriateness of my communication skills which I need to apply in the current scenarios. Then I have critically reflected about how I have implemented the communication strategies. Here, I have discussed about two scenarios, one is working with the sex workers and other one is working with the traumatized girls who are the victims of human trafficking. I have analyzed that using the appropriate communication skills at the right situation promoted the success of the program.

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