It is important to learn as much as possible about the client that you would be communicating with as some multicultural clients may not speak English or only a small amount of English. There is also the fact that the client may require sign language to communicate with others, so it would be important to have this information before going into a meeting to make the proper arrangements necessary. Taking a client’s background into account when communicating can make the conversation more effective and reduce the possibility of miscommunications. It would also be important to take into account the type of client that is being communicated with as this could make a difference in the type of communication that would be effective. For instance, according to Burger (2010), “Persons who are profoundly retarded may have limited mobility, and communication is generally limited to some simple gestures and vocal intonations” (p. 109). An individual in this situation may be able to make themselves known better to a caretaker who can help smooth along the conversation. Also, there is the possibility that they may be made more comfortable speaking in a certain manner, such as in a closed room where distractions are at a minimum or in a room with a few toys.
References
Burger, W. (2010).Human services in contemporary America (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole ,Cengage Learning.
Active listening is a great approach to take as a technique when communicating with each of these clients. According to Woodside and McClam(2011), “What makes this type of listening special or different from other listening behaviors is that helpers also attend to what is not said, that is, to the underlying thoughts and feelings of the client, which are not expressed in words” (p. 205). It can help with understanding the current state of mind that the client is in even without them mentioning it. It can also be effective in gaining whether or not there might be more to the information that the client is sharing as they may be holding back for a reason. Letting them know that you notice that they seem to be upset or what other emotions they seem to be showing can help to move the conversation along to get to a better understanding. The client will know that you are actually listening and paying close attention to what they are saying to you which can help to build up trust between you and the client. This may allow them to feel as though they can give you the full story of what has been happening in their life which will allow you to better assist them with the help they need.
References
Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2011).An introduction to human services (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
There are actually four different communication styles that people may have, so it is important to remember to adapt to the way that a person communicates rather than just trying to communicate in the same manner with different individuals. “By doing so, you are better able to convey your messages, ideas, and beliefs while at the same time reducing the possibility of being misunderstood or experiencing conflict” (C. Ricketts J. Ricketts, 2011,p. 58). Not only are there different communication styles, but age and culture can play a role in the best way to communicate with an individual. For instance, speaking with an elderly woman would require a different approach than speaking with a young girl. They both have different experiences and outlooks on the world that would make the different styles necessary to communicate effectively with each of them. Also, when dealing with a variety of cultures it can be helpful to understand how to communicate with that particular culture without causing offense or insult. For instance, some cultures do not look directly into the eyes of the person that they are speaking with as this can be seen as rude or aggressive behavior. It might be easy to confuse this with a client that is refusing to meet a person’s eyes because they are ashamed or trying to lie about something because of the cultural difference.
References
Ricketts, C., & Ricketts, J. C. (2011).Leadership: personal development and career success (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.