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1. Describe the three levels of confirming messages and give examples of each. Can you endorse another person without recognizing and acknowledging them? Why or why not?
The three levels of confirming messages are recognition, acknowledgment, and endorsement. An example of recognition is when you return a phone call or a text that a friend has left. An acknowledgment is noticing when someone makes a comment by considering what they have said. For example, you might acknowledge your friend’s comment about a movie and take it into consideration when deciding if you would like to see it or not. Endorsement is the strongest confirming message. An example of endorsement is agreeing that you enjoyed a movie that your friend recommended.
One way to endorse another person is anonymously! For example, leaving an unsigned note to a person to congratulate him/her, or to say, “Good job!” This way the person can feel valued and respond to others’ behavioural cues.
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of seeking more information when you are criticized?
Advantages: Seeking more information can allow us to withhold judgements about others’ messages, be mindful of other speakers’ intentions, understand the intention of the message by asking for specific information, and show interest in what the speaker is saying. Seeking information serves as a way to recognize, acknowledge, and possibly endorse the speaker’s comments.
Disadvantages: Seeking more information can be interruptive of the interaction by focusing on the content rather than the relational dimension of the message. It can be frustrating to the other person who may not be able to provide more information; it can also be time-consuming. Seeking information can be taken the wrong way—defence-provoking—as you ask for clarification.