Communication Climate

Positive communication climate:

Openness

Supportiveness -- confirmation of worth and value and willingness to help. It is the We not Me orientation.

A destructive communication climate:

closedness -- not being open

Defensiveness -- framing conflict as threats

-- Counterattack
-- Withdrawal

Competition and Cooperation

Competition -- MEGA

Cooperation -- MIGA

Individual Achievement
-- "Competing with ourselves"
Goal setting for self improvment

Hyper-competitiveness --

excessive competitiveness that leads to a destructive climate.

The guiding principle for most interpersonal interactions should be to look for ways to establish a cooperative climate when possible

and to engage in competitive communication when you must.

Effects of hyper-competitiveness

(video clip one)

-- Closedness and defensiveness

-- Empathy can reduce competition

-- Hostility in relationships

Teamwork requires cooperation

Effects on Achievement

-- research shows that cooperative climates help more than competitive ones to advance personal achievement.

Tips for creating a positive Climate

-- being supportive (video clip 2)

Evaluation versus Description

Control versus Problem Orientation

Manipulation versus Assertiveness

Indifference versus Empathy

Certainty Versus Provisionalism