Stimulus, Response and Feedback

by Career Expert on November 30, 2005

Communication can be divided into Stimulus and Response
Chapter 5 p.7
I don’t know why, but often I become defensive when people say things to me. I then withdraw and usually I end up with this “poor me” feeling that lasts for the rest of the day. Is there any way in which I can change this?
To change that defensive response of yours, you first have to understand the essence of communication.
Communication can be divided into two parts:
Stimulus and Response
You have very little control over the stimulus component, which often includes criticism, ridicule, judgement and invalidation of yourself. What you can change, is your esponse. It is especially programmed past responses that can, and most often have to be hanged to enhance your communication and effectiveness in dealing with customers and colleagues.
See criticism as a learning experience. Disassociate from the criticism. Obtain information to solve the problem by asking open ended questions like:
What would you change?
How can I improve?
Who is involved?
When should the task be completed?
Where can I find the information?
Questioning assists you to go from a problem state to a solution state.1
“If” is a very powerful word as it can move something from a
problem state to a solution state since it helps to design the future.
Effective questioning
Develops a bridge
Problem state
Solution state
When one goes into the problem state the following happens:
One feels stuck
The negative situation repeats itself
One blames others
When one goes into the problem state the following happens:
What is to be done about the challenge?
How could this problem be managed better in the future?
Think of solutions around “If”
The only thing that will get you out of the problem state is by choosing to deal effectively with stimuli through appropriate responses.
You’ll be amazed at what it will do for your interaction with customers and colleagues…add effective listening to this and you’ll become far more effective.

Communication can be divided into Stimulus and Response

Chapter 5 p.7

w&t_question
I don’t know why, but often I become defensive when people say things to me. I then withdraw and usually I end up with this poor me feeling that lasts for the rest of the day. Is there any way in which I can change this?
w&t_exclamation
To change that defensive response of yours, you first have to understand the essence of communication.
Communication can be divided into two parts:
  1. Stimulus: You have very little control over the stimulus component, which often includes criticism, ridicule, judgement and invalidation of yourself
  2. Response: What you can change, is your response. It is especially programmed past responses that can, and most often have to be hanged to enhance your communication and effectiveness in dealing with customers and colleagues.
w&t_ch5_j_stimulus_response_and_feedback
See criticism as a learning experience. Disassociate from the criticism. Obtain information to solve the problem by asking open ended questions like:
  • What would you change?
  • How can I improve?
  • Who is involved?
  • When should the task be completed?
  • Where can I find the information?
w&t_exclamation
Questioning assists you to go from a problem state to a solution state.
w&t_binoculars
If is a very powerful word as it can move something from a problem state to a solution state since it helps to design the future.

Effective questioning

Develops a bridge

Problem state

Solution state
When one goes into the problem state the following happens:

One feels stuck

The negative situation repeats itself

One blames others

When one goes into the problem state the following happens:

What is to be done about the challenge?

How could this problem be managed better in the future?

Think of solutions around If

w&t_ch5_k_stimulus_response_and_feedback
w&t_elephant
The only thing that will get you out of the problem state is by choosing to deal effectively with stimuli through appropriate responses.
You’ll be amazed at what it will do for your interaction with customers and colleagues…add effective listening to this and you’ll become far more effective.

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