SEC360 Group Interaction Strategies Paper

Group Interaction 4

Group Interaction Strategies Paper

Name

SEC360

Date

Professor

Group Interaction Strategies Paper

In the security profession it is essential to have goo communications skills in order to diffuse potential conflicts and to ensure there are no miscommunications. Because we live in a diverse society with people for all different types of backgrounds, cultures, races, ethnicities, ages, etc., it is essential that that security professional have the necessary interpersonal communication skills. Interpersonal communication refers to a process used by one individual to relay a message about emotions, ideas, thoughts to a person(s). This includes communicating in the right manner, actively listening, and establishes a common understanding.

When engaging in interpersonal communication it is essential to have the communication tools to be successful in a diverse population as well as having an effective conflict resolution plan in place. When communicating in a diverse population there is different approaches that would be applied to different groups of people in society. In security conflict resolution is important to help deal with critical incidents, emergencies, or conflict situations (DeVito, 2008). A security professional will come into contact with many different people and ensuring the message is clear and free of conflict is essential to the successful resolution of any security situations.

When addressing the elderly it is important that the security personnel approach the older citizen with dignity and respects as well as patience. Older generations should never be discriminated against and should be given an opportunity to explain their security issue. In society the elderly are often times ignored or looked over. The elderly comes from different backgrounds and generational beliefs that people in current society. To ensure the elderly population is able to provide their message during a security situation the security personnel must recognize their special need and take the steps to ensure that the message being relayed is hear or understood.

Racial and ethnic groups are another special population that would be addressed by security. Members of minority and ethnic groups should be treated with respect and dignity as with any other population engaging in interpersonal communications in order to resolve a security situation. Racial and ethnic groups should never be stereotyped or discriminated against. People assigned to a particular racial group are perceived to have specific characteristics. For example, African American people may be deemed to be better at some sports or more likely to be involved in criminal behavior (DeVito, 2008). These false characterizations should never affect the interpersonal communication between security and members of the racial or ethnic group.

Citizens from different races and different ethnic groups come from different cultures and may speak a foreign language or have different approaches to communication. It is important that in security situations this group of people are not discriminated against or treated differently due to their race or ethnicity. Security professionals should never make prejudgments about an individual that they come into contact with in security situations. This includes the police officers approach to securing the community.

Police officers are responsible for providing security for members of the community in protecting their persons and their property. This protection should never involve selecting or targeting members of the community based on their race or ethnic group but instead based on a reasonable suspicion they are involved in committing a crime or creating the security incident. While the police and security personnel should approach any security situation with effective interpersonal skills they should treat all citizens with dignity and respect.

When dealing with security situations that involve the different genders the police should never make assumptions about either gender. For example the security personnel should never assume because women are the fairer sex that they do not pose a danger. With both genders avoid jumping to conclusions, making premature judgments, agreements, comparisons, or criticisms (Bell, 2006).Gender is considered a cultural variable that can affect the communication approach but while culture should definitely be considered in the communication exchange the attitude of the security personnel should never affect their communication approach. Men and women should be treated equally and no one gender should display dominance over the other gender.

The genders are taught to act and are treated with different attitudes, beliefs, values, and ways of communicating and relating to other individuals in society. The culture differences can affect the security person’s perception of the different genders and their potential threat. While men can be more threatening than women in security situations the approach to the conflict should be fair and unbiased and employ effective interpersonal communication skills. Humans stereotype because they’re looking to reduce uncertainty about someone or something (Bell, 2006). The security personnel should never draw conclusions but instead act with consistency concerning both genders.

Another special population in society is the disabled. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the disabled form being discriminated against in society and ensuring the business takes the appropriate measures to ensure the disabled person have access to their establishment. This includes providing handicap parking spaces, restrooms, and other building specs that do not restrict access to the disabled. The dialed person should be treated with the same respect and dignity as with any other member of society but should be required with any additional assistance they require in the event of a security situation.

Effective interpersonal communication skills involve active listening and a good conflict resolution plan. Cultural awareness, listening without bias, and developing a positive relationship when interacting with different groups of people are essential to effective interpersonal communications. Security issues can emerge with each group but if the citizen is approached without any presumptions, judgments, or stereotypes, as well as the same conflict management style there will be more success in a peaceful resolution. The security personnel, whether they are private security or law enforcement, should always be courteous and polite while effectively assessing the situation in order to determine the individual’s level of threat.

In security situations security personnel should avoid making premature judgments and always be objective when gathering information on the target. Never criticize or approach a security situation with hostility and always employ active listening. Security should respect and have awareness of different cultures and treated everyone in society equally and with fairness. Security should have an effective conflict resolution plan in place that is guided by good decision making and critical thinking skills. Effective interpersonal communication is the ability to listen to a message and craft a solution to the conflict.

References

Bell, E. (2006). Performing Gender and Interpersonal Communication Research. April 23, 2012

from http://wgs.usf.edu/faculty/data/PerformingGenderEBell.pdf

Devito, J. (2008). Interpersonal Messages: Communication and Relationship Skills. Pearson

Education Inc., New York City, New York