Illustrate three different ways of improving your perception of others and their messages.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

You can improve your perceptions by questioning their accuracy. It begins by saying "I know what I think I saw, heard, tasted, smelled, or felt, but I could be wrong. What other information should I be aware of?" By accepting the possibility that you have overlooked something, you will stop automatic processing and begin to consciously search out information that should increase your accuracy.
Choosing to use conscious processing as you get to know people. When you mindfully pay attention to someone, you are more likely to understand that person’s uniqueness. Doing so can increase the accuracy of your perceptions.
Seeking more information is vital to verify perceptions. If your perception is based on only one or two pieces of information, try to collect additional information. Perception is tentative, that is, subject to change. The best way to get additional information about people is to talk with them.
Realize that your perceptions of a person will change over time. People often base their opinions, assumptions, and behaviors on perceptions that are outdated. When you encounter someone you haven’t seen for a while, let the person’s current behavior rather than their past actions or reputation inform your perceptions.
Seeking clarification respectfully by perception checking. One way to access the accuracy of a perception is to verbalize it and see whether others agree with what you see, hear and interpret. A perception check is a message that reflects your understanding of the meaning of another person’s behavior. It is a process of describing what you have seen and heard and then asking for feedback from the other person. A perception check consists of three parts. First, describe what you observe. Second, offer two possible interpretations. Third, ask for clarification.