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Self knowledge/professional use of self
Integrating personal qualities and professional attributes through self knowledge and the 'professional use of self
An important element in any professional relationship is the capacity to integrate personal qualities and professional attributes. In social work, this integration is evident in the self knowledge that practitioners' acquire.
Self knowledge refers to the understanding that we have acquired about ourselves over the years. It is dependent on our capacity to tell ourselves the truth in ways that acknowledge our strengths and qualities, whilst at the same time recognising our personal shortcomings and limitations.
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Self knowledge/professional use of self
The extent to which we use this self knowledge in our work is termed 'the professional use of self'. In this section, this is explored in terms of four areas:
A professional use of self calls for practitioners to be aware of how to adapt their most natural expressions in ways that aid communication.
Click on each of the four areas above to find out more.
Self knowledge/professional use of self
Facial expression
This first area looks at the extent to which we are aware of our 'default facial expression'. This is an expression that all people have and that other people are most likely to encounter. However, there can be important cultural and ethnic variations in terms of the meaning that different facial expressions communicate.
For this reason, it is important that we know what our default facial expression is and, importantly, what this expression is likely to convey to others. To find this out, we're likely to need feedback from other people.
For example, if our natural 'default facial expression' is to frown, or to come across as uninterested or rather fierce and critical, it can be very important to smile or to use a warm tone of voice in order to ensure that our facial expression communicates the message we want to convey.
Self assessment activity
Take a look in the mirror to see what your default facial expression looks like.
How would you describe your default facial expression?
Ask a colleague. Do they agree with your self assessment?
Self knowledge/professional use of self
Tone of voice/mode of speech
A second area where the professional use of self is important can be found in the 'default' positions that our voice can communicate. Again, all people have a natural 'default tone of voice' or mode of speech - and it is this tone that we are most likely to use in conversation with others. This is a form of nonverbal communication but again, there can be important cultural and ethnic variations in terms of the meaning communicated.
The term paralinguistic is used to describe different aspects of speech including the use of tone, pitch, inflection, speed and volume in speech and different accents that people adopt.
Prosody is the term used to describe 'vocal variations associated with the words that serve to actually change the meaning of what is said' (Hargie and Dickson 2004: 77-79). Examples of these variations are given in the following demonstration:
Self assessment activity
If you can, record yourself.
How would you describe your default vocal expression?
Ask a colleague. Do they agree with your self assessment?
Self knowledge/professional use of self
Choice of words and vocabulary
A third area where the professional use of self is important relates to communicative sensitivity because the words we choose can have a profound impact in terms of what is conveyed - and this can be very different from the meaning that was intended.
For example, cultural differences that can be found in relation to class, race, gender and age difference are known to influence the way that many people communicate - and can indicate subtle or obvious differences in power and status that need to be taken into account. Culture is a complex issue and an area where misunderstandings can easily occur, even among people of the same culture.
All professions develop some form of shorthand language or jargon and the use of these terms can leave people feeling excluded, confused and uncertain how to respond. At worst, this can result in a communication breakdown.
Self knowledge/professional use of self
Mode of dress
'The way we dress communicates symbolically something of ourselves, and will have symbolic meaning for clients (and colleagues) depending on age, culture, class and context' (Lishman 1994: 18).
A fourth area where the professional use of self is important relates to how we dress and what is communicated through our appearance.
Again, the issue of culture and personal identity can be significant as a 'symbolic communication' because it can communicate without words who people are and where their identity might be located. For example, as professionals our appearance can communicate that we have given some thought to how we look and what this might communicate to others. This can communicate a respect for other people - the sense that they are important and an awareness that our appearance can aid or hinder communication.
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Self knowledge/professional use of self
Acquiring self knowledge about 'how we come across' in terms of our default facial expression, tone of voice, the timing of interventions, our choice of words and mode of dress is likely to mean that in many situations we can establish a meaningful communication at the first point of contact.
This challenges the view that relationships take a long time to build. It is the quality of the contact that is important - not merely the length of time people have known one another. A great deal of understanding can be communicated in moments and it is 'how we come across' that service users often remember.
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