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UMatter
Inside the Counseling Center
Student Services Center, Room 430
Chico, CA 95929-0702
530-898-3456
umatter@csuchico.edu
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Monday–Friday
Language Matters
to promote a culture of dignity for all by addressing how language and bias negatively and positively affect others.
Oftentimes, we speak without thinking. Our brain turns on autopilot and we don't care how others feel, we just want to be heard. However, others do hear us and there are repercussions for the things we say.
Take control of how you make others feel by following these five steps to ensure your language positively affects others:
- Observe yourself
- Recognize the situation
- Observe the people and the conversation
- Gauge the reaction
- Communicate
- Repeat
Is what you want to say ENATA?*
- Effective
- Necessary
- Accurate
- Timely
- Appropriate
If you are just responding because other people are talking, then it's possible your communication doesn't fit the ENATA model. If not, then sit back and continue to listen. You want what you say to have impact, not just make noise.
*From "How to Think Before Speaking," wikiHow.