Written by Dave
It has been a month since I arrived in Vancouver to begin my Pre-Master Program in Digital Media, and I’m already in love with this multicultural city. I come from Halifax Nova Scotia, a simpler, slower-paced coastal city with a maritime culture. I used to enjoy the peaceful life there, but I don’t want my career to stagnate. I need to embrace more challenges and opportunities in the wider world, so I am truly grateful to CDM for providing this opportunity to pursue a higher study.
After a month of studying, I feel like the Pre-MDM program is a perfect fit for me. Aida taught us many techniques on how to express ourselves more naturally and accurately, especially for professional settings and digital media-related projects, which gave me a deeper understanding of natural communication styles and workplace culture. Here I’d like to share my thoughts on conflict management and my past experiences dealing with conflicts:
When I first entered the Canadian workplace as an entry-level newcomer, my main focus was on learning and avoiding conflict with colleagues as much as possible. If someone questioned me, I would instinctively think the issue was on my end and then try to adjust to meet others’ expectations. Of course, there were times when I ended up compromising too much and accepting incorrect suggestions. Thus I often feel frustrated with myself for being too timid to express my thoughts and lacking confidence.
This is also why I firmly chose the Pre-MDM program as my stepping stone. As I gained more experience, I started expressing my opinions more confidently, and I have become more at ease with misunderstandings and conflicts in the workspace. Because I understand that everyone comes from different regions and backgrounds, and the remote work setup often makes it difficult to fully grasp each other’s intentions. In such cases, I would try to clarify my thoughts further, even though there were also times when I compromised just to resolve the issue more quickly. Over time, I noticed my conflict management style gradually changed from avoiding confrontation to directly addressing issues. I began to raise questions constructively and work together with others to find solutions. This has helped me build positive relationships with my team. More importantly, it has increased my value within the team. When issues come up, they are more willing to consider my opinions, which makes our collaboration much more effective.
After attending Aida’s classes, I became even more convinced that it’s essential to integrate one’s unique style into conflict management. This is crucial, especially in team settings, where our focus is on solving problems rather than on the individuals involved. Aida taught us how to express ourselves more naturally and provided us with plenty of time in class to connect with our team based on our communication styles. This approach not only helps in managing conflicts better but also in fostering a more collaborative and understanding Canadian team culture.
Therefore, I will use this expertise to continuously improve my communication skills and contribute to the team in the future.