Hi everyone! I am excited to increase my communication
skills with this new coursework, and to have the opportunity to collaborate
with my Early Childhood Education colleagues once again!
This week we were asked to share our
thoughts about someone in our life who demonstrates competent communication and
the skills that make him/her effective.
I immediately thought of my boss, a senior leader in a large hospital
organization. Vicki is the regional
Director of Human Resources and is highly skilled in her professional communication
skills with others.
What makes Vicki’s communication
effective?
She is approachable. She is kind and considerate of other’s
thoughts and opinions. She looks
directly at you when you speak and is present in that moment as you talk. You can feel that she values your input and
she takes the time to let you speak your full message without interruptions. She checks for understanding by reflecting
back what is said, or by asking clarifying questions. Vicki doesn’t always jump in with a solution
or answer right way. When the response
requires some thought, she will let me know that she will ponder it and get
back with me, then does so in a timely manner.
She thinks through her thoughts before speaking, allowing her to
professionally communicate what she wants the message to be rather than having
an emotional reaction to it.
Vicki has mentored me in my
communication skills mainly through her example, but also in collaborating with
me to develop communication talking points, especially in regards to crucial
conversations with others. I tend to
speak my thought process aloud and react quickly to messages that are directed
at me (many times very emotionally).
Vicki emulates the ability to think before she speaks, and therefore
always comes across as professional.
This is a skill I would love to master!
I have seen Vicki gracefully respond to the negative, abrasive, or
disrespectful communication of others.
She always maintains her kind, respectful and professional manner. I have come a long way in my leadership
communication skills thanks to such a wonderful role model and mentor!
Collett,
ReplyDeleteI appreciated what you shared about Vicki. I can relate to you because I can get very emotional and speak without thinking when something is directed at me. I'm trying to get better at that and look forward to what I will learn in this class. Your example of Vicki made me think of people that I know that exemplify many of those traits. It was nice for me to be reminded of how I can look to there examples, as well. Thanks!
Hello Collett,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. I have enjoyed reading about your boss also. There is nothing like having a boss we can look up too and respect their authority and the fact that they do not let it go to their head. Vicki seem to have touch you in a special way by the way she communicates. I am glad that she has been a great mentor for you and probably others as well. Thanks for sharing,
Pam
Hi Collett,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. It is great to have a competent communicator like Vicki in the workplace because working with a person who knows how to communicate effectively would facilitate anything that may happen. I really admired her ability to think before speaking and do not jump in with solution or answer right away, which is a trait that I hope to master. Many time I found myself providing the answer without giving myself the time to think about it. I really hope that this class would help me to learn the basic skills in communication with people.
Ahhh... the ability to think before one speaks! I would also love to master that skill. Thank you for sharing the ways in which your boss demonstrates excellent communication skills- I look forward to developing some of these skills together throughout this course!
ReplyDeleteLisa