The most important part to being an effective communicator is to fist tell tell someone what is a good communicator and what is not so good communicator. After, explaining what a communicator is then model the behavior. Lastly, have the learner then practice in small groups or model the behavior for the instructor with an array of topics.
Ayanna Streete
Laura,
Students will grumble when they have to role play, but they sure do learn a lesson!
Shelly Crider
Role playing in class with scenarios that they may encounter in the real working environment.
Having patients rephrase or restate instructions you just provide them.
Ernest,
I would imagine that is one big discussion!!!
Shelly Crider
I begin a new class by facilitating a dicussion about the model of human communication. I have the sudents identify communication barriers and filters that they experience in thier own lives. We then move on to examine those barriers and how they impact clarity or misunderstanding.
Dennis ,
Excellent project that you have the students do!
Shelly Crider
I teach courses in Fashion Design & Merchandising. I constantly remind the students that communication is key, and that it goes far beyond just having creative ideas or drawing pretty pictures. They must know how to communicate those ideas and defend their choices to a wide range of people. I illustrate this idea by having them work in teams and practicing as different members of the apparel production feild. Each member has a different agenda and needs to ask/answer the right types of questions to communicate and understand the ideas presented.
Nicole,
Good point. Now that we can add international communication along with that, it is even more important.
Shelly Crider
I teach veterinary technology courses and I often have to place emphasis on how important communication with the client is, and how poor skills (both verbal as well as non-verbal) can result in potentially devastating outcomes.
I tend to give real life examples that illustrate how situations can go horribly wrong when communication skills are poor.
Richard,
I like this as it is easy to see our own point of view on customer service, but through the eyes of a customer is a whole different view.
Shelly Crider
Kimberly,
It is true that customer service is a must. Customers give us a paycheck.
Shelly Crider
Rachell,
People read into the way you write an email as well.
Shelly Crider
I try to approach demonstration of effective communication skills from a service provider to customer perspective and relay how very important it is to a business owner to see or understand a situation or transaction through a customers eyes. It will inform the tone of every bit of communication a business puts forth. Be it person to person customer service, ad copy, website design......Customers, and more importantly repeat customers, are a businesses most important asset. Treat people how you would like to be treated. Happy customers and word of mouth bring more business. In my experience nothing promotes that better than clear communication and understanding a clients needs. (Having a great product doesn't hurt either!)
We have a text that is used in our curriculum that is called "People Skills", I have them to do a lot of role play situations that give illustrations to body language and verbal responces. This shows them how to identify real life situation that occur at work and how they should respond to them. This is a very needed subject to this generation of students, because customer service is everything when being a successful leader.
Being able to communicate effectively is very important. Not only do you have to be mindful how you communicate verbally but you really have to be mindful of your non-verbal communication. Body language says a lot.
Karin,
Excellent post. Effective communication is so important no matter what career you are in.
Shelly Crider
I work to emphasize the importance of effective communication skills to my students by stressing the idea that, in today's workforce, potential employers aren't just looking for skill sets, software proficiency, or even direct experience in the industry. At the top of most of their lists of "must have's" in a future employee is the fact that they want someone they can work with successfully and spend time with over the course of a 40+ hour work week on a regular basis. Our ability to effectively communicate is more than just composing well-written emails or presenting a concept to a client - it's also about our people skills and our ability to get along well with others. I stress to my students that you can have all of the education, training, connections, skills, etc., but if you can't interact with people successfully, you'll never reach your full potential for professional success.
Ziaul,
This is a skill that many do not have. I like that you add it to your class. So many careers use this every day!
Shelly Crider
Dari,
Excellent example that you give your students!!!
Shelly Crider
