Bryce,
Thanks for being honest here! Keep us posted on your continued success!
Dr. Jean Norris
I feel that sometimes I get impatient and try and move on to quickly to my next point of discussion. I will now slow it down and make sure I am doing a better job of exploring with my students.
Sergio, that is great awareness. By being able to listen to each student individually, you can tailor your response to that particular student. I'm curious, what steps will you put in place to help you with this?
Dr. Jean Norris
Sometimes we think we know every situation. I have learned that I have to listen better to the student's needs before making assumptions.
Isabel, that is great awareness. By listening to what they are saying, you can ask follow-up questions and tailor your response to the individual student. Now that you have this insight, what steps are you planning to take to start using this technique?
Dr. Jean Norris
I guess sometimes I make assumptions, on what the prospective student will say, instead of listening
to provide solutions to their concerns.
I limit my listening due to the admissions scripts I am suppose to us. I feel as though when I don't use them I get to be more attentative to the student when they are talking and it feel more open.
Wonderful insight, Marie. Listening is a two way process and it's important that we remind ourselves to listen to what the other individual is trying to communicate and check in to make sure we're hearing the message in the way it was intended.
Shannon Gormley
As a listener we attend to the level that we think is most important. Failing to recognize the level most relevant and important to the speaker can lead to a situation where the two people are not on the same wavelength,hence, misunderstandings. The purpose of the contact and the nature of our relationship with the person will usually determine what level or levels are appropriate and important for the particular interaction. To listen effectively, we must be actively involved in the communication process.
Jason,
Thank you for sharing your personal awareness. This is so important because when you are aware of the situations that you might make assumptions about, you have the opportunity to pause and choose a different response. It sounds like you are making a concentrated effort to find out more about the students unique situation rather than guessing that it is just like another student's. Keep up the good work.
Dr. Jean Norris
I find that I sometimes make the veteran mistake of assuming the students situation and the implication that it has. I have been very conscientious of making sure that I really explore what is happening with the student before moving forward. After all, if the student does not actually show/state what is under the surface it does not really sink in with them.
Excellent practice, Monique! Keep up the good work.
Shannon Gormley
Once my meeting with each student is over, I will immediately summarize our meeting thereafter in writing and place those notes in the students file. Therefore, I can always go back to the students file to refresh my memory as needed.
Thanks for sharing your ideas, Monique. Knowing that writing while you're trying to listen takes away from your ability to really listen is wonderful awareness for you to have. I think it's great that you plan on giving your students your undivided attention and then recap what you've heard to make sure you're on the same page. How will you make sure that you remember the key points of the discussion for future reference once the student hast left your office?
Shannon Gormley
By sometimes intently set on writing down some information while the student is speaking, hence, missing some vital key points that they may mention during the discussion.
In the future, I plan on listening completely without writing, giving the student my undivided attention, reiterating what the student says to me during those 'pauses' where it is necessary to respond to what the student is talking about.
I think I limit my listening by focusing too much on the words of the speaker and not enough on body language, tone and mood. I am going to try to be more aware of all facets of communication moving forward.
Janet, that is great awareness. And now you have a plan to work through that challenge. Nice job. Keep us posted on how your new technique is working.
Shannon Gormley
Sometimes I am not as fully engaged in the conversation as I should be. To help fix this I can rephrase back things that have been said to me during the conversation.
Omar, that is great reflection and awareness. Now you have a plan to move forward. Please keep up posted on the results.
Shannon Gormley
In the past I was thinking of my answer, next question, or a solution, before the person completed their question or what they were talking about. In the future I will actually listen to and think about what the person is saying to me before responding.
