That's a good place to start, Richard. What specifically will you address in your conversations with other departments that will lead to improved communications?
By talking with other departments
Having a clear understanding of the department's mission and goals and how it contributes to the institution's overall mission and goals is critical, Tricia. Keeping the overall mission and vision in sight will help keep everyone on the same page and encourage collaboration amongst departments.
If each department is clear in what their mission or goal is, this will clear up many communication hurtles. I also think that departments should work well together and understand what everyone is trying to achieve.
I certainly hope they do & I also hope that I am consistent.
Very thorough approach, Darlene. It's apparent that ensuring the student has accurate information is important to you. I imagine your students appreciate you attention to detail.
I would apologize for the miscommunication, reiterate the correct information and then ask the student to relay back to me the message, so that I can ensure the student has the correct information.
Thanks for sharing your practices, Darlene. It sounds like you work to build bridges between departments for your students and that is great. In your communication follow up with students, how would you handle a situation in which the student recieved a different message?
I agree that it is imperative to build strong relationships with other departments to encourage effective communication. Additionally, I like to follow up with my students after they have had communication with persons from other departments, to ensure that the same messages was delivered.
Offering suggestions can be a great place to start, Ruth. It sounds like you feel it's important to be cognizant of how your message is being received by another department. This is great awareness to have because it gives you the opportunity to adapt if your message is taken in the wrong way.
Maybe by giving suggestions on certain spects of the department that effect your department. That way it doesnt seem as though you are trying to alter something that has nothing to do with you.
Great insight and practice, Cheryl. It sounds like you take care to understand how your communication might impact another person and are careful to re-word statements and questions in order to encourage open communication in an environment where people feel safe contributing. Keep it up.
Excellent awareness, Cheryl. Taking the time to get to know another person is so powerful in forming solid relationships (especially with other departments) and establishing effective communication. I imagine that your approach has won you many friends amongst your colleagues. Keep up the great work!
I also have worked in many different careers where I used the introduction of myself to those in other departments freely. Along with the introduction, I made it a point to ask the person about themselves and their job, and encouraged them to share with me how their job ties into mine and the company as a whole.
Showing interest in the other person and what they do creates value and the other person gets a feeling that you are genuinely interested in them as an associate. They seem to be able to relate to you on a common level and that in turn gets them to open up to you. They tend to become so much more cooperative with you and your needs in return.
In communications with others, I feel it is important to not only know how to do something, but one should know why they are doing it. This allows for a deeper understanding of issues being discussed, allows for expansion of ideas, and improves problem solving skills.
It also helps to take the "sting" out of questions that one may pose to another in order to clarify a statement. The examples provided in "read carefully" and "write carefully" are good examples. But when used in communication with someone who lacks confidence, these questions have a tendency to provoke negative attitude and tone. I have found that the questions asked could be phrased more along the lines of a "what if?" scenario to get the other person talking more freely.
It's good to start with a plan. I'm sure your outline helps to provide you with a framework for staying on track. It's also good practice to increase your awareness about how you are conveying your message through tone and body language, mixed signals can definitely impact your interactions with students. Good practices, thanks for sharing, Stephanie.
I make sure that I have an outline or agenda for what I wish to discuss. I also make sure that I control the tone of my voice when speaking to someone as well as trying to be aware of the body language that I am putting out there.
Beginning with what you have influence over is a great place to start Stephanie. I'm curious, what are some of the techniques or tools that you utilize to ensure you have control over your communication and are getting your message across?
By controlling your own communication and using communication tools effectively yourself.
Great practice, Renee. It sounds like this is something that you've had experience doing. I'm curious to know how it's worked in the past and how your students have reacted?
