Good points, Glenna. I get the sense that you try to engage all parties in the group throughout your meeting. You also mention the office set-up as being important. What type of set up do you find works best in a group setting?
Two important ways of setting up the focus for communication for me are making sure I have contact with everyone in the room, but also makine sure direct eye contact is being made with the individual who is being interviewed. The office set-up is very important as well.
Thanks for sharing Diana. It looks like you really put in the effort to make each person feel important and engaged in the process. Keep up the good work!
When two students request to be interviewed together I make sure that I know what each of them is interested in beforehand. I ensure that both students remain involved in the conversation. I get to know each of them and ask each the same questions but worded differently so that they feel that I am focusing individually on them. I maintain eye contact with both by shifting between them when I'm speaking as well as when I am listening. I also acknowledge them without interrupting by smilling or nodding. During our tours I provide a lot of details such as "this is where you would work on your clients" or "here you would be learning about x, y, and z" during these stops I form a "circle" so that we all have direct eye contact which enables me to see their reactions and body language.
Thanks for sharing Stephanie. Making eye contact and speaking to each member of a group are two approaches of getting your message across to all members. Another tip, asking questions to group members to encourage interaction and their input.
By speaking to and making eye contact with each person.
Excellent insights, Tracy. Eye contact is a great method for encouraging engagement from group participants. Using eye contact in combination with open questions that offer individuals the opportunity to safely share their thoughts and experiences is even more powerful. It sounds like you work hard to create an open and accepting environment for your groups. That's great!
I think the key to addressing more than one person is eye contact. You must be sure to address each individual to give them the feeling as though they are the one you are talking to using eye contact. They need to feel like they are apart of the conversation and that is primarily done by using eye contact as well as open ended questions allowing each individual to comment or answer if they choose. If you engage them in this way they are more apt to open up and become a part of the conversation on their own.
That's one way to approach your communication in a group. It sounds like you'd want to make sure you get consistent information from all members of the group. How would you ensure that each member of the group is engaged when asking the same question?
Talk to each person and ask them the same questions.
This is a good approach, Tiffany, to help all group members feel included. What are some of the ways that you demonstrate your attention to various individuals in the group?
Thanks for sharing, Tiffany. Both of these are great ways to demonstrate your interest in what your student has to say. Another way to show you understand the information being shared is to use the 3 R's (repeat, rephrase, or reflect). By repeating what the student shares, you are showing that you have taken in what the student told you. When you rephrase or reflect, you take it one step further by putting the story in your words and reflecting the emotion behind the words you've heard.
Great approach, Tiffany. It sounds like you try to let all group members know that their input is valued and appreciated. Demonstrating your attention with eye contact is a great way to show your interest.
I can agree with your comment, because that is how I usually respond when showing someone I am interested. I smile and I nod when they are speaking about different items, to show I do understand what is being said or taking the information in.
I also agree that this is an excellent approach. I think continually making eye contact with everyone in the group while a question has been asked is good and then definately looking at the speaker when they are talking, so it shows that you are interested and paying attention to what is being said.
I focus on my communication if there is more than one person by continuing paying attention to all parties and not just focusing my attention on one particular individual.
These are great approaches for communicating with groups, Mark. It sounds like you work hard to ensure you're hearing each individual in the group and take the time to clarify that you heard them correctly by recapping with them. Keep up the good work!
Great observation, Darlene. In groups, some individuals may be uncomfortable contributing to the conversation. Heightening your awareness of the individual's body language is a great way to see how that person responds to certain questions/messages. I also like you idea of approaching the individual at a later time to speak one on one. Keep it up!
Pick up on key words that each individual is saying. Effectively hear what that person is saying at the time take notes because it's more than one person speaking. Recap what the person is saying to be sure you get the real message they are trying to convey.
I believe that would be determined on a case by case situation. Some people are simply not as talkative as others. That being said, I would be more observant of that person's body language. Additionally, I may try to speak with that person later, one on one.
