Communication 

     The question for this week's blog asks us to think about someone after which we would want to model our own communication style. I really did not have to think on this one for very long. The Executive Director of my agency  has a communication style that I really admire. She has a strong and commanding personality and presence. I would like to think that I do as well. However, she is far more diplomatic, and therefore more effective, than I am.
     I am not a great nor diplomatic communicator when placed in an unscripted situation. I have no problem with pre-planned or scripted public speaking or even unscripted question and answer situations within my area of expertise. I do not do well in awkward disciplinary situations with staff planned or unplanned. Most of the time, I feel like Bart Simpson in the image below.
 

 

     She, however, is impressive in her command of these situations. Last school year, I had the privilege of participating in a meeting with her and a staff member over a very delicate situation. She made the staff member feel comfortable,valued, and heard while still remaining firm on the company policy. The staff member plead her case and although she did not get what she wanted, she felt as though she had been heard and appreciated. Some of the effective communication styles I noticed from my Executive Director were that she maintained an open posture, kept consistent eye contact, and leaned forward when the staff member was speaking. At no point, did she become defensive about the staff member's questioning of the policy or predicament.

     Recently, she lead an improvement meeting of managers and coordinators. She asked about or challenges, our concerns, and our ideas. She listened and spoke very little except to ask prompting questions. What began as a 30 minute session lasted for an hour. With very little speaking, she drew an incredible amount of honest information out of the administrative team. When I left that meeting, I said to my coworkers "That was by far the most productive and fulfilling meeting I have ever been in." Here, her communication style followed the "less is more" philosophy. She appeared comfortable with our silence while we were thinking. She was also accepting of our ideas and concerns even if she may not have agreed with all of them.
     I have been with our agency for almost 8 years and I have seen tremendous improvement with her at the helm. No doubt, her style of communication has a great deal to do with this progress!