It's not uncommon to hear from many professionals working with students that face to face communication tends to be easy for them. What is it, specifically, about your telephone skills that you believe could use improvement?
I'm not really sure what I can do in conversations to become more aware. I guess the first step would be to focus on the person speaking. Often in conversation, many thoughts enter my mind - like a mental response to what the other person is saying. If I could shut out all other thoughts and focus on that person, I'd probably see more aspect of their body language. Is there something I could do to improve my focus?
It can be hard to focus on another individual, especially if you are balancing a number of other tasks at the same time, Kate. The good news is that you are aware of some of your personal barriers to listening, that's the first step! What might you do, moving forward, to help you to focus in a little more on another person when you're in conversation?
I think the best way to focus would be make sure the conversation is the only thing I’m doing at that moment. I need to be engaged in that conversation – and only that conversation. My other tasks - and thoughts – need to be put aside in order to truly focus.
I believe that I need to work on my telephone skills more. Even though I have a script I seem to deviate from it. I believe that I just need to have the scrpit but create my own spin on it to make it my own.
Great awareness, Tiffaney. Many institutions will use a phone script as a guide to help their admissions professionals ensure they're being compliant and giving the student pertinent information. I'm interested in hearing how you believe you tend to deviate from your current script and what you plan to do to make it your own?
My written method of communication is diffecult since I have to convey messages in 3 langauages: English, Spanish and Crelo (Haitian). Translating points of interests is tricky, the right fluxuation or pitch changes the meaning. As our population changes and more Haitians join our community the demand to understand this language and express oneself effectively is high.
Wow...three lanuages, now that's impressive! I can imagine that translating the message you're trying to convey can prove to be tricky at times, Emma. Congratulations for having the flexibility to adapt to your students preferred language! Knowing that subtle nuances in language can change the message, I'm curious to know what you do to ensure that correct message was appropriately received?
My face to face skills and phone skills are much stronger than my email and writing letter skills are. I like the steps of preparing, drafting, checking, and refining and those are things I definitely need to get stronger in. That is what I will start working on immediately.
I believe I need to work on my writing skills and improve my writen communications.
Awesome awareness, Michael! Taking the time to craft and refine written messages can definitely have a positive impact on your written communication. Let me know how it's going as you implement the steps of preparing, drafting, checking and so forth.
Interesting Ania. What specifically will you do to improve your written communications?
I have pretty effective communication when it comes down to telephone and written communication. Face to Face communication is most certainly my weakest skill. With that in mind, I am always willing to perfect and grow in the other areas of communication. I intend to spend a lot of time perfecting my telephone communication skills for my employment, my written communication skills for my hobbies and my face to face communication skills for everyday interaction. I tend to be very introverted and selfish in a conversation and do not notice body language at all. I most of the time have to be told when I should be quiet, in lieu of what body language is telling me.
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY TELEPHONE. Sometimes I zone out or start thinking of my next set of questions instead of really engaging in the convo. Face to face is something I know I excel at and love. Phone not so much.
One method of communication I would like to develop more is my telephone communication skills. The reason I would like to improve these skills because I feel the least comfortable doing it. I feel uncomfortable simply because I have no body language to express or read. When I read body language I have the ability to adjust my tone and rethink my word choice to adjust to my receivers needs.
When communicating through email or letters I like to keep my message short and straight to the point so it limits misinterpretation.
I agree body language is very important. Reading body language allows you to adjust your tone and your own body language to adapt to your receivers.
It's great that you have an idea of what you'd like to improve as far as your communication skills go, Ashleigh. Body language can tell you a great deal when you're communicating. What specifically do you plan to do to improve your face to face communications?
It's great when you have the benefit of the face to face interaction, isn't Jason? Knowing that a great number of conversations with students occur over the phone, what will you try to do the next time you find yourself zoning out on the telephone?
Pushing yourself to address something that you don't really feel comfortable with is awesome, Kelly. Improving phone skills will definitely help you in your work with students. I'm curious, you mention that you're able to adjust your tone and word choice based on what another persons body language tells you. What miht you listen for in your telephone conversations to help you do the same?
