Blog:
Using Communication Skills to Enact Change
I
believe that having good communication skills requires the ability to build
relationships with people, show enthusiasm for the topic, humor, and most
important having the knowledge of the topic communicated. Being a teacher gives me the opportunity to
practice these skills. Although I feel
that there must be an innate quality, you almost always have to practice at
being effective.
Another
means of communicating is in the form of writing. One must have the ability to effectively
communicate through writing in a clear concise manner, where the reader
understands and becomes involved in what is written.
As
a teen, I loved expressive writing. I
usually did well on assignments that required informal writing such as,
journals, essays, and poems. I have
since developed somewhat in scholarly writing and in public speaking. Over the years I have gained knowledge in the
area of early childhood education, especially preschool, and enjoy speaking to
other educators in trainings and meetings.
I feel comfortable, and the audience usually can relate to what I am
saying. I am aware of the audience that
I am speaking to and I establish how I will convey my message, how I will get
it across to them, not going over their heads or underestimating their ability
to understand the topic. I can never
make my audience feel uncomfortable.
I
made a score of 21 on the Communication Anxiety survey, which means I am
comfortable communicating in most situations.
So with that being said, I would love the opportunity to speak to
parents and teachers and even the community about the importance of teacher
quality of infants and toddlers. I learn
skills these skills from my former professors, teachers and pastors who are
eloquent speakers and whom I enjoy listening to. I have developed my own style of added humor
and even laugh at myself at times. I am
always learning new skills of communicating and I could improve in listening
skills. I am always talking as teacher
so I forget that I have to sometimes listen.
I have made it a practice to begin to listen to my students because I
learn from them as well.
Very impressive , you have strong communication skills and I am sure would be a wonderful informative speaker. What advice can you give to those of us who are still nervous voicing our opinions and speaking in formal situations?
ReplyDeleteVery impressive , you have strong communication skills and I am sure would be a wonderful informative speaker. What advice can you give to those of us who are still nervous voicing our opinions and speaking in formal situations?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I was shy in my younger years. It was haed for me to speak in a crowd, let alone in front of my class. The only advise I could give is to know your subject, know who your audience is, and practice, practice, practice!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteUsing humor is a good way to communicate with your audience and allow them and you to feel at ease.
Donna, you are right that writing and speaking are linked (writing is thinking, after all; it forces one to organize an argument and clarify one's ideas). And humor! SO important. Not telling-jokes humor, but finding the funny in what is going on or the connections that you know are bubbling up in people's heads as you talk... Humor is disarming and leveling, and everyone wants to listen to someone who is "one of us." Thanks, Donna!
ReplyDelete