Many of the Commander’s power plays deal either directly or indirectly with communication.How can improved communication make the workplace a better environment in which to work?
It is a good thing when the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and where the right hand is coming from. Let me talk about the different communication styles of women and men. As we were watching television, my wife once said that a friend had told her that a certain show was good. Then to clarify (after 30 years of marriage), she asked me what her saying this meant to me. Did it mean that she would like to watch the show or was it just a statement that it was a good show? To me it was a statement that it was a good show. If she had said she wanted to watch the show, we would have turned over to it. Sometimes, especially with men, it is better to just ask and then be ready with supporting logic than to use indirect, more subtle requests and expect the other person to exercise intuition. However, this often depends on the person you are approaching. If the person approached has a tendency to get angry, ignore what is being asked, or demonstrate through body language or tone of voice that they have little time for you or your request, it is no surprise when people test the waters more indirectly. Overall, when the person receiving the request is respectful to all who approach them and when the person making the request is trusting enough to directly say what they want (with the proviso that trust is earned), we all get where we need to be more quickly. Respect and trust are key.
Improving communication is a win-win for everyone. The old adage, ‘two heads are better than one’ is so true. Knowing what others are thinking provides new and innovative ideas for improving the situation at hand, be it at home or at school. Just because a colleague has a different idea from mine shouldn’t threaten me or them. We are all here for the same reason – to educate students – working and communicating is a tool that needs to be used. How else can we do a better job? I agree with Alan, as long as we’re respectful in our communications things can only improve for education in general and students specifically. I don’t think I’ve had too many school interactions with Commanders; I picture them more in the business world than in schools. Most of the teachers and administrators I have worked with tend to be more people oriented and less competitive than Commanders.
In special education, student growth depends upon a team effort. The classroom teacher, SPED teacher, paras, parents and in upper grades, the student work together to ensure success. Communication between the team members is essential. Important issues or strategies can easily be missed without it. One example would be communication between school and home. If a student is working on a particular skill at home, the parent may need to re-inforce it at home or vise versa. Another example could be a student gaining or losing ground in a particular skill area in the regular classroom. The Reg. Ed. teacher can collaborate with the SPED teacher to re-inforce, re-teach, or strengthen said skill. ~~Alan-- I like the direct approach. I don't want to waste precious time trying to guess what is expected of me. Being direct also saves us from anger or hurt over misconstrued interpretation of indirect or subtle hints. ~~Jerrie-- That is so true. Effective communication is a tool used to increase efficiency and outcome. My last principle, took the commander role to the extreme. He felt that he was "THE BOSS" therefore, only his ideas had merit. It was frustrating because I felt that the students were being neglected to bolster his ego. Teachers and support staff felt under appreciated and it made for a very stressful work environment.
I believe that communication is key to success. Without communication it would be hard for everyone to be on the same page. As a special education teacher you have to have communication with a lot of people to help provide the right support for each kid. Also it is good when you need to make changes so that everyone is aware. In education I feel that education is very important in the work place and would make everybody lives easier if everyone communicated. We are all here for the same goal which is to figure out and provide the best learning opportunity for all of our kids. To do this we need communication. Time factor is always an issue with communication is brought up, but either way it is important I feel.
dclodfelter- I totally agree with you. As a special education teacher we have to work with several people and if we did not have communication it would be really hard to provide the right support for our kids.
Alan- I also perfer the direct approach. I hate guessing what other people are thinking or trying to say. Like my husband always says, " I am not a mind reader."
In special education it is important to be able to collaborate with a number of different personalities from parents, teachers, principals, speech, physical & occupational therapists, to the other outside agencies we work with. It is important for everyone to be on the same page whether the workplace be a school or elsewhere. When there is collaboration & communication in the workplace it becomes a more effective place to work as well because: employees need to be aware of what is going on; employees need to feel included; communication sets the expectations of the employer; and fosters a harmonious atmosphere in which to work. Since I am a pleaser without communication the workplace would begin to feel cold and impersonal. I would feel there was something missing. As we have learned everyone in the workplace may be working from a different quadrant and without communication it could seem chaotic rather than functioning in unison.
Alan-I liked your analogy of it is a good thing when the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and where the right hand is coming from. This is so true for things to run smoothly in the workplace. If everyone read the Power genes book there might be more understanding.
I agree with you Jerrie in that most of the teachers and administrators tend to be more people oriented and less competitive than Commanders. Although, I have had one administrator that was a commander which made everyone feel more alienated and left me wondering what was going on. It’s nice to finally understand where they are coming from.
I believe that communication is key in order to improve children's abilities. We have to collaborate with many professionals - teachers, administrators, principals, SLP's, psychologists, PT's, and OT's, and with the family. If everyone is informed and on board about what they can do to help, that child has a much greater chance at succeeding.
Ashley-I agree that time factors are an issue and can prevent people from communicating effectively. I think it's our job to make time to communicate with each other in order to provide the best services, especially if there are any changes.
Alan-I prefer the direct approach. The fewer 'mind games' at work, the better. It takes more time and energy out of our busy schedules when other professionals are using the indirect approach to communicating. I would rather someone be blunt and tell me the truth, than be indirect and not communicate something important.
I agree with you that communication is key. We all need to have open communication in order to keep everyone informed and allow the student the greatest chances at success.
Communication is important and essential in any relationship, be it a professional relationship or an intimate relationship. Without communication which leads to mutual understanding, any relationship will crumble. There are many barriers to effective communication, things such as fear, time, anger, or a false sense of loyalty. All power types need to communicate effectively to build strong, rewarding relationships.
Jerrie-I don't think Commanders are drawn to the education field frequently either. They seek jobs that offer prestige and financial gains. Not many of those jobs exist in education.
Ashley-Communication is the key to success. Especially in the SPED field as we have to work with a team if our students are going to succeed.
Communication is the key ingredient to success. Even with my own children at home I tell them if they can’t use their words to tell me what they need or what the problem is we can’t fix it. In group sports if you don’t talk and communicate you will miss the play and may cost you the game. The same is true with peers in your work place. In education we have to work as a team or we will fail our students. Communication is a must especially when you have several chefs in the kitchen! It is always a frustration to me when we can not talk through situations and work through our problems or differences face to face. It is also important to have open communication amongst colleagues to maintain consistency when working with students who need organization and behavior modifications.
With improved communication, I think it’s easier for everyone in the workplace to stay on the same page. It helps to cut down on the assumptions or second-guessing of someone’s actions, because you have a better idea of what’s going on. In team situations, I think problem solving is made easier by improved communication because you can make more fully informed decisions on the basis of everyone’s open and honest input. Additionally, I feel like improved communication can assist in decreasing drama in the workplace because you’re not dealing with as many of the He Said/She Said type circumstances.
Alan~ I cracked up when I read the example you gave about you and your wife because it’s SO true! Most of my guy friends process things more directly, rather than trying to pick up on any subtle hints (as you mentioned), while a lot of my girl friends could turn the “I think this is a good television show” into an hour long debate ending in someone’s feelings getting hurt! It’s crazy to think about how differently people can interpret what initially appears to be such a simple statement. Oh well… Keeps life from being too boring I guess =)
Jerri~ When you commented about how 2 heads are better than 1 and differing opinions shouldn’t be threatening, it reminded me of something I heard when I was first applying to work for HPEC. I was discussing procedures used at another cooperative, and I don’t remember exactly how I put it now, but it was something to the effect that I didn’t think they were the greatest. The person from HPEC responded that, “They’re not necessarily bad methods, they’re just different,” and that’s when the light bulb went off in my head. That statement of things not being bad, just different has stuck with me, and I’ve even caught myself saying it in a couple discussions I’ve had with people since then (And I’m pretty sure they had the same reaction to it that I did, haha!).
Whether it’s a family relationship, friendship or work environment the rule is communication, communication, communication. Even though I know this; I feel I need to improve in this area. Good communication helps build relationships and it makes it harder for third parties to “stir the pot” (if the person they’re talking to has already heard the information first hand from you). I like to have good communication as it helps me know how to plan and what is expected of me.
I totally agree that when communication is first hand it sure stops a lot of the hearsay and exaggeration that goes along with hearsay. I am always amazed at the gossip. We joking say here at the office that the rumors are always more interesting than the facts. If you want to get the facts straight. Get it first hand.
I agree that first hand communication is the key. I think we all have to constantly work at it. In education we have to document our communication so that we have it to fall back on.
I do not think of myself as a commander but when I read the section entitled "clearly communicate expectations" I thought of my role as a facilitator for HPEC. I do expect others to listen and follow through with what expectations we set during our EC meetings. This is something I need to keep in mind when sharing information-I need to be sure to communicate my/our expectations clearly. I think this section has been very powerful for me.
Laura/Jamie-your statements about having to have communication skills because of the # of specialists we work with is so true. Communicating with all of them can sometimes be very difficult, but I feel that since I have set up biweekly team meetings with the other specialists has helped with the communication piece. Alan-your 5 words-respect and trust are key-speak volumes!! I know if I respect and trust someone I am more willing and able to communicate with them.
Improved communication can make the workplace better to work in because people know what to expect in the future and what is happening within the workplace. In the book it talks about how commanders are not aware of the tone and body language they use with others. This unawareness is detrimental to the overall scheme of things because people do not feel that their voice is of importance. As a result, communication decreases and the business, or in our case school, starts getting off course when all knowledge is not heard. This aspect of taking into account the tone and body language was a great reminder to me because it is easy to quickly reply to someone when in the middle of something, without consideration to how the message may have been delivered to the other person, and I certainly don't want people to feel unimportant! Karen - I like how you brought up the point that communication is essential in all of our relationships. The first thing I thought about taking advantage of a relationship by not giving them my full attention or using an unintentional tone when delivering a quick message with those that I love the most. Laura - I liked how you brought up all the different people that we, as educators, have to communicate with. It is very easy to leave out someone out of the communication loop, and as a consequence, the information received isn't as good as it could be. Keeping open communication with all people involved in a student's education is key in providing that student with a great education.
I don't think people pay enough attention to what their body langauge is communicating to other. Body language and tone of voice can given an entirely different meaning to what the words say.
Alan: I too, enjoyed your communication example with you and your wife. After raising boys (and sometimes struggling with the communication piece), I now have daughter-in-laws and granddaughters to communicate with...yikes, more learning.
Laura, you are so right. As special education teachers we have many people we need to communicate with and keep "in the loop". I find that the more I concentrate on doing so; the better it is for my students and I've found that a little communication goes a long way with parents.
Communication isn't just verbally speaking. It is body language, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. There is no reason that we shouldn't be communicating with each other. Some of the problems that I run into is misinterpretation of what people want or what they are trying to state. I can't read their minds and they can't read mine. Remember the saying, "Say what you mean, and mean what you say." Sometimes things should be stated out in the open, for example in staffings, and no one wants say what really needs to be done or what really doesn't need to be done. Sometimes we beat around the bush and real decisions or good decisions don't get made.
Jan, I like your statement on barriers to communication, because fear can really impair communication.
Communication is the key to every aspect of our lives. As LeNnis said communication is more than verbal. Even though someone may be sending an appropriate verbal message, the nonverbal message may be contradicting what is said. In order to work with others, we need to hear the same message and be on the same page. If our communication system is ineffective, there could be chaos. As educators, we need to be worried about the student and not getting the better of someone else. In the end, everyone suffers.
Jerrie - I worked with a Commander one time. We had an encounter once that soured our working relationship. It got to the point where I would get upset just seeing him. After attending a True Colors workshop, I had a better understanding about where he was coming from. It really helped!
Amy - I totally agree with your comment about the need to communicate or we will fail the student. We should remember that we are there for the student and work towards that objective instead of backstabbing. I also agree with the fact that we should be able to discuss problems face to face and clear the air. However, if the resentment builds to such a point, I have a difficult time doing this.
I am in a school that has several commanders in it and man did I learn the hard way (oh wait, still learning) when i didn't communicate how those people thought I should be communicating. I also have learned very quickly how to word e-mails because if a person can't see your face, they don't know if you are serious or joking and when you work with people who don't trust/like/have a sense of humor, I have to be very careful when i send e-mail.
When i talk to teachers about students, I like to send e-mails with questions so I have in writing what is discussed. Sometimes I can go talk to a teacher, have a hundred things on my mind when I'm talking to her, finish the conversation and by the time I get to my room have forgotten alot of the key points that I needed to remember. So, e-mail has been a lifesaver for me, even though others complain that it makes me seem distant and not willing to work with them.
LeNnis, the beating around the bush comment is so true. But because a person has to be so careful of the other peoples' feelings, sometimes it is hard to say what needs to be said, but usually I say it (with repercussions on occasion) because it just needed to be said to get to the real problem so the student can get the help he/she needs.
Judy-i am a big coward when it comes to discussing problems face-to-face because sometimes I get so mad and want to say some very unkind, evil things that I'd rather just be quiet and take the stuff from the other person and just walk away. thank goodness I have wonderful paras who have been around with me for all these years that can listen and I can trust to vent my feelings and get good advice from.
I think the 2 ideas that best fit me from this chapter were "take meaningful risks" and Cultivate creativity". I am not a big risk taker. I like to play it safe. However I am getting better at taking risks that really mean something to me in my life. I think when you take risks you open yourself to rejection and criticism. That can be hard to deal with. I really don't think we cultivate creativity in our colleagues or students. It seems that there are always so many other things to do that there is never enough time. Just look at technology in the classroom. That is a huge creative change and some people just aren't ready for it and do not handle it well. Sometimes you just have to dive in and hope the water is not too deep or someone will throw you a life preserver if you start to drown. And you need to ask for help when you need it.
As to the communication piece. I think it is just as important to listen as it is to speak. I often tell teachers if you need to vent, call me. Behind closed doors you can vent your frustrations and i will listen. I may or may not be able to change that situation but often you feel better just to have vented. Talk, Talk, Talk. Silence can be deafening. Don't make assumptions. Listen with an open mind and ask for clarification of things you don't understand.
I try to think about how I might affect others w/ what I have to say. I try to be tactful and at the same time not try to make things worse than they already are or could be. I guess it is my personality to be a quiet person and reserved.
Many of the Commander’s power plays deal either directly or indirectly with communication. How can improved communication make the workplace a better environment in which to work?
Improved communication is the key to making any workplace a great place. If there is any breakdown in the communication between staff then there will very likely be some misunderstandings. A great boss has lines of communication in place that are clear and effective. In the education world communication is necessary to help students be successful. It is also necessary when it comes to meeting state guidelines for test security, IEP regulations, student intervention team guidelines, and many other things.
It is a good thing when the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and where the right hand is coming from. Let me talk about the different communication styles of women and men. As we were watching television, my wife once said that a friend had told her that a certain show was good. Then to clarify (after 30 years of marriage), she asked me what her saying this meant to me. Did it mean that she would like to watch the show or was it just a statement that it was a good show? To me it was a statement that it was a good show. If she had said she wanted to watch the show, we would have turned over to it. Sometimes, especially with men, it is better to just ask and then be ready with supporting logic than to use indirect, more subtle requests and expect the other person to exercise intuition. However, this often depends on the person you are approaching. If the person approached has a tendency to get angry, ignore what is being asked, or demonstrate through body language or tone of voice that they have little time for you or your request, it is no surprise when people test the waters more indirectly. Overall, when the person receiving the request is respectful to all who approach them and when the person making the request is trusting enough to directly say what they want (with the proviso that trust is earned), we all get where we need to be more quickly. Respect and trust are key.
ReplyDeleteImproving communication is a win-win for everyone. The old adage, ‘two heads are better than one’ is so true. Knowing what others are thinking provides new and innovative ideas for improving the situation at hand, be it at home or at school. Just because a colleague has a different idea from mine shouldn’t threaten me or them. We are all here for the same reason – to educate students – working and communicating is a tool that needs to be used. How else can we do a better job?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alan, as long as we’re respectful in our communications things can only improve for education in general and students specifically.
I don’t think I’ve had too many school interactions with Commanders; I picture them more in the business world than in schools. Most of the teachers and administrators I have worked with tend to be more people oriented and less competitive than Commanders.
In special education, student growth depends upon a team effort. The classroom teacher, SPED teacher, paras, parents and in upper grades, the student work together to ensure success. Communication between the team members is essential. Important issues or strategies can easily be missed without it. One example would be communication between school and home. If a student is working on a particular skill at home, the parent may need to re-inforce it at home or vise versa. Another example could be a student gaining or losing ground in a particular skill area in the regular classroom. The Reg. Ed. teacher can collaborate with the SPED teacher to re-inforce, re-teach, or strengthen said skill.
ReplyDelete~~Alan-- I like the direct approach. I don't want to waste precious time trying to guess what is expected of me. Being direct also saves us from anger or hurt over misconstrued interpretation of indirect or subtle hints.
~~Jerrie-- That is so true. Effective communication is a tool used to increase efficiency and outcome. My last principle, took the commander role to the extreme. He felt that he was "THE BOSS" therefore, only his ideas had merit. It was frustrating because I felt that the students were being neglected to bolster his ego. Teachers and support staff felt under appreciated and it made for a very stressful work environment.
I believe that communication is key to success. Without communication it would be hard for everyone to be on the same page. As a special education teacher you have to have communication with a lot of people to help provide the right support for each kid. Also it is good when you need to make changes so that everyone is aware. In education I feel that education is very important in the work place and would make everybody lives easier if everyone communicated. We are all here for the same goal which is to figure out and provide the best learning opportunity for all of our kids. To do this we need communication. Time factor is always an issue with communication is brought up, but either way it is important I feel.
ReplyDeletedclodfelter- I totally agree with you. As a special education teacher we have to work with several people and if we did not have communication it would be really hard to provide the right support for our kids.
Alan- I also perfer the direct approach. I hate guessing what other people are thinking or trying to say. Like my husband always says, " I am not a mind reader."
In special education it is important to be able to collaborate with a number of different personalities from parents, teachers, principals, speech, physical & occupational therapists, to the other outside agencies we work with. It is important for everyone to be on the same page whether the workplace be a school or elsewhere. When there is collaboration & communication in the workplace it becomes a more effective place to work as well because: employees need to be aware of what is going on; employees need to feel included; communication sets the expectations of the employer; and fosters a harmonious atmosphere in which to work. Since I am a pleaser without communication the workplace would begin to feel cold and impersonal. I would feel there was something missing. As we have learned everyone in the workplace may be working from a different quadrant and without communication it could seem chaotic rather than functioning in unison.
ReplyDeleteAlan-I liked your analogy of it is a good thing when the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and where the right hand is coming from. This is so true for things to run smoothly in the workplace. If everyone read the Power genes book there might be more understanding.
I agree with you Jerrie in that most of the teachers and administrators tend to be more people oriented and less competitive than Commanders. Although, I have had one administrator that was a commander which made everyone feel more alienated and left me wondering what was going on. It’s nice to finally understand where they are coming from.
I believe that communication is key in order to improve children's abilities. We have to collaborate with many professionals - teachers, administrators, principals, SLP's, psychologists, PT's, and OT's, and with the family. If everyone is informed and on board about what they can do to help, that child has a much greater chance at succeeding.
ReplyDeleteAshley-I agree that time factors are an issue and can prevent people from communicating effectively. I think it's our job to make time to communicate with each other in order to provide the best services, especially if there are any changes.
Alan-I prefer the direct approach. The fewer 'mind games' at work, the better. It takes more time and energy out of our busy schedules when other professionals are using the indirect approach to communicating. I would rather someone be blunt and tell me the truth, than be indirect and not communicate something important.
I agree with you that communication is key. We all need to have open communication in order to keep everyone informed and allow the student the greatest chances at success.
DeleteCommunication is important and essential in any relationship, be it a professional relationship or an intimate relationship. Without communication which leads to mutual understanding, any relationship will crumble. There are many barriers to effective communication, things such as fear, time, anger, or a false sense of loyalty. All power types need to communicate effectively to build strong, rewarding relationships.
ReplyDeleteJerrie-I don't think Commanders are drawn to the education field frequently either. They seek jobs that offer prestige and financial gains. Not many of those jobs exist in education.
Ashley-Communication is the key to success. Especially in the SPED field as we have to work with a team if our students are going to succeed.
Communication is the key ingredient to success. Even with my own children at home I tell them if they can’t use their words to tell me what they need or what the problem is we can’t fix it. In group sports if you don’t talk and communicate you will miss the play and may cost you the game. The same is true with peers in your work place. In education we have to work as a team or we will fail our students. Communication is a must especially when you have several chefs in the kitchen! It is always a frustration to me when we can not talk through situations and work through our problems or differences face to face. It is also important to have open communication amongst colleagues to maintain consistency when working with students who need organization and behavior modifications.
ReplyDeleteWith improved communication, I think it’s easier for everyone in the workplace to stay on the same page. It helps to cut down on the assumptions or second-guessing of someone’s actions, because you have a better idea of what’s going on. In team situations, I think problem solving is made easier by improved communication because you can make more fully informed decisions on the basis of everyone’s open and honest input. Additionally, I feel like improved communication can assist in decreasing drama in the workplace because you’re not dealing with as many of the He Said/She Said type circumstances.
ReplyDeleteAlan~
I cracked up when I read the example you gave about you and your wife because it’s SO true! Most of my guy friends process things more directly, rather than trying to pick up on any subtle hints (as you mentioned), while a lot of my girl friends could turn the “I think this is a good television show” into an hour long debate ending in someone’s feelings getting hurt! It’s crazy to think about how differently people can interpret what initially appears to be such a simple statement. Oh well… Keeps life from being too boring I guess =)
Jerri~
When you commented about how 2 heads are better than 1 and differing opinions shouldn’t be threatening, it reminded me of something I heard when I was first applying to work for HPEC. I was discussing procedures used at another cooperative, and I don’t remember exactly how I put it now, but it was something to the effect that I didn’t think they were the greatest. The person from HPEC responded that, “They’re not necessarily bad methods, they’re just different,” and that’s when the light bulb went off in my head. That statement of things not being bad, just different has stuck with me, and I’ve even caught myself saying it in a couple discussions I’ve had with people since then (And I’m pretty sure they had the same reaction to it that I did, haha!).
Whether it’s a family relationship, friendship or work environment the rule is communication, communication, communication. Even though I know this; I feel I need to improve in this area. Good communication helps build relationships and it makes it harder for third parties to “stir the pot” (if the person they’re talking to has already heard the information first hand from you). I like to have good communication as it helps me know how to plan and what is expected of me.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that when communication is first hand it sure stops a lot of the hearsay and exaggeration that goes along with hearsay. I am always amazed at the gossip. We joking say here at the office that the rumors are always more interesting than the facts. If you want to get the facts straight. Get it first hand.
DeleteI agree that first hand communication is the key. I think we all have to constantly work at it. In education we have to document our communication so that we have it to fall back on.
DeleteI do not think of myself as a commander but when I read the section entitled "clearly communicate expectations" I thought of my role as a facilitator for HPEC. I do expect others to listen and follow through with what expectations we set during our EC meetings. This is something I need to keep in mind when sharing information-I need to be sure to communicate my/our expectations clearly. I think this section has been very powerful for me.
ReplyDeleteLaura/Jamie-your statements about having to have communication skills because of the # of specialists we work with is so true. Communicating with all of them can sometimes be very difficult, but I feel that since I have set up biweekly team meetings with the other specialists has helped with the communication piece.
Alan-your 5 words-respect and trust are key-speak volumes!! I know if I respect and trust someone I am more willing and able to communicate with them.
Improved communication can make the workplace better to work in because people know what to expect in the future and what is happening within the workplace. In the book it talks about how commanders are not aware of the tone and body language they use with others. This unawareness is detrimental to the overall scheme of things because people do not feel that their voice is of importance. As a result, communication decreases and the business, or in our case school, starts getting off course when all knowledge is not heard. This aspect of taking into account the tone and body language was a great reminder to me because it is easy to quickly reply to someone when in the middle of something, without consideration to how the message may have been delivered to the other person, and I certainly don't want people to feel unimportant!
ReplyDeleteKaren - I like how you brought up the point that communication is essential in all of our relationships. The first thing I thought about taking advantage of a relationship by not giving them my full attention or using an unintentional tone when delivering a quick message with those that I love the most.
Laura - I liked how you brought up all the different people that we, as educators, have to communicate with. It is very easy to leave out someone out of the communication loop, and as a consequence, the information received isn't as good as it could be. Keeping open communication with all people involved in a student's education is key in providing that student with a great education.
I don't think people pay enough attention to what their body langauge is communicating to other. Body language and tone of voice can given an entirely different meaning to what the words say.
DeleteAlan: I too, enjoyed your communication example with you and your wife. After raising boys (and sometimes struggling with the communication piece), I now have daughter-in-laws and granddaughters to communicate with...yikes, more learning.
ReplyDeleteLaura, you are so right. As special education teachers we have many people we need to communicate with and keep "in the loop". I find that the more I concentrate on doing so; the better it is for my students and I've found that a little communication goes a long way with parents.
Communication isn't just verbally speaking. It is body language, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. There is no reason that we shouldn't be communicating with each other. Some of the problems that I run into is misinterpretation of what people want or what they are trying to state. I can't read their minds and they can't read mine. Remember the saying, "Say what you mean, and mean what you say." Sometimes things should be stated out in the open, for example in staffings, and no one wants say what really needs to be done or what really doesn't need to be done. Sometimes we beat around the bush and real decisions or good decisions don't get made.
ReplyDeleteJan, I like your statement on barriers to communication, because fear can really impair communication.
Communication is the key to every aspect of our lives. As LeNnis said communication is more than verbal. Even though someone may be sending an appropriate verbal message, the nonverbal message may be contradicting what is said. In order to work with others, we need to hear the same message and be on the same page. If our communication system is ineffective, there could be chaos. As educators, we need to be worried about the student and not getting the better of someone else. In the end, everyone suffers.
ReplyDeleteJerrie - I worked with a Commander one time. We had an encounter once that soured our working relationship. It got to the point where I would get upset just seeing him. After attending a True Colors workshop, I had a better understanding about where he was coming from. It really helped!
Amy - I totally agree with your comment about the need to communicate or we will fail the student. We should remember that we are there for the student and work towards that objective instead of backstabbing. I also agree with the fact that we should be able to discuss problems face to face and clear the air. However, if the resentment builds to such a point, I have a difficult time doing this.
I am in a school that has several commanders in it and man did I learn the hard way (oh wait, still learning) when i didn't communicate how those people thought I should be communicating. I also have learned very quickly how to word e-mails because if a person can't see your face, they don't know if you are serious or joking and when you work with people who don't trust/like/have a sense of humor, I have to be very careful when i send e-mail.
ReplyDeleteWhen i talk to teachers about students, I like to send e-mails with questions so I have in writing what is discussed. Sometimes I can go talk to a teacher, have a hundred things on my mind when I'm talking to her, finish the conversation and by the time I get to my room have forgotten alot of the key points that I needed to remember. So, e-mail has been a lifesaver for me, even though others complain that it makes me seem distant and not willing to work with them.
LeNnis, the beating around the bush comment is so true. But because a person has to be so careful of the other peoples' feelings, sometimes it is hard to say what needs to be said, but usually I say it (with repercussions on occasion) because it just needed to be said to get to the real problem so the student can get the help he/she needs.
Judy-i am a big coward when it comes to discussing problems face-to-face because sometimes I get so mad and want to say some very unkind, evil things that I'd rather just be quiet and take the stuff from the other person and just walk away. thank goodness I have wonderful paras who have been around with me for all these years that can listen and I can trust to vent my feelings and get good advice from.
I think the 2 ideas that best fit me from this chapter were "take meaningful risks" and Cultivate creativity". I am not a big risk taker. I like to play it safe. However I am getting better at taking risks that really mean something to me in my life. I think when you take risks you open yourself to rejection and criticism. That can be hard to deal with. I really don't think we cultivate creativity in our colleagues or students. It seems that there are always so many other things to do that there is never enough time. Just look at technology in the classroom. That is a huge creative change and some people just aren't ready for it and do not handle it well. Sometimes you just have to dive in and hope the water is not too deep or someone will throw you a life preserver if you start to drown. And you need to ask for help when you need it.
ReplyDeleteAs to the communication piece. I think it is just as important to listen as it is to speak. I often tell teachers if you need to vent, call me. Behind closed doors you can vent your frustrations and i will listen. I may or may not be able to change that situation but often you feel better just to have vented. Talk, Talk, Talk. Silence can be deafening. Don't make assumptions. Listen with an open mind and ask for clarification of things you don't understand.
ReplyDeleteI try to think about how I might affect others w/ what I have to say. I try to be tactful and at the same time not try to make things worse than they already are or could be. I guess it is my personality to be a quiet person and reserved.
ReplyDeleteMany of the Commander’s power plays deal either directly or indirectly with communication. How can improved communication make the workplace a better environment in which to work?
ReplyDeleteImproved communication is the key to making any workplace a great place. If there is any breakdown in the communication between staff then there will very likely be some misunderstandings. A great boss has lines of communication in place that are clear and effective. In the education world communication is necessary to help students be successful. It is also necessary when it comes to meeting state guidelines for test security, IEP regulations, student intervention team guidelines, and many other things.