Zac Delventhal came in and spoke to our class today about communication and effective listening. There were a couple things he talked about that really stuck out to me.
1) First, he talked about mimicking people to increase your likeability. This is something I could have applied a few of nights ago at Parent/Teacher Conferences. I know that sometimes I get excited and start talking quickly; this could be really off-putting for a parent that goes at a slower pace in life or doesn't get excited about the same things I do. In the future, I'll be more aware of how others present themselves verbally and nonverbally so I can mimic it to make the other person feel more comfortable.
2) Zac also made a good point about smiles and how those smiles can make others feel more comfortable and even liked. I can list a couple students in each class who are really good about smiling and nodding heads to assure me they are both listening and understanding. If I feel that I'm losing the attention or focus of the class as a whole, I'll often go back to my smilers and head-nodders to see if they are still with me for reassurance. A smile is a powerful thing. Nonverbal signals that communicate effective listening are powerful, too.
So, that's what stood out to me from Zac's presentation. What stood out to you?
No comments:
Post a Comment