May 27, 2024
Providence House continues to build our resident’s Workforce Development skills. This week, we will learn skills for communicating. Staff uses this language in interactions and shares personal examples with residents all week long.
Topic: Communicating with Others
Forms of Communication
There are many forms of communication, and more than one kind of communication can take place at one time. The goal of all communication is understanding. Research shows that most success in life is connected to good communication. Communication is the process of sharing information, ideas, or feelings. Communication is effective when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information.
Improvement
Good communication is key to meeting goals at work, at home, and in school. Unfortunately, sometimes there are misunderstandings. The meaning of a message can get lost between the thought and the act of communicating it. That’s why it’s important to develop good communication skills. The more you improve your ability to send and receive information, the more successful you will be.
Eye Contact
Make eye contact when you speak. When you look people in the eye, it tells them that you are confident in yourself and in your message. People will pay more attention to you. However, too much eye contact can make people uncomfortable, so look away every once in a while. Be aware of your body language. Your body can sometimes say more than words do. For example, if your arms are crossed, you may look closed off. If your arms are by your side or open, you look open and interested. People react to body language even if they aren’t aware of it at the time.
Listen
Learn to listen. Communication is a two-way street. Focus on what the other person has to say, not on what you’re going to say next. Speak in a way that lets them know you care about what they have to say. People appreciate it when you try to understand their perspectives, or points of view. They are more likely to want to work and cooperate with you.
Workforce Development at Providence House is open to its residents and the community as a whole. Have questions? Contact Dr. Whittney Polley, Director of Education at 318-221-7887 or wpolley@theprovidencehouse.com.