1 Florida 4-H Leadership Series Communications The activities in this lesson are taken from Unlock Your Leadership Potential, Leader’s Guide, Florida 4-H.

1

Florida 4-H Leadership Series

Florida 4-H Leadership Series

Communications

The activities in this lesson are taken from Unlock Your Leadership Potential, Leader’s Guide, Florida 4-H Program

2

“Communication is the single most important

leadership skill.”

Lin Bothwell

The Art of Leadership

3

Leadership is Enacted Through Communication

Leadership is Enacted Through Communication

Communication Oriented

Responsive and receptive to questionsfrom participants

Ask and persuade rather than order or command

Explain the reasons behind changes and policies

4

Types of Communication

Types of Communication

Speaking

Listening

Non Verbal

Writing

5

Communication Apprehension

Communication Apprehension

Group Discussions

Public Speaking

One on One

Formal Meetings

6

Talking TerrorInterpreting Your Score

Talking TerrorInterpreting Your Score

Low CA: Overall score is less than 55. Low CA’s talk a great deal; they even talk with people when they

are not particularly motivated to talk.

High CA: Overall score is greater than 83. High CA’s are more withdrawn in conversation and appear tense and shy.

Moderate CA: Overall score is between 55 and 83. Moderate CA’s recognize that at times there are times to talk and times when they should not talk. Their level of participation in conversation varies.

7

Listen To Me!Listen To Me!Activity

Listener

Evaluator

Solution-Seeker

8

Show interest. Be understanding of the other person and use words such as “I see” or “I understand” to confirm your understanding. If there is a problem, listen for the cause and single it out. Help person associate problem with the cause. Encourage the speaker to develop ability and desire to solve his or her own problem. Learn to be silent. Restate what the speaker has said to let him or her know you are listening. End the conversation by repeating and confirming what has been discussed. Concentrate intently on the speaker. Practice reinforcing nonverbal behaviors, such as leaning forward, establishing and maintaining eye contact, etc. Be alert and attentive. Imagine yourself in this person’s place.

9

Good Listening Is An Active SkillGood Listening

Is An Active SkillObserving – what one does

Hearing – what one says and how one says it

Feeling – how one is feeling

Sensing – what one has not said, but wishes to or means to say

10

Listening SkillsListening Skills1. Have a purpose or reason for listening.

2. Ask questions.

3. Provide speaker with verbal and nonverbal feedback

4. Be aware of your attitudes towards the speaker and attempt to listen objectively.

5. Wait before responding. Do not formulate your response while the speaker is delivering the message.

11

6. Listen with your eyes as well as your ears.

7. Listen for feelings as well as information.

8. Look for important themes.

9. Avoid imposing your values on the speaker. Listen in a non-judgmental way.

10. Overlook negative aspects of the speaker’s delivery which might interfere with your understanding the message.

12

Nonverbal & Verbal CuesNonverbal & Verbal Cues

Uh..

Um..

13

I/You MessagesI/You Messages

YOU

I

14

Change the following You messages to a more positive I message.

1. You never call me. 1. I wish you would call me more often.

2. You don’t listen to me! 2.

3. Everyone here hates me! 3.

4. That’s a dumb idea. 4.

5. No one does anything here. 5.

6. You annoy me, go away! 6.

7. Leave me alone! 7.

8. You lied to me. 8.

9. Who invited you! 9.

10. You did a horrible job. 10.

11. You make me so mad. 11.

12. You are so inconsiderate! 12.

Sometimes I feel I am not being listened to.

I sometimes feel people dislike me.

Maybe we could try a different idea.

Let’s everyone work hard together.

I need some time to myself right now.

I feel that you don’t have time for me anymore. Is something wrong?

I don’t think that I was told the complete truth.

I didn’t know you were coming.

I think you can do a little better.

I get angry at you sometimes when you…

Sometimes I think you don’t consider how I feel.

15

Discussion LeadershipDiscussion LeadershipQualities of the Leader

Interest in the topic

Able to involve everyone in the discussion

Able to balance the viewpoints

Has a basic plan, but is flexible

Directs the discussion, keeps focus on goals

16

Review – Communications That Empower

Review – Communications That Empower

Active Listening.Asking for more information.Paraphrasing.Checking your assumptions about the other person’s feelings.Sharing information to help the other person understand your point of view.Reporting your own feelings.Offering alternatives.

Vineyard & Lynch: Secrets of Leadership

17

18

Talking TerrorTalking TerrorIndicate in the space provided the degree to which you agree or disagree with each statement by noting whether you: 5 Strongly Disagree; 4 Disagree; 3 Are Undecided; 2 – Agree; 1 – Strongly Agree. There are no right or wrong answers. Work quickly to record your first impression. You do not have to answer any question you do not wish to answer.

___ 1. I dislike participating in group discussions. ___ 2. Generally, I am comfortable while participating in group discussion. ___ 3. I am tense and nervous while participating in group discussions. ___ 4. I like to get involved in group discussions. ___ 5. Engaging in group discussion with new people makes me tense and nervous. ___ 6. I am calm and relaxed while participating in group discussions. ___ 7. Generally, I am nervous when I have to participate in a meeting. ___ 8. Usually I am calm and relaxed while participating in meetings. ___ 9. Usually, I am calm and relaxed when I am called on to express an opinion at a meeting ___ 10. I am afraid to express myself at meetings. ___ 11. Communicating at meetings usually makes me uncomfortable. ___ 12. I am very relaxed when answering questions at a meeting. ___ 13. While participating in a conversation with a new acquaintance, I feel very nervous. ___ 14. I have no fear of speaking up in conversations. ___ 15. Ordinarily, I am very tense and nervous in conversations. ___ 16. Ordinarily, I am very calm and relaxed in conversations. ___ 17. While conversing with a new acquaintance, I feel very relaxed. ___ 18. I’m afraid to speak up in conversations. ___ 19. I have no fear of giving a speech. ___ 20. Certain parts of my body feel very tense and rigid while I am giving a speech. ___ 21. I feel very relaxed while giving a speech. ___ 22. My thoughts s become confused and jumbled when I am giving a speech. ___ 23. I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence. ___ 24. While giving a speech, I get so nervous that I forget facts I really know.

19

Talking Terror Score SheetTalking Terror Score Sheet

This score sheet will help you compute an overall communication apprehension score and a summary of your apprehension in four specific situations: group, meeting, dyadic (one on one), and public. Group Score: Question 2 ___ Meeting Score: Question 8 ___

+Question 4 ___ + Question 9 ___ +Question 6 ___ + Question 12 ___ Total ___ Total ___ - Question 1 ___ - Question 7 ___ - Question 3 ___ - Question 10 ___ - Question 5 ___ - Question 11 ___ Total ___ Total ___ Add 18 Add 18 Final Score ___ Final Score ___

Dyadic Score: Question 14 ___ Public Score: Question 19 ___ +Question 16 ___ +Question 21 ___ +Question 17 ___ +Question 23 ___ Total ___ Total ___

-Question 13 ___ -Question 20 ___ -Question 15 ___ -Question 22 ___ -Question 18 ___ - Question 24 ___ Total ___ Total ___ Add 18 Add 18 Final Score ___ Final Score ___

Overall Communication Apprehension (CA) = Add your group, meeting, dyadic, and public scores.

Overall CA Score = ____

20

Jewelry Store

The Story

A business person was about to lock up the jewelry store when a man holding a bag pushed hisway in. He demanded that one of the jewelry cases be opened. The owner unlocked the jewelrycase, and its contest were removed. A dog appeared and began barking. The man ran away.

True or False

1. The man pushed his way in before the owner locked the door.

2. The man was not carrying anything.

3. Someone took jewelry out of the case.

4. The story is about two people and a dog.

5. The store was protected by a guard dog.

6. The robber ran away.

7. The man demanded jewelry from the owner.

8. Someone unlocked the jewelry case.