"The genius of communication is the ability to be both totally honest and totally kind at the same time." -John Powell. Communication is the core of relationships between staff members, and completely changes the environment of the center. This course will help pinpoint communication struggles and how you communicate as a director to improve the productivity and dynamic of your center. 

1. Effective Communication
Audrey Rowland, MS MBA
www.greenspacetx.com

2. The genius of communication is the ability to
be both totally honest and totally kind at
the same time.
- John Powell

3. Objectives
• Identify communication challenges in your center
• Determine your personal communication and leadership
characteristics
• Explore why effective communication is important
• Create an action plan to improve center communication

4. Discussion
• Is there a recent issue at your center that resulted from a
miscommunication?
• What are your biggest challenges to communication?
• Are there staff that always seem to be out of the loop? Or parents?
• How do communicate with people you are close to? In person?
Email? Text?

5. Brainstorm
• What words would you use to describe good communication?

6. Activity
• Take 10-15 minutes to complete the Personal Interaction Inventory
• Total the numbers in each column.
• Determine your ‘color’:
• Column A is Green
• Column B is Blue
• Column C is Yellow
• Column D is Red

7. Reds
The Delegators
• Results-Oriented
• Take Charge
• Bottom Line
• Direct Approach
Are direct and want a straight-forward approach with focus and short-
term goals and immediate results.

8. Blue
The Implementers
• Systems Implementer
• Intuitive and Sensitive
• Knowledge Intensive
• Gets Things Done
Are knowledge-based and ask questions in order to have time to assess
alternatives and problems. They do not like to be pressured into rapid
action.

9. Yellow
The Talkers
•Friendship-oriented
•Expressive and Outgoing
•Master Communicator
•Team Player
Are accommodating, flexible, want to be consulted about their opinion,
and must feel an integral part of the group. They are highly creative
and fun!

10. Green
The Thinkers
•Creates Systems
•Highly Functional and Productive
•Sees the Big Picture
•Analytical and Methodical
Turn “what if” ideas into creative systems and benefits. They are
reserved, cautious, and make decisions after careful evaluation.

11. Effective Communication
Communication skills are central to our work:
• With colleagues
• With parents
• With children

12. Effective Communication
What s/he is saying
or feeling
What I am
saying or
feeling
Hidden Dialogue
What each of us
is thinking but not
saying - often, our
real feelings

13. Effective Communication
Body
Language
Tone of
voice
Words

14. Effective Communication
• Choose your context
• Practice active listening
• Solicit input/use open-ended questions
• Provide feedback
• Check in for shared understanding
• Document important conversations/decisions
• Show respect
• Be available
• Be aware of the hidden message:
• Tone of voice
• Body language

15. Styles of Miscommunication
1. Placaters:
• Always agreeable, Passive
• Act helpless
2. Blamers:
• Act superior, Bodies tense, Angry, Gesture by pointing
• Try to escape responsibility
• Actually feel weak inside but try to hide it

16. Styles of Miscommunication
3. Computers:
• Very Correct and reasonable, Never show feelings
• Produce info like a printout
• Appear collected on the outside, but feel vulnerable on the inside
4. Distractors:
• Act frenetic and seldom say anything relevant, flit about in work and deed
• Avoid discussing relevant feelings and often change the subject

17. Activity
Which of these phrases are conversation starters?
Which are conversation killers?

18. Reflection
• Take the conversation IQ quiz.

19. Next Steps…
• Create 2 or 3 action items that you can try in your communication.