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The Art of Communicating Slide 2 By the end of this session, you will be able to: Describe communication styles and skills Begin to anticipate how their personal communication style might match or clash with other peoples styles at their sites Identify and discuss various strategies supervisors can use to successfully coach VISTAs and support sub-site supervisors throughout their year of service 2 Slide 3 1 st Statement 3 Rachelle should have spoken up during the meeting about feeling overwhelmed during the meeting. Slide 4 2 nd Statement 4 E-mail was an appropriate way for Sally to share her concerns about Jakes performance. Slide 5 Communication Case Study Questions: 5 Preventions: What could the VISTAs have done to prevent the database issue? What could the supervisor have done to prevent the database issue? Interventions: What could they have done during the situation? Follow-up: What could they do after the situation? Slide 6 Styles of Communication: Three Dimensions 6 Directness Saving Face Focus Slide 7 Facts About VISTA Supervision 7 VISTAs who receive supervision and coaching: Are the most satisfied and successful Gain the greatest number of competencies compared to other types of training Members who left service early had less one-on-one contact with their supervisors. 70% of Alumni met one-on-one with their supervisor at least once a week, compared to 52% of Early Terminators. JBS International, 2013 Slide 8 Solid VISTA/Supervisor Relationships Are spring boards for lives of service Grow knowledge, commitment and passion for poverty issue focus areas Cultivate service leadership and provide inspiration Help develop cross-cultural awareness and effectiveness 8 Slide 9 Role Play Instructions Triads: Supervisor (intermediary or single-site) VISTA or Sub-site Supervisor Observer 9 Slide 10 Constructive Feedback Model State what you liked (if appropriate) State specifically what needs to be improved State why (context) Engage in a discussion Agree on a resolution 10 Slide 11