Hello, HEO!
How is your summer going? I hope that you are being rejuvenated, replenished, and refreshed this summer.
I am super excited about the “Write with Me” sessions I am having each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on YouTube. I hope that you have been joining me, however, if not, that is why I am posting the latest session here.
This session focuses on the second prompt of The Professor’s Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience that I created just for you. The prompt asks, “How Well Did You Communicate This Week?”
That is a thought-provoking question because effective communication is an indispensable skill in every aspect of life, influencing relationships, professional success, and personal growth. While we often focus on honing various skills pertaining to our personal or professional lives, we must remember that the quality of our communication skills impacts almost every aspect of our lives. As a result, we should not underestimate the power of reflecting on our communication skills. Regular introspection and analysis of our interactions can lead to tremendous personal and professional benefits.
During this session, you will have 2 minutes to brainstorm the various groups of people that you communicated with this past week (i.e. students, colleagues, administrators, editors, community leaders, etc.). Then, you will have 7 minutes to write your response to the prompt. But before you do, I am going to share the advantages of thinking deeply about our communication skills and how this weekly practice can enhance our effectiveness as a communicator. I’m going to highlight five areas:
- Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
- Enhanced Listening and Empathy
- Improved Clarity and Understanding
- Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills
- Professional Success and Leadership
So, grab your journal and reflect if you missed it this past Saturday. Use this video as a companion as you commit to becoming the best communicator you can be. Set aside time each week in a place you enjoy for reflecting on your week.
Click on any link below to order your journal in time for the fall semester:
My Publisher: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal
Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y
Fillable PDF: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire
Oh, and here are some examples of entries from my journal in answer to this prompt during Week 1 of the spring semester:
I feel good about the way I communicated this week.
Courses: I sent a welcome email to all of my courses that included a pdf and audio. I also made sure that all of the week-by-week tabs clearly explained the various tasks for the week and included videos and audio messages where necessary. Created syllabus overview videos and made sure they had closed captions.
Advisees: Reviewed the new procedure. Responded to emails, promptly. Conducted positive sessions with students and all sessions were productive.
Colleagues: Had a wonderful conversation with Kia. She asked me to call her so we could discuss a couple of students and their courses. She refreshed my memory about how we met. She was very helpful with two students, today.
Former Students: Talked to Rosamaria who graduated in December and is now teaching fifth-grade science–something she was not expecting to do. She texted me photos of the cards the students made for her, so I called her to discuss this new experience. I also talked to two of my students, Priscilla and Tapresha, who are student-teaching. Gave them some encouragement. They all shared an appreciation for our talks. *Current Student: Helped Charanpreet remember to slow down and go through the Getting Started Steps/Course Orientation. She thanked me and agreed to take more time to read and process what she was being asked to do.
Now, it is your turn!