The Art of Effective Communication

Communicating Effectively

In this exercise we look at the same message being delivered from one team member to another in three different modalities:  Email, voicemail and face-to-face.  In each modality the message can be interpreted differently based on how it is delivered.  In the first modality Jane is contacting Mark in attempt to recover the data she needs to move forward and the message is delivered in text through email.  In the email the message almost has a tone that implicates Mark for losing or misplacing the information/data.  From my experience delivering a message through email can often lead to the reader assuming a certain tone from the sender and thus this type of communication is less effective or can even cause a rift between parties.

The effectiveness of communicating the message was a little improved in the second modality which was via voicemail.  Through this modality Mark can hear the tone in Jane’s voice and therefore he can focus on the message itself.  Often the focus can be directed toward how the message was delivered and the concern becomes geared toward the mood or tone of the person delivering the message: are they angry, upset, frustrated, anxious, calm, professional, accusatory, etc.

In the third modality the message is delivered by Jane to Mark in a face-to-face meeting.  This is the most effective delivery of the three because Mark isn’t left to interpret Jane’s tone and he can also read her body language.  In the face-to-face meeting Mark has the ability to have a conversation with Jane also and the personal nature of this modality creates an atmosphere that is much more personable.   Dr. Stolovitch, in the video program “Communicating with Stakeholders” discusses the art of communicating with team members working on a project and the importance of tonality and body language.  Spirit and attitude are also factors that have an affect on communication and research indicates that 93% of communication comes in forms other than words. 

From this exercise we can develop an understanding of why it is important to communicate face-to-face whenever possible.  Stolovitch also goes on to state that when working with team members all formal, important communication should take place live, in a face-to-face meeting.  This modality allows for team members to communicate most effectively with tone and body language as a key part of the delivery of the information.  Portney et al., in Project Management: Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling Projects, state “The key to successful project management is effective communication…through communication people exchange and share information with one another, and influence one another’s attitudes, behaviors, and understandings.” (p. 357)  Delivering important information or data can be done most effectively in person and should be the mode of communication whenever it is feasible.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (n.d.). Communicating with Stakeholders [Video A]. Laureate Education, Inc. [Producer]. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=6052000&Survey=1&47=7840074&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Post-mortem Reflection

POST-MORTEM

Background – Distance Learning (EDUC 6135-3)

Overview of the project:

The most recent project that I was involved in was for my last Walden University course, Distance Learning (EDUC 6135-3).  Here was how the project was described per the course instructions: “For the Course Project, you will develop an online orientation for new distance learners who are enrolled in a distance learning course or training workshop. The project is cumulative, and you will work on specific elements each week.

This Course Project will serve three purposes. First, as an instructional designer, it will deepen your familiarity with the many nuances of preparing and developing a distance learning experience. Second, by looking at distance learning from the learner’s perspective, it will formulate a connection between the different methods used by distance learners to succeed and how to best design effective distance learning experiences for them. Lastly, it will allow you to develop skills using a course management system (CMS), which will be used to deliver your online orientation program.

Your online orientation program should present strategies for succeeding in a distance learning environment and should provide an overview of what to expect when taking a distance learning course compared to a traditional instructor-led course.”

I found the work on the project to be very rewarding for it asked me to develop my own personal knowledge and skills in this area in a creative way.  I was proud of the project deliverables due to the experience I gained in providing learning activities that incorporated technology and Web 2.0 tools.  We were asked to create 3 learning modules and each should show variety in how the content was delivered, I believe I accomplished that. 

Looking back, I believe starting the project sooner would have allowed me more time to explore various areas of the project more specifically.  For example, using the Schoology content management system, or CMS, took time to become familiarized with.  With further exploration I believe that I could have delivered content on the site in a more organized way and with more creative use of technology.

In the end, the results were very satisfying and purposeful because I can use them in the future as a teacher/instructional designer.  The design of the artifacts will allow me to enhance the current courses I teach and improve how I deliver instruction.