Effective communication is about making informed choices. While we have a plethora of mediums at our disposal today, the essence of impactful communication lies in the quality of content we share. In this activity, the onus is on every participant to articulate their information clearly and accurately. Each individual holds a piece of the puzzle, and only by fitting these pieces together can the entire picture be revealed.
Rather than appointing a designated team leader or coordinator, this exercise allows the group to organically determine their communication flow. The evolution of this flow and its management becomes a focal point during the review process. To guide the learning journey, facilitators can pose open-ended questions such as:
- How did the group encourage individual contributions?
- How were the more reserved participants engaged in the dialogue?
- Which questions proved most effective?
- Can you cite instances of particularly effective communication?
- How were the cards described to ensure mutual understanding?
- How did descriptions evolve to reduce ambiguity?
- How was mutual understanding verified?
- How did individuals adapt their communication styles to accommodate others?
- What systems were implemented to manage the influx of information?
Such questions help participants pinpoint the strategies that made the exercise successful. If the task wasn't completed, these inquiries guide learners in understanding the reasons behind their shortcomings. For instance:
- Given the challenges in strategizing for the exercise, how can this group improve its information-sharing approach moving forward?
- The varied language used to describe identical symbols led to misunderstandings. How can you adapt in the future to ensure genuine understanding, especially with those who communicate differently?
Facilitators, with their keen observation skills, can make timely interventions to steer the group towards more effective communication. For example:
“I've observed some ambiguity around the symbol termed ‘the necklace’. This seems to be affecting your numbering system. Can the group collaborate to pinpoint the source of this confusion and employ precise descriptions to ensure everyone's on the same page?”
In Summary: When focusing on Communication Skills training, consider:
- The establishment of communication systems.
- The prevalent communication patterns within the group.
- The adaptability and precision of descriptive language.
- The clarity of instructions provided.
- The diversity of questions posed and the attentiveness to responses.
- The avenues created for feedback, clarification, and summarization of discussions.