Are you a good communicator?
By Kylee Harrison
Helping kids to perfect resumes and cover letters is a passion of mine. It is a piece of this job that I really enjoy. Throughout the years, I have seen terms like leadership and communication litter each page that I read. However, one thing I have noticed, is the lack of an explanation or follow-through with these terms. It is easy to say, “I am a good leader in my school.” But if we deep-dive this sentence, what does that really mean? I always tell kids, don’t just say that you are a leader, show me how with your words! Recently, I have had some great leadership and communications lessons and discussions with our district 4-H’ers. Hopefully, these classes will give some leadership pointers and tips to them that they can carry on to their clubs, school or work.
We discussed that one part of being a good leader, was being able to effectively communicate your message to others. Students examined many different definitions of communication and ultimately created their own definition. We looked at all the ways that you can communicate with others, in multiple situations and the appropriateness of each. Finally, we discussed the difference between “you” messages and “I” messages and how this can be a way to change the tone of a situation.
Here are some key points to being a good communicator that will ultimately make you a good leader:
- Communication is found in the spoken word through body gestures and symbols.
- Being a good communicator is important for teaching and facilitating students and establishing personal relationships.
- Active listening is an essential element of good communication.
- Using “I” messages is a productive and appropriate way to share one’s feelings and thoughts with another person or group.
- Asking questions, repeating what was said, and checking for accuracy when relaying information are elements of good communication.
