Building relations - trainer
1. Introduction to building relations
1.1. Communication styles
Communication at work is integrated and part of work procedure and working tasks. This imply spontaneous situations, efficiency and problem solving together with co-workers. To be aware of communication style is essential in building good and fruitful relations.
Aims of communication style are:
- learn and practice basic communication principles by listening to others as much as own speaking
- learn strategies for speaking on the spot
- avoid intimidating emotional reactions
- listen and withhold judgment
Basic communication principles:
Communication style at work includes use of language in different modalities, both in oral and written form. This module has focus on speaking and listening, the use of oral language. Speaking and listening are closely linked and characterized on one hand, by spontaneous language use. However, it can also require formal and prepared use of language. In workplaces, both informal, spontaneous and formal oral communication is a part of daily work. Different purposes of communication, communication between different target groups and in different situation imply different style.
Activity:
Let learners study different pictures (people, situations, contexts…) illustrating a variation of communication style. Discuss how learners imagine their communication style in perspective of building relation.
Strategies for speaking on spot:
To speak and respond quickly and on spot can be a challenge to all if we want to communicate precisely and polite to our co-workers. It is also a challenge to avoid feelings and negative attitude towards others if utterances are provocative or can be understood in this way. To use language to gain control of spontaneous negative situations is important and retain one's composure. It is also important to use language if we lose control to be explicit and apologize.
Activity:
Let learners reconstruct negative experiences of communication or speaking on spot. How did they deal with it?
Avoid intimidated feelings:
To have control of oneself is important when dealing with other people and is essential to build good relations at work. To stay calm and not react by strong feelings, even in difficult, provocative or demanding situations is necessary. It is difficult to cooperate and deal with people who are very emotional and affective in their expressions. A core principle is to avoid use of inflammatory or accusing language.
Activity:
Let learner reflect on his or her own emotional utterances or others. Reconstruct them and try to find neutral and not emotionally loaded utterances.
Listen and withhold judgment
At workplaces we will all meet and cooperate with people with different attitudes, political / religious creed or cultural background than oneself. If some attitudes influence in negative way cooperation and good relation, it is important to listen and learn language that promote agreement, tolerance or maybe limit setting.
Activity:
Let learners reflect on his or her experiences with people with conflicting attitudes. How did they deal with this by using communicative style?