Reflection ~ findings and evaluation comments from the UC Davis workshop "Our Communication Styles" for El Dorado County HHSA professionals held in Placerville, CA.  Half Day Workshop

Instructor: Joe Tassinari

​Reflection is offered to give power to voice, to promote understanding among team members and bring light to the  findings from the workshop.

Reflection: El Dorado County HHSA
Workshop: Our Communication Styles 

6/1/15 PM – 14 Participants
6/1/15 AM – 5 Participants
5/29/15 PM – 15 Participants
5/29/15 AM – 19 Participants

Findings – 6/1/15 PM

At the beginning of the workshop each person stated one reason they were successful with communication:

• Empathetic
• Sense of humor!
• Listens 1st
• Good eye contact
• Wants to help!
• Sparkles
• Friendly
• Cares about others
• Good listener
• Empathetic
• Good listener
• Calming/friendly demeanor
• Enjoys peacefulness
• Good listener

​Each participant shared why a person who they knew is a successful communicator:

• Problem solver
• Direct
• Says what I need to hear
• Makes people smile 
• Says it like it is
• Gravitates audience
• Calming
• Gets to the point!
• Honest, direct, respectful
• Happy & sparkling style
• Precise
• Open & calm
• Articulate
• Caring, honest, positive!

​Evaluation Results

What were the strengths of the course? What did you value most?

• Interacting and getting to know people in office who I see every day but don't interact with.
• This was a fun and insightful course. Joe was personable and presented the information with enthusiasm.
• I really liked taking the self-evaluation assessment and figuring out my communication style. I liked the circle gather.
• Group interaction! Discussion, kept course moving forward.
• I valued the opportunity to learn my communication style!
• Learning new communication styles and openness of instructor.
• The communication assessment and where I scored. My areas that are my strengths and areas to improve on.
• The openness and inclusiveness.
• Instructor's positivity.
• The positive outlook the instructor gave us to think about.
• Discovering what communication skills I feel I possess and knowing much more on things I need to improve on.
• Interaction, icebreakers, energizing exercises.
• I enjoyed the icebreaker games and the evaluation.

​How could this course be improved?

• not sure …
• It could be longer – people like me have a hard time warming up when it comes to the dialogue shared in the circle.
• Less simplistic, more conflict in communication solutions.
• Not improved, but maybe try a speed dating for people to meet more? suggestion
• I didn't love having to explain why certain qualities are important, though I could have passed and chose not to.
• It was all good.
• Music? 
• More visual props.
• n/a The size and length of the course were perfect.
• How the different styles interact with one another and how best to work with people who have different communication styles.
• Good as is.

​How will you apply what you learned?

• Discuss with people I supervise what their style is and see how we can better work together.
• I will be more aware as to how I communicate with others.
• I will apply this while working with my clients.
• I will be working on my assertiveness & looking people in the eye.
• Use the booklet to familiarize with others communication styles/needs.
• Use the tools with co-workers and friends and the public.
• Be aware of my communication with others & limits that I place on myself when interacting with others.
• I will pay more attention to the things I need to work on.
• Be present.
• As much as I can.
• By applying it in any way is needed.

 End of 6/1/15 PM Reflection El Dorado County Human Services
reflections from other workshops     contact instructor Joe Tassinari

Findings – 6/1/15 AM

At the beginning of the workshop each person stated one reason they were successful with communication:

• Caring about people
• Good listener
• Talking to people for 40 years
• Wants unity
• Good at listening to people
• Listens to respond to peoples' needs

​Each participant shared why a person who they knew is a successful communicator:

• Clear, precise, gentle & sophisticated
• Listens until you are done and then offers advice
• Patient, honesty, welcoming & encourages thinking/problem solving
• Genuine in communicating, encouraging, positive, good listener
• Lay a good base of info, build charachter, define action/story, drawin in the listener, provide the punch line – story climax – keep attention
• Has a peaceful, gentle & kind way about them

​Evaluation Results

What were the strengths of the course? What did you value most?

• ​Communicating with co-workers.
• It emphasized positivity, open environment to share, people in the class were valuable – but somewhat closed.
• The positive strengths-based approach.
• Take home materials helpful, would be a good way to use info with family & coworkers.
• Positive reinforcement of communication styles.

​How could this course be improved?

• n/a This course was very good.
• More examples of positive & ways to improve or recognize different communication styles.
• Information a bit limited maybe more reading sources.

​How will you apply what you learned?

• Recognize others communication styles.
• Think about style of communication more & the base that others come from.
• I've been working on the positive so I'll continue to do so with what I learned today.
• Trying to be more aware of others communication styles ore more aware of my own.
• I will apply what I learned around my clients and co-workers.

 End of 6/1/15 AM Reflection El Dorado County Human Services
reflections from other workshops     contact instructor Joe Tassinari

Findings 5/29/15 PM

At the beginning of the workshop each person stated one reason they were successful with communication:

• Good listener
• Fosters unity
• Tactful
• Good listener
• Demonstrates friendliness with body language
• Fosters understanding
• Empathetic
• Talks the way she wants to be talked to
• Direct
• Light-hearted, smiles, jokes
• Good Listener
• Taylors communication style to listener

​Each participant shared why a person who they knew is a successful communicator:

• Poised & Poetic
• Listens & Asks questions
• Caring 
• Empathetic, Grace, Humility
• Shows empathy, good eye contact, nods affirmatively
• Compassionate
• ​Get the attention of the other person, gives clear language as to what she is saying
• Speaks clearly, concise, so others understand topic
• So descriptive that you can see it
• Trustworthy & safe
• Understanding and accepting
• Listens & builds on the topic w/ own thoughts & ideas
• FUN! Makes communication fun!

​Evaluation Results

What were the strengths of the course? What did you value most?

• I enjoyed the openness of the course and the ease in which it was given.
• Joe certainly made the group feel comfortable and open to expression.
• Instructor's focus on unity, positivity and value of strengths.
• Challenged participants to self evaluate.
• Helps a person evaluate their style & what they can improve on.
• Evaluation of communication styles, clear & concise handouts & delivery. The way that this course was presented.
• Knowledge and experience of the instructor.
• I valued the comfortable learning environment.
• That everyone had a chance to participate.
• Clear and easy to understand concepts that were put into practice during the training.

​How could this course be improved?

• The table set-up could be improved so we could all see each other better.
• –
• not sure

​How will you apply what you learned?

• I will try and improve on my communication styles.
• Being self-aware of strengths.
• Look at my improvement items and work on change.
• Will try to do the best at communicating that I can with my natural style & improve where I can.
• Working with clients and especially applying to my co-workers.
• Will apply in my job.
• Focus on my communication strengths and improving my weaknesses.
• Focus more on developing my communication weaknesses.
• The information and skills will be used to communicate better with co-workers & customers/clients.
• Pay more attention to the communication style for myself for the day and the people I am communicating with.

 End of 5/29 PM Reflection El Dorado County Human Services
reflections from other workshops     contact instructor Joe Tassinari

Findings – 5/29/15 AM

At the beginning of the workshop each person stated one reason they were successful with communication:

• Open minded
• Just Roll …
• Confident
• Honest
• Good Listener
• Clear
• Engaging
• Good Listener
• Intervenes A Lot & Listens
• Patient
• Kind – Eye Contact
• Warm – Simplicity
• I want people to know that it's us
• Likes to talk with people

​Each participant shared why a person who they knew is a successful communicator:

• Engaging
• Patient
• Sparkle in her voice
• Confident
• Honesty
• Quotable
• Approachable
• Eye Contact
• Inclusive
• Empathetic
• Problem Solver

​Evaluation Results

What were the strengths of the course? What did you value most?

• ​I valued hearing what others thought about me.
• Very engaging. Opportunity to participate made time pass.
• Very interactive and engaging.
• Interactions with fellow co-workers.
• Interacting w/ co-workers.
• Having the class interact with each other.
• Interaction.
• Participation – sharing of ideas. Teamwork.
• Participation of the group was good. I value listening to my peers.
• The strength of the course was the opportunity we received to get to know ourselves better. I value getting to know my peers much better.

​How could this course be improved?

• N/A
• Not sure.
• I would like to practice improving the styles more.
• More co-worker feedback.
• Great class.
• Incorporate how you can apply strengths in our daily lives.
• Food.

​How will you apply what you learned?

• By being conscious of my style and the styles of others.
• Both personally and professionally!
• Work on it on a daily basis.
• Remember differences in how co-workers communicate.
• I will work on understanding those around me and how they communicate.
• Adjust my styles to meet others needs.
• Work and personal life.
• Listen more.
• Yes.
• I will have more compassion for my co-workers and the clients I serve.

 End of 5/29/15 AM Reflection El Dorado County Human Services
reflections from other workshops     contact instructor Joe Tassinari