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