Improving Communication
Workshop participants were asked to think about communications they have had recently or past ones that were memorable. A positive communication was the initial focus with progress after that to build bridges to overcome barriers to good, quality communication. Finally, the group worked on ways to move forward from poor communication within a group to creating better communication within a group.
What does good communication “look like”?

•	Precise
•	Clear
•	Understanding
•	Nice voice
•	Good diction
•	Good tone
•	No frustration
•	Listening
•	Questioning is okay
•	Not defensive
•	Reciprocated (give and take)
•	Leave no doubt
•	Respect
•	Paraphrase, summarize, or restate
•	Open mind
•	Check personal feelings
•	Get over yourself
•	Look forward to next chat
•	Promotes outcomes and solutions
•	Creative
•	Cooperative
•	No “yes, buts…”
•	No pink elephants
•	Being direct
•	Being honest (with yourself and others)
•	Negotiation or compromise
•	Calm
•	Rational 
•	Shared perception

What are some Barriers to communication?
•	
•	Body language
•	Tone
•	Expectations
•	Closed mind
•	Volume 
•	Personality
•	Deception
•	Noise
•	Lack of privacy
•	Trust
•	Speaking ability
•	Prejudices
•	Misunderstanding
•	Self-absorbed 
•	Unconscious habits
•	Eye contact
•	Too much “hands”
•	Preconceptions
•	Attitude
•	Conceit 
•	Disorganization
•	Unyielding or stubborn
•	Determined
•	Persistence
•	Fear
•	Race
•	Age
•	Religion
•	Health 
•	Disabilities
•	Ignorance
•	Intimidation
•	Lack of knowledge
•	Language or jargon
•	Culture
•	Beliefs
•	Lies
•	Betrayal
•	History
•	Experience
•	Values
•	Ethics

What Bridges can help fill the gap to create good communication?
•	
•	Choices:
•	Words
•	Actions
•	Attitude
•	Situation
•	Respect
•	Self-evaluation
•	What
•	Why
•	Get over yourself
•	Importance of the relationship
•	Time
•	Put your “stuff” aside
•	Watch the “line”
•	Assertive
•	Easing Grace Out
•	Problem-solving
•	Clear expectations
•	Remove noise
•	Detach emotionally
•	Harmony
•	Explanations
•	Empathy
•	Focus on issue, not on the person
•	Common goals
•	Asking
•	Clear roles and responsibilities
•	Accountability
•	Authority

If there are existing communication problems, what steps can help the group Move Forward?
•	Build the team
•	Facilitate discussions
•	Work on meetings (Chats in Moodle; discussion topics)
•	Assess attitudes
•	Work on expectations
•	Self-evaluation