From the course: Communication Foundations (2018)

Tool kit: Explanations

From the course: Communication Foundations (2018)

Tool kit: Explanations

“

- Here are three different activities to help you become a better teacher in your job. To learn about learning styles, here's our learning style exercise. Pick three to four coworkers to teach how to make your favorite meal. Find out how they process information first. Ask each, "Do you need to see a picture of the final product? Do you prefer a step-by-step recipe? Do you need a list of ingredients first?" From this information, identify the big picture people and the step-by-step people. How would you teach each group how to cook the meal? Make a list of your instructions. Share it with them and get their feedback. In our second activity, you can work on breaking down a process. Now, think of a process that your team members do often. List all of the steps that need to happen from start to finish. Break that list into separate buckets. Is there a before, during, and after? Is there a in the office, from home, and onsite bucket? Consider visual supports you can provide with your instructions. For example, when this is done correctly, it looks like this. Would a video tutorial be helpful? Show your compartmentalized lists to a colleague who is unfamiliar with the process and watch them follow the instructions without verbal coaching. You may need to take notes on the changes you think will make the task easier to follow. Finally, share the what, why, how exercise. Think of something you will need to explain to others in the next week or two. Write down a clear what in one sentence. Try to capture the big picture. Now, make a list of three reasons why this is a good idea and why this task matters. Then proceed to the how, the buckets, and the steps involved. Practice this with a friend before you share it in a meeting. Ask your friends to paraphrase back what they have heard. Do you need to make any changes to your process before you share? When you're giving instructions, meet people where they are. Find out how they learn. Place steps into buckets, provide support materials, and share the why behind a process. You will get better buy-in and faster learning in action.

Contents