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Talking it through

BPL – ACCESS – Staff learning support session – 21 September 2001
Notes prepared by George G Clark

When two upon a journey go one sees before the other.

It’s good to talk.


If our goal is to facilitate bottom-up action and reflection we will have to rely a lot on talking ie on interpersonal communication. Some people are better at this than others. Much depends not only on what we say but also on how we say it.

Aims:

By the end of this session participants will have an enhanced understanding of how to:

  • structure conversations/ interviews
  • use verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to influence and motivate others
  • help others be aware of the influences acting on them and thus of how to empower themselves

Handouts:

Idle gossip can begin and end wherever it likes. If, on the other hand the conversation has a purpose it helps if it has some kind of structure. This first set of handouts suggests some models for good coaching/counselling style interactions

Coaching/Counselling – the GROW Model

g970630.wpd

Peer Conferences – the six steps

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SPUR – an action plan

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Interviewing – a five stage process?

g950807c.wpd

It is said that 85% of all communication is non-verbal ie what matters most is not so much what you say but how you say it. This next set of handouts looks first at the non-verbal aspects of communication and then offers some ideas about how best to use words so as to empower and motivate other people.

Interpersonal communication – the non-verbals

g971202b.wpd

Conversation control

g971215c.wpd

Influencing skills

g950807e.wpd

The motivating power of change agents

g950807d.wpd

All people have been ‘influenced’ to believe what they believe and are resistant to change. But the only constant thing is change. As they say in biology ‘adapt or die’. This last set of handouts looks first at some of the tricks people use to avoid having to change and then at the influences which shape them and how these might be used for self empowerment.

Confronting avoidance

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Levels of influence

g981107c.doc

Possible availability of power and resources

g981107b.doc

Empowerment and Depowerment

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  • Be a craftsman in speech that thou mayest be strong, for the strength of one is the tongue, and speech is mightier than all fighting. ( Ptahhotep, 3400 B.C.)
  • Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults. (Socrates)
  • The unexamined life is not worth living (Plato)
  • Speak when you are angry--and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret. (Laurence J. Peter)
  • If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect. (Benjamin Franklin)

 

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