PRODUCTIVE COMMUNICATION TRAINING
Productive Communication involves thoughtfully engaging other people in building a safe and respectful flow of information; it includes listening with the intention of understanding another person in order to establish new ways of sharing information, working together, and/or finding solutions.
Underlying unresolved conflicts or the inability to clearly state needs and goals can undermine even the most forward thinking work environments. Stress, failure to complete projects, low morale and missed performance goals are heightened by communication barriers.
Productive Communication Training helps promote effective interactions between management and staff, staff and clients and within staff. Understanding and practicing the many aspects that lead to productive communication is the basis of this training. It is designed for any working groups of 8 people or more and includes lectures, interactive exercises and written materials. Topics covered include:
- Communication Styles
- Emotional Triggers
- Effective Feedback
- Conflict Resolution Skills
- Non-defensive Communication
- Listening Skills
- Forming Healthy Boundaries
- Collaboration in decision making
The pilot program for this training, developed by Barbara Olinger, was offered over 7 months, for 43 hours, with the K-8th Grade Staff at the SMMUSD Santa Monica Alternative School House. This included both workshops with the entire staff and smaller meetings with 2-3 teachers. The information/experience has been distilled into smaller modules for other groups. The training is offered in various ways — 6, 8, 10 or 12 hour modules. Barbara works with each specific group to define the most problematic issues and develop the modules accordingly.