Being Able to Communicate Effectively, Essay Example

As a facilitator, being able to communicate effectively; is the most important of all the life skills. During my internship, I observed several groups and realized most group members rarely participate, contribute or speak out. Through observation, I also discovered these three communication skills were missing or not utilized. They are the ability to involve everyone, the use of reflective responding and probing. The facilitators failed to encourage participation of everyone and allowed the few people who always participate to be involved. Since involving everyone is important, it is better to correct it by making it a point to engage the less participative audience. For example, allowing the person hanging back to read a paragraph in a handout and explain to the group what he or she just read. Again, using reflective responding was missing in most of the groups I observed. Instead of the facilitator reflecting back on what a group member said, they go straight to the answer without clarification.  At some times, most of the group members have to jump in to correct the facilitator because the answer he or she is given is wrong. It is indeed very important for the facilitator to paraphrase and reinstate what the speaker is saying. Using this skills shows the mediator is listening, and it also encourage the speaker to continue talking.

Lastly, probing was also lacking on the part of the facilitator in asking a follow-up questions to gain more understanding. In improving this, the facilitators can ask questions like; can you tell me more about that? Alternatively, can you explain more? With the use of probing, the facilitator is ideally stimulating thinking, making sure the question is understood and creating dialogue.

In conclusion, reflecting is one of the communication skills I find difficult. Reflecting involves restating what the intentions targets and means in simple terms. I find it difficult finding the right word intensity for what was said and been natural about it. However, the steps I have taken to correct it as to listen to the underlying message considering the feeling, meaning and content expressed by the speaker.