Communicative

REFLECTION​

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Yehuda Berg (2011) once said, “Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.” Most of my professional life has been dedicated to the power of words. During my 15 years as a pastor, and especially the last three spent preaching every week, most of my time was spent crafting messages to communicate deep truths through the written and spoken word. In my current position as Director of Strategic Communication for a nonprofit, I work constantly to sharpen our internal and external communication channels to effectively express the mission and values of our organization.

Words have shaped the course of my life, so this is perhaps the learning goal that is most precious to me. I have chosen artifacts that demonstrate my ability to communicate through a variety of different mediums and display my capacity to utilize technology to enhance that communication.

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The Dale Carnegie Journal was a simple assignment. Students were required to chronicle their way through the reading of How to Win Friends and Influence People, focusing on how the material of the book affected their lives. The obvious option would have been to write simple journal entries in text, but I wanted to create something more engaging. Since the focus was on real-life application, I decided that something more personal would be the appropriate way to communicate my thoughts. The result is this 80-minute video blog journal containing entries for each section of the book. Along the way, I incorporate citations from Carnegie’s book and integrate them with anecdotes from my life to reveal lessons I have taken from the material (or even a few times when I disagreed with Carnegie). I believe that the final product is an engaging, personal, and effective interaction with the book.

The second artifact, the Final Project Presentation, is the companion to the Facilitator’s Guide for the final project in MGT 614. This is a PowerPoint-style presentation intended to be used during a training course on conflict management. (As an aside, I am a staunch Mac proponent and actually utilize Keynote to make these types of presentations, but I will acquiesce to the masses and utilize the more popular vernacular.) I would like to say two things about including this type of artifact. First, I realize that PowerPoint presentations are commonly used as a supplement to an oral presentation, the same way this one is intended to be used. The auxiliary nature of this medium, however, does not diminish its import or the necessity to effectively exploit its capabilities. Second, I would be shocked to find someone who loves creating PowerPoint presentations. They often feel like a necessary evil. In fact, a simple Google search will net you loads of articles bemoaning its use like this one from Geoffrey James that asks, “It’s 2020. Why are you still using PowerPoint?”

I am well aware that the medium is out of vogue in many sectors, but I (boldly) include it as an artifact here for two reasons. First, the medium is still a useful form of communication, especially in training contexts. The composition of images and written communication can still be acutely effective even if primarily used in supplemental ways. Second, to be effective, this medium requires the use of engaging images that complement the spoken word and the ability to communicate complex ideas in clear, concise language. It is for this reason I chose to include the Final Project Presentation. It demonstrates my ability to use images and succinct language to communicate intricate ideas in an engaging and productive manner.

The final submission is a 2-for-1 special, a combination of artifacts that formed one assignment in LDRS 670. Students had the freedom to create a collage that illustrated their history as a means of personal reflection to pair with the Personal Leadership Assessment. I chose to create a video to exhibit my oral communication skills while incorporating art and utilizing graphics and a third-party video. I am proud of both the final product and the process used to create the video. It is a simple task to describe facts about one’s life; it is more difficult to reflect upon one’s history and use it as a roadmap of where the future might be headed. I believe the video shows not only my communication skills but my willingness to be vulnerable and open to sharing my life in a way that might help others. The companion Personal Leadership Assessment continues that theme. It is a reflective essay where I utilize that history and incorporate leadership theories to assess my leadership style and abilities. I often find it an uncomfortable task to clearly assess myself, but as I reread this assignment, I would change very little about its conclusions. Together, I believe these assignments offer clear examples of both my oral and written communication skills.

As I mentioned above, my job is centered on the act of communication, so the connection of this learning goal to my professional life is straightforward and uncomplicated. One thing the courses in this program have done is helped amplify the necessity of communicating clearly through multiple avenues. I often find myself communicating the same message repeatedly, but to varying audiences and through different channels. In just the last two weeks, I have discussed the mission of my organization through social media, a printed quarterly publication, a press release, on our website, and through a live oral presentation. Effectively communicating through all of these channels takes more than simply “mixing it up” or “keeping it fresh”. Instead, it requires an understanding of the contextual needs of the audience to determine how the message is dispensed. German philosopher Jürgen Habermas (1984) said, “Every process of reaching understanding takes place against the background of a culturally ingrained preunderstanding” (p. 100). This program has given me the opportunity to recognize the needs demanded by different contexts and the chance to hone my skills by utilizing multiple communication mediums. I believe it has enhanced my capacity to do my job effectively.

One area I have for continued growth, however, is in the area of interpersonal communication. I am an introvert by nature and sometimes find social situations awkward. Once I began speaking and teaching on a regular basis, I quickly realized that I was more comfortable in front of a crowd or on a stage than I was in many one-on-one situations. That may be a foreign concept to many people. Jerry Seinfeld memorably joked about people’s fear of public speaking by quipping that at a funeral more people would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy. Regardless, I recognize that this is an area of my skillset that I want to improve. I have spoken to my leadership team about finding more training in the area of interpersonal communication and we are currently searching for appropriate resources to aid my growth.