The listening survey highlighted areas that I need to work on to be sure that I am an effective listener and mentor. In order to keep myself accountable to these goals I've made myself a simple tool to self assess myself in meetings with my mentee. I'm focusing on just one goal for now, staying present and not becoming solution focused. I know I am most likely to follow through with a tool that is simple and I've modeled this one after practices I've used both with colleagues and students. I've frequently been in staff meetings where we've been asked to listen to a partner and then share out what our partner said. When you know that you are responsible for reporting what someone else said, you listen more closely so that you are able to communicate what they shared with you. I've included this strategy in my self assessment so that I can ensure that following my meeting with my mentee I am able to recall 3 points they shared with me. I've also included the simple "star and stair" strategy for giving myself feedback. I'll name one thing I did that demonstrated my goal of remaining present and not becoming solution focused (star) and one thing that I can improve upon for next time (stair). I hope that by keeping my tool simple and quick I will be able to follow through with it and use it in a way that helps me grow and reach my goal.
This blog will be a place to share my learning, reflections and growth as a mentor in the Mentoring Matters course. I look forward to connecting with all of my mentoring colleagues and growing in our field together.
There’s been lots of development in working with adult learners as well, particularly in zoom around making people accountable for other peoples thoughts. I agree that when you know that you are responsible for reporting what someone else said you are more engaged. Your a “star and stair” strategy is marvelous. I often use “three pluses and a wish” with my students for a similar result! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how we take listening skills for granted. Unless we stop and actually focus on what good listening sounds like and looks like, we just tumble along our merry way, assuming that we have it covered. That's why, as you mention here, in professional situations, we need to acknowledge how to be a good listener, and practice with intention. Your KISS strategy template is terrific!
ReplyDeleteJudy