Communication... direct does no always have to be confrontational.

I am a Teacher, Coach, and Camp Administrator.  I have the privilege of working with many talented educators.  My colleagues vary in their backgrounds, demographics, and experience.  I am always fascinated to listen and watch how they communicate.  I often walk away from the observation thinking to myself, "wow, I would never have thought to take that approach."  I have witnessed a few one-on-one chats over the past month.  A common theme in each encounter has been the "stern" tone in the conversation.  What has impressed me though, is the ability to be direct without being condescending or confrontational.  So this made me reflect on my approach.  Am I listening enough? What's my body language like?  Do I think or react before I speak?  Clarity is paramount, but tone can often affect clarity.  So my goal in communicating over the next week is to really focus on matching my tone to the message. What do I want people to remember when they walk away from the meeting?


Below is great resource on communication:
Checkout this blog post by Coach Bob Starkey about New Charlotte Bobcats Head Coach Mike Dunlap and how he is creating a different culture in Charlotte.