Feedback: Two-Way Empowerment

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Why Is Giving Feedback Important?

Giving honest feedback, in a non-judgmental way, is also an important part of learning. In an academic setting, teachers are encouraged to spend as long as possible giving good feedback to their students. That is because:

Feedback can improve a student's confidence, self-awareness and enthusiasm for learning.
_{Taken from the University of Reading information pages on Feedback}

Although this quote is taken from the perspective of the teacher giving feedback to the student, the opposite is at times more valuable. That is because giving feedback:

• Asks you to take control of your learning
• Allows you to influence the way you receive information so that it is more relevant to you
• Forces you to connect with the part of you that "has your best interest at heart", and therefore helps to build confidence.

From our perspective, it allows us to create the best learning environment for you, which is what matters most to us.

Survival Guide - Communication

Welcome to the resources to the Workshop on communication. Let us start by saying the content we present is actually quite complex and can trigger quite a strong reaction in people as it asks us to delve deeper into ourselves. We have included information on places where you might access help should be feeling overwhelmed in the Useful Links section below.

As Polly reminded us, it is important to celebrate our achievements. Which is why we have once again taken this opportunity to remind you of how much you have achieved since starting this series of Survival Guide Workshops.

So far you have developed your own:

• Skills analysis
• Plan to achieve the goals that are important to you (which is an achievement in its own right)
• Journal to reflect on your progress and goals
• Reflection on your strengths
• Positive actions – Flipping
• Confidence, including by giving constructive feedback
• Understanding of the type of job that would suit you best.

We hope you will agree with us when we say that this is quite impressive and merits to be celebrated.

Communication

Communication is the foundation for any good interaction with the world. Although many take it for granted, good communication is a skill that needs to be learned. Without it, misunderstandings are an inevitability rather than something to be mindful of.

Given the time limitations, we were not able to delve into the ways in which modern technologies might be used to help you in stressful situations. We used the example of interviews in our presentation, but it is equally valid for any situation.

There are quite a few Worksheets to help you through the process of thinking about the different ways you might communicate with others. The second Worksheet focuses on the importance of punctuation and tone have in the way in which we interpret what others are "communicating" with us. It's a bit of fun, but it will help you understand that everything we do conveys "meaning" - and this can be easily misinterpreted.

Workshop Resources and Materials

• Slides
• Handout
• Worksheet 1 - Recognising Emotion
• Worksheet 2 - Punctuation and Tone
• Worksheet 3 - Avoiding Misunderstandings
• Worksheet 4 - Setting Simple Goals
• Worksheet 5 - Progress Journal

Useful Links

Given the emotive element of this Workshop, we would like to provide you with a list of useful contacts in case you feel overwhelmed by the subject:

• Samaritans - available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
  • Phone: 116 123
  • Email: jo@samaritans.org
  • Visit the Samaritans website: http://www.samaritans.org/
• The National Bullying Helpline - can provide free, confidential help and support if you are being bullied at work, at home, in the community or in education.
  • Phone: 0845 22 55 787 (9am-5pm daily)
  • Visit the National Bullying Helpline website: http://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/
• eCRIME - a website containing useful, common-sense approach, advice and practical information on cyberbullying, trolling, mobbing and all forms of online crime for adults and children alike.
  • Visit the eCRIME website: http://www.ecrime-action.co.uk/