Target Workplace Foundation Skills
Purpose
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This lesson introduces the concept of communication, and emphasizes the importance of effective communication in the workplace.
Review
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Ask students if they observed more “owning” or “moaning” actions since the last activity. Ask them why they thought so. What did they observe? Ask students, “In your current setting, where could you use ‘owning’ statements?” and “Has there been a time in the past couple of days you thought it would have been better to use an ‘owning’ statement?” Ask them for an example.
Learning Outcomes
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Students will:
- Explain the difference between effective and ineffective communication.
- Explain the difference between one-way and two-way communication.
- List and explain three advantages of effective communication.
- Provide an example of how two-way communication (i.e., effective communication) is helpful in the workplace.
Required Materials
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- One paper or plastic cup for each student.
- Prepare as many sets of objects as you have pairs of students in the class. A set consists of two cups containing five identical objects in each cup and one manila folder.
- Small objects that will fit in the cups. For example, paper clips (identical in size and color), pencils, erasers, straws, popsicle sticks, pennies, or small shapes such as a triangle, square, circle, rectangle, and diamond can be used. Using different colored objects will make the activity more challenging.
- Place five objects in each cup, with both cups in the set having identical objects. Sets do not have to be identical, but the two cups in a set must contain identical objects.
- One manila Folder for each pair as a partition between the two players.
The picture to the right shows one set of materials:
- one manila folder
- two cups
- two of the following:
- circle die
- ink pen
- large rubber band
- two blue monkeys (pieces from a game)
- green paper clip
- metal paper clips
The picture to the right shows how the materials could look after two players finished one round of the game.
Vocabulary
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Communication: The sharing of information, ideas, feelings, needs, wants, and/or desires, both verbal and nonverbal, with at least one other person (e.g., listening, reading, writing, email, texting, body language, tone of voice).
- Communication is effective if the information (or ideas, feelings, needs, wants, desires) being shared is helpful, useful, valuable, productive, or successful.
- Communication is ineffective if the information (ideas, feelings, needs, wants, desires) being shared is unhelpful, useless, unproductive, or unsuccessful.
One-Way Communication: When one person gives information to an individual or a group without giving them an opportunity to respond (e.g., memo, directions, policy book).
PersonPerson/Group
Two-Way Communication: When one person gives information to an individual or a group, then giving them an opportunity to respond.
PersonPerson/Group
Nonverbal Communication: What a person says with their body, facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture.
For example, slumped shoulders, no eye contact, crossed arms, and fidgeting are all examples of nonverbal communication that should be avoided during a job interview. Eye contact, smiling, and good posture are examples of nonverbal communication that should be used during an interview.
Worksheet 4.1: Do You Understand Me? (45 minutes)
Conduct this activity twice.
- Inform students that this lesson focuses on the foundation skill of communication, and builds on what they have learned in previous lessons on taking responsibility and teamwork.
- Pair students (a designer and a builder) and have them sit across the table from each other. Stand the manila folder between the pair to create a partition.
- Give each student a cup containing identical objects.
- Round 1: Give the designer one minute to develop a design using all objects in his cup. Then tell the designer to describe to the builder how to create the same design using the materials in the builder’s cup. The designer is using one-way communication, and the builder cannot ask questions, respond, or communicate in any way with the designer.
- Upon completion of the task, have students compare their designs. If time permits, have the pairs switch roles (builder becomes the designer) and repeat the activity using a new design, with the builder unable to communicate with the designer.
- Round 2: Again, the designer creates a design and then leads the builder to create the exact same design. This time the builder can ask questions and get additional information during the building process, still without seeing the design. It isn’t necessary to complete the task twice for students to see the importance of two-way communication. However, if time allows, have students switch roles so each person gets the opportunity to practice two-way communication.
Worksheet 4.1
Fill in the blanks after Round 1:
List three phrases or words that describe what you were thinking during one-way communication.
List three phrases or words that describe what you were feeling during one-way communication.
Fill in the blanks after Round 2:
List three phrases or words that describe what you were thinking during two-way communication.
List three phrases or words that describe what you were feeling during two-way communication.
Check for Understanding
This is to use in the lesson
- Discuss the difference between the first and second tasks based on one-way versus two-way communication definitions. Also, discuss how nonverbal communication came into play (e.g., puzzled looks, shaking head).
- How might this situation arise in the workplace (e.g., manager giving instructions on new tasks)?
- What are the advantages of two-way communication in the workplace (e.g., following directions, learning new tasks, understanding policies, clarifying information)?
- What are the challenges of two-way communication in the workplace? (e.g., fear of looking stupid, getting fired, not having a supervisor nearby to ask questions, takes time)?
- How would one-way or two-way communication affect teamwork on the job? Or taking responsibility on the job?
Practice Activity
Reflect on how one- or two-way communication affects your day. Come prepared to discuss.
