SPA Conference session: Communicating in the Face of Conflict -Communication Dojo

One-line description:A highly interactive session focussed on practicing communication skills
 
Session format: Workshop 150 minutes (or a lon [read about the different session types]
 
Abstract:George Bernard Shaw once said: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." Peter Drucker said "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.
Agile is about communicating - about understanding, listening, hearing - and then adapting to what was learned. And while I am sure most of us do know and practice the basics of communication most of the time - when the heat gets turned up... it can get more difficult to remember and put into practice what we know in theory.
And this is what this communication dojo is about. Each game will focus on an aspect of communication skills that can be helpful in conflict situations. After a short introduction to such an aspect (such as active listening, the basics of non-violent communication, different personality types in dealing with conflicts, the model of the four ears, etc) the participants will have the opportunity to practice these skills.
The goal of this session is not to introduce new ideas (although even the communication experts might pick one up :-) ) , but to consolidate and practice the well known ones - and to be inspired - either be a new idea or by rediscovering an old one.
 
Audience background:This session was designed with the focus on agile practitioners - but
basically can be beneficial to everyone interested in practicing communication skills.
 
Benefits of participating:Communication is an essential part of our working life - and I think it can be helpful and inspiring to spend some time now and again, honing our skills in this area.
Participants will benefit by
- practicing and reflecting their communication skills
- potentially learning new ideas to enhance their communication skills
- hopefully being inspired for their practical working lives by at least one thought
- having fun
 
Materials provided:descriptions of the games and techniques and a short summary of the theory behind the games / techniques
 
Process:This session will be an interactive workshop comprised of subsections of
20 – 40 minutes - each with a communication skill training "game" focussing on one
aspect of communication. I will bring along several different communication skill training games - and after starting out with one game focussing on basic active listening, I will let the group decide which aspects they want to concentrate on and devise the agenda with the group on the fly. I would like to let the group decide in order to be able to adapt to the concrete interests and backgroud oft he participants sponateously.
Since the workshop is comprised as a collection of different games to
practice communication skills, I am flexible as far as the length is concerned - a long tutorial would also be possible.
 
Detailed timetable:(as the participants will decide on the agenda, the timeslots might be a little different – but basically the session will look something like this)
0:00 – 0:10 welcome, introduction and decision which games are to be played.
0:10 – 0:30 first game
0:30 – 0:35 feedback
0:35 – 0:55 second game
0:55 – 1:00 feedback
1:00 – 1:40 third game
1:40 – 1:45 feedback
1:45 – 2:15 forth game
2:15 – 2:30 feedback to session
 
Outputs:I don't expect any group outcomes that can be published as the session is
focussed on individual practice. However I will commit descriptions of the games played.
 
History:This Communication DOJO is a project in process. Up to date I have “presented” it once on an agile monday evening in September 2013 in a time frame of two hours.
 
Presenters
1. Marina Haase
independent
2. 3.