You either want good communication skills or not
After graduate school, I provided speech therapy services in many Kindergarten through 5th-grade schools in Denver and Memphis. I was the speech teacher. As I went around the different classrooms to pick up my students, some kids who didn’t have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) frequently stopped me in the hallway asking when they could come to one of my classes. Believe me, I was always intrigued that some students had a burning desire to do speech and language drills to improve their speaking.
Conversely, I was often met with faces of frustration and audible sighs when picking up the students who had a speech therapy service plan. The students required to be there didn’t want to be there. Needless to say, engagement was low, and outcomes were seldom met.
Pushback on suggestions to improve your communication
Fast forward. I’m fully vested in executive speech and performance coaching at this stage in my career. And yet, I see similar patterns among my professional clientele. Many clients are eager to jump in, cultivate communication confidence, follow through on daily exercises, and relish in the joys of ‘finally figuring out this public speaking thing.’ On the other hand, young professionals referred for an all-expenses-paid coaching program balk at working with a speech coach to build crucial communication skills to advance their careers.
One story that comes to mind involves a police investigator who was discouraged by the reality of offering a train-the-trainer speaking class at his department for new hires. His input was, “Nobody wants to go to speech classes. Communication is a skill we are supposed to know. Getting help speaking is a sign of weakness. Nobody will show up if I offer these classes.”
“I wasn’t offended when management referred me to work with you. When my employer suggests areas I can improve, they truly care about me and my success.”
Neurologist, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital
Bottom line. Suggestions to improve aspects of your communication identified in a performance review, for example, appear synonymous with a slap in the face. Employers frequently express frustration about genuine efforts to support team members to improve their communication skills, resulting in negative reactions. Read more about how to communicate your support for your employees’ leadership communication.
What is making you scared of communication coaching?
- If you’ve personally received a recommendation to work with a speech coach, why do you think improving the #1 skill for your career success, communication confidence, is met with pushback?
- If you are an employer considering company-sponsored communication services, what are the obstacles to employee engagement?
I’m curious to know your thoughts. Reach out by email, Laura@memphisspeech.com, or book a consult at Calendly.com/LauraBresee
