During a recent one-on-one coaching session, a student shared a challenge many face: finding their voice in group discussions. They felt that while they had good ideas, expressing them clearly and confidently was a struggle. We approached this with a simple exercise. First, we identified key situations where they felt hesitant—like class presentations and team projects. Then, we discussed active listening techniques and how asking open-ended questions could help them feel more comfortable speaking up. After practicing these strategies in a few class discussions, the student noticed a change. “I realized that when I focused on listening first, my responses were more thoughtful, and I felt more at ease sharing my ideas,” they shared. Moments like these remind me of the power of small steps in building communication skills. It’s all about creating a safe space for students to explore, practice, and grow.
#Coaching #RIT365 #CommunicationSkills #StudentGrowth #ExperientialLearning