Anonymous Answer

We tend to be a very email oriented institution. While that has benefits, sometimes, a phone call if the client or co-worker is distant or a brief meeting improves communication. I have utilized these methods with students, faculty, peers, superiors, and clients. There is an additional level of communication and clarification that occurs face to face or over the phone and especially face to face that improves communication. An example is when I took members of our Registrar's office to lunch. I also have F2F meetings with the lead coordinators of projects weekly or biweekly.

Anonymous Answer

While I have done numerous performance plans (sometimes with HR), I most proud that when I was promoted to Chair, I struggled to communicate with a long-term faculty member who had more experience than me. I sensed that she had wanted the promotion I ultimately received, and she was no longer in leadership. What I did was informal. I had an office by hers, and I made sure my door was open when I knew she was between classes. We would chit chat and I got to know her concerns, her struggles, her life. She had stories to tell, as we all do, and this informal approach made it easier for us to communicate in more formal settings. It seemed like a trust issue. We didn't trust each other until we really got to know each other, and it helped me understand where her strengths were so I could put her in positions where she could succeed. For example, she's wonderful with first-year students as she has a daughter around the same age, and we decided to put her in our introduction to Fine Arts course, which has proven to be very successful.

Anonymous Answer

My department of _____ had Blackboard Analytics software as a platform of use in our department. However, the program was outdated and needed an upgrade of services. In the negotiation process, we were emailing back and forth which serve a purpose to a degree. But to complete this contractual upgrade of services I implemented a conference call of all the stakeholders and we came to terms and contracted services for Blackboard Pyramid Analytics software platform.

Anonymous Answer

I had some terse and critical emails from a faculty member. I picked up the phone and called them, apologized for my error, agreed we had the same general goals and worked out our differences. It is always better to talk on the phone or in person in these circumstances, though it is more difficult given covid and the fact that we are so spread out and I can't just walk down the hall and expect to find people as I would have in the past.

Anonymous Answer

Communication is a very important skill for any position. In my opinion, asking great questions is a good technique in communication. Also, don't be shy and don't be afraid of making mistakes. I have two examples to share. One is an Indian student in my team who is very talkative, he asked many questions and was dominant in class. Of course, you know, many students did not like him. The other is just the opposite, one student from China who is very quiet and rarely asked any questions in class. I talked to these two students separately and kindly pointed out their advantages and shortcomings, both of them improved a lot and now doing very well in their careers.

Anonymous Answer

I'm an early riser and typically respond or send emails to the faculty and staff when I get up in the mornings. I noticed that my librarian was acting differently one day, so I approached her and asked what the matter was. She said my early morning emails were disturbing her sleep since her work email came to her phone. I explained why I was sending emails at that time and showed her how to silence her emails at bedtime on her phone. I also encourage her to definitely come to me in the future if she has an issue.