Teens Learn Communication Skills From Summer Camp
Written on April 10, 2008 – 4:00 pm | by admin
Quantum Learning Network offers strong techniques for communication.
At Quantum Learning Network we use
some powerful tools for achieving clear, constructive communication and teach
these tools in all our academic summer camps, SuperCamp and Quantum U, and our
many school programs. Communication is the key to positive, meaningful
relationships in all areas of our lives?home, school, college, and career.
Wherever we are in life, the ability to relate to others and communicate
clearly gives us an added advantage.
One of our most useful
communication tools is called Open the Front Door, or OTFD, which stands for
Observation, Thought, Feeling, and Desire. This positive approach to
communicating in uneasy situations opens a path for discussing disagreements,
clearing up miscommunication, and creating solutions.
It’s hard to communicate negative
feelings without slipping into negative patterns such as laying blame,
attacking, accusing, or insulting. But these approaches never accomplish
anything positive. The only power they have is to damage, confuse, wound
feelings, and inspire the other person to respond in a similar tone. But if we
use a positive approach, even in a tense atmosphere, we have a chance to forge
a bond of communication.
OTFD: Open the Front Door
OTFD is particularly good for communicating negative
feelings, but it can be used in almost any situation, with almost anyone. This
method communicates four vital pieces of information: Observation, Thought,
Feeling, and Desire.
O - Observation is simply stating the facts of the situation,
something you observed that anyone else could observe.
Example: I
noticed that everyone left the meeting without helping
to clean up and put the furniture back. (Not, I noticed you were inconsiderate.)
T
- Thought is an opinion or thought about what you observed.
Example: I think that people are assuming I am
responsible for cleaning up because I am the instructor.
F
- Feeling is how you felt about what you observed.
Example: I
feel frustrated because I have work to get back to just like everyone else.
D
- Desire is what you want for the future.
Example: I
would like us to take turns setting up and breaking down for the meetings.
Following these four steps tells
the other person precisely what they need to know in order to understand the
situation you’re speaking about. Often, you’ll find when you finish
communicating this way, the person you’re talking to will agree: “Yes, I see
why you feel this way.? Compare this to what happens when you try to express an
upset through blame, shame, judgment, or ridicule, and you’ll see the power in
this tool.
SuperCamp summer programs fill up fast. Parents, go to , SuperCamp co-founder
Bobbi DePorter.
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Tags: added advantage, communication tools, constructive communication, creating solutions, desire, disagreements, furniture, laying blame, meaningful relationships, miscommunication, negative feelings, negative patterns, observation, powerful tools, quantum learning, summer camps, supercamp, tense atmosphere, vital pieces