Learning Topic: Communication
In this Learning Topic, you could
 ask questions about questions
 learn about listening
 practice your ‘elevator speech’
 share your knowledge with Guides and other Leaders
If you haven’t used
Learning Topics before,
refer to the Management
Skills Introduction.
Core Ideas and Theories
The 7 Cs of Communication – sets out the core elements for effective communication: clear, concise,
concrete, correct, coherent, complete and courteous.
Types of Questions – open and closed, funnel, probing, rhetorical.
Active Listening – research suggests we only remember between 25 and 50 per cent of what we hear. Active
listening is making a conscious effort not only to hear the words but also to listen for the complete message
the speaker is sending, including non-verbal communication.
Reflective Listening – takes in the whole message and is used to clarify what is being said and to convey
mutual understanding. The listener often asks questions to clarify the message.
Reading and Resources
Communication Skills Start Here! www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/Communicationintro.htm
The 7Cs of Communication Checklist www.mindtools.com/pages/article.newCS_85.htm
Questioning Techniques www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_88.htm
Body Language www.mindtools.com/pages/article/Body_Language.htm
Active Listening (includes video clip) www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm
Giving Praise www.mindtools.com/pages/article/giving-praise.htm
Better Public Speaking www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/PublicSpeaking.htm
Crafting an Elevator Pitch www.mindtools.com/pages/article/elevator-pitch.htm
Writing Effective Emails (includes video clip) www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/EmailCommunication.htm
Find Your Unique Public Speaking Voice www.abn.org.au/category/buisness-resources/podcasts/
Effective Listening Skills (3:16 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENkwUBPhMJw
Communication Skills: NOW! Proven Strategies to Increase Your Communication Skills & Take Your Influence
to the Next Level, William Wyatt (2012)
Learning Topic: Management Skills May 2014
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Suggested Activities
Take the Communication skills test on www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_99.htm
The next time you need to make a presentation or communicate in writing, check what you are doing against
the 7Cs model.
Tell another Leader about the 7Cs model and ask her to give you feedback at a meeting your chair, on how
well you’ve done.
At your next team meeting, experiment with using different questioning techniques.
Think about stories you could tell which add weight to your Guides “elevator speech”.
When you are next at a meeting, think critically about how everyone is communicating. Who are the great
communicators? What do they do that makes them effective?
Look critically at a newsletter or information letter you have sent out. Measure it against the 7 Cs of
communication – how could you improve it?
Reflection Exercises
Read the material on active listening. How effective are you at active listening? What could you do to
improve your skill base?
Consider you communication skills – rate your own skills in questioning, active listening, and “reading” body
language, public speaking, writing emails, writing newsletters and responding to correspondence. What are
the main areas you need to improve? Put together some learning targets. You might consider asking a
colleague to coach you in these areas.
Record your Learning
What have you learned and how did you apply it in your Guiding role?
Record this in your Learning Log.
Learning Topic: Management Skills May 2014
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