Workshop on communication styles and strategies to empower women in science.
This workshop gave participants the opportunity to examine the distinctions between communication styles at work – support-oriented (horizontal) versus status-oriented (vertical); these communication styles can determine success or failure within a largely male-dominated environment. Each style has its strengths and weaknesses; a solid awareness of both is the way to create progress. We considered examples from the participants’ working environments demonstrating those communication strategies and behaviours that can drive a career up or down. They were introduced to strategies to manage these differences constructively to their advantage and empowerment as well as tactics to avoid the pitfalls so as to be able to manoeuvre round career hurdles. During the workshop, in order to safeguard a more long-lasting efficacy of the insights gained, we also looked at the concept of ‘Success Teams’ – a practical peer-coaching process using individually-articulated questions to support progress towards specific goals.
Participants received a short questionnaire three weeks prior so that the workshop could specifically address their core needs, and to clarify technical and operational prerequisites.
Day 1:
- Consolidating awareness of the dichotomy of communication styles in terms of recognition, acknowledgment, and deployment.
- Consolidating awareness of power differentials and according strategies: assertiveness and appropriateness, differentiation according to group composition, responses to adversarial challenges.
- Introduction and practical application of ‘Success Teams’.
Day 2:
Follow-up day to reinforce, strengthen and discuss practice, assess experience post 1st day workshop, and discuss the progress of the success team projects.
Dates: 31.01.2022 (online) + 07.03.2022
Trainer: Betty Boden
