If you are noticing that students in general seem to be more hesitant to communicate with faculty, staff, and peers, you are not alone. The isolation of the pandemic has made connecting, especially with unfamiliar people, more difficult for many individuals. This can go beyond being a little nervous to ask a question in class. As this literature review from the National Institutes of Health describes, research strongly suggests that social anxiety has risen as a direct result of the pandemic. 

Students may hang back from communication that could benefit them, whether it is asking a professor a question during office hours, coming to a financial officer for advice, approaching a booth at a career fair, or connecting with unfamiliar peers to form a study group. Cheerleading ("You've got this! You can do it!") doesn't always move the needle and may even intimidate a hesitant student who disagrees with the well-meant encouragement. However, coaches can introduce powerful questions like the following that can help a student generate confidence and move toward action. 

• What do you have to gain from going to office hours and asking your question?

• What do you have to lose if you do not approach the professor?

• What evidence do you have that points to a potentially negative outcome? How can you dispute that evidence?

• When have you been courageous in communication and enjoyed a productive result? Tell me what happened and how it made you feel.

• If there were no obstacle, whom would you ask for information about a job or career, and when and how?

• What communication would benefit you today, and how might you create and send that message right now during this meeting?

Create confident communicators with your own confident coaching.

3-Day Inclusive Coaching

March 1, 8, 15

(additional dates below)