Even as the ability to communicate effectively grows ever more important in the age of knowledge work, many students have not yet built strong skills as written communicators. One significant cause is the amount of time spent communicating in modes that favor informal or stylized communication – with no punctuation perhaps, or loose grammar, or minimal use of structure such as a direct address and sign-off. Daily texting and DM’ing can build informal communication habits more quickly and strongly than people realize.

When students reveal in a coaching session that they struggle to communicate with faculty or staff members, the conversation generally reveals one or both of two issues – lack of understanding of how to construct an effective message, and hesitancy to communicate at all. Coaches can ask questions like these to help a student unpack their particular situation:

• How do you feel about communicating with faculty and staff in general?

• What platforms do you use to communicate with faculty and staff?

• How do you feel about communicating with this person in particular?

• Tell me about your communication with this person so far – what is your experience?

• What do you most need to communicate in this moment, and what is your goal?

If there is time, a coaching session may offer an opportunity for the student to take action on communication. Students who feel fear around communication may be more willing to craft a message if a coach is there to offer thoughts, and a coach's presence may help them summon the courage to hit "send." It is rewarding to see a student breathe a sigh of relief after sending a respectful, clear, and timely message. Who knows, you may be lucky enough to still be in the meeting when the student receives a (hopefully helpful) response. 

Train with LifeBound to broaden your ability to help students make the most of their relationships with faculty and staff at their institutions.

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