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Spartan - Improving Communications

How can improving your communication with potential prospective students empower you and the prospect?

Kelly G. Kelly G.
asked 03/14/2022 13:20
  • Spartan
  • Improving Communication
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Luisa G.
replied 03/25/2022 21:22

Improving communication will show that you are actively listening. If the student feels heard they are more likely to trust you, which will make them more likely to enroll. This will be empowering for the rep and the student. 

Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
replied 03/28/2022 16:29

Luise, 

Active listening is so important...dare I say almost crucial! What is one thing that you do that shows that you are actively listening to a potential student? 

Thank you for sharing!

Dr. A

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Kristen U.
replied 03/25/2022 19:16

Whether on the phone or in person being able to effectively communicate with this potential prospective student is the key. Improving our communication skills will ensure that we are effectively giving the student and ourselves everything we need to help the student. With good communication. it empowers us as we are ensured that we are building trust with that student and understanding the students needs. With good communication it empowers the student to feel comfortable to talk to us and share information about themselves, which in turn is helpful to us to help them, hopefully resulting in an enrollment. 

Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
replied 03/28/2022 16:32

Kristen,

Building trust is so important with a potential student! Tell me, have you ever experienced a time when you were inquiring about something and you got shut down? Share with me an example and tell me how did it make you feel? 

Thanks so much for sharing.

Dr. A

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Jennifer F.
replied 03/25/2022 16:59

Effective communication builds mutual respect and solidifies trust across multiple channels, opening doors to work together, overcome obstacles and move the student forward toward achieving their goals.

 

Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
replied 03/28/2022 16:35

Jennifer,

Mutual respect is so important in order to move the process forward. What is one thing that you implement to gain mutual respect with a potential lead?

Thank you for sharing.

Dr. A

Reply
Kurtis K.
replied 03/25/2022 16:57

I am curious to know any best practices in use to draw out a student's VAK style. So many of my conversations are mostly one way, although I can obviously pepper in questions soliciting feedback from the student: "How does that sound?", "What does that look like to you?", "Does this feel right?". Those types of questions are great and will resonate with the various VAK preferences throughout the interview. However, what I would like is a way to determine the student's preference, so I can adapt my delivery style throughout the entire conversation to keep the student engages and really speak to them in "their" language. Please share any best practices to determine a student's preferred style. Thank you, Kurtis

Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
replied 03/28/2022 17:06

Hi Kurtis,

Thank you for asking this quest as I am sure there are others who may be wondering the same thing or they may have suggestions and ideas as well. 

Have you ever considered starting with a topic or subject that the student is interested in? For example, as you are working towards establishing mutual interest begin in your 'small talk' possibly bring up something that is happening (let's just say the weather...it's an extremely cold/hot day) ask the potential or student and an open-ended question about is what is happening and then observe how they respond...keep them talking and continue to observe as you engaged in conversation.

I bet you are already doing this not realizing that all you need to do now is add the knowledge you are gaining. Take a moment and reflect on your most recent engagement. Close your eyes and reflect on how the student responded...do you notice anything? Please share. 

Dr. A

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Va Y.
replied 03/24/2022 20:51

Having effective communication allows you to start building trust and understanding (mutual respect) with your students. This will positively impact their impression of you, the college and overall experiences they've had up to that point. 

Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
replied 03/28/2022 17:09

Va,

Excellent observation! How long does it take to get to mutual interest?

Thanks for sharing.

Dr. A

Reply
Last Activity 04/01/2022 15:39

3 Answer(s)

  • answered 03/22/2022 21:58
    Ben E.

    The better we are at picking up on VAK with our potential students, the more in tune we will be with them. We may be able to uncover potential obstacles and objections they may be feeling inside, but are not verbally expressing, if we are paying close attention to their body language and non-verbal clues. We may also be able to answer their questions more effectively, since we will be able to communicate with them in a way they can better understand. 

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    Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
    replied 03/28/2022 17:13

    Ben,

    Great observation. Kurtis asked above about 'best practices when it comes to implementing VAK. What is something that you find works well in discovering the best way to communicate with a potential student?

    Thank you for sharing.

    Dr. A

    Reply
  • answered 03/23/2022 15:56
    Jessica M.

    Giving students your full attention and using global listening helps you pick up on cues and clues that your student is projecting. Being present makes the student know that you are there to help them discover their desires, which is empowering for both parties.  

    Add Comment
    Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
    replied 03/28/2022 17:16

    Jessica,

    Being present is so vital in establishing mutual interest with potential students. What is something that you do that helps you build mutual interest?

    Dr. A

    Reply
    Helena C.
    replied 03/24/2022 23:55

    It is very important to make sure that we are doing everything we can to be effective communicators so that students feel heard, accepted and understood. This will help build trust and understanding between both parties. 

    Reply
  • answered 03/24/2022 23:55
    Helena C.

    It is very important to make sure that we are doing everything we can to be effective communicators so that students feel heard, accepted and understood. This will help build trust and understanding between both parties. 

    Add Comment
    Dr. Angela (Dr. A) Wesley
    replied 04/01/2022 15:39

    Helena,

    Effective communication is crucial on so many levels when it comes to establishing relationship equity. When and where do you think 'relationship equity' is established?

    Dr. A

     

    Reply
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