LIS 716 Synthesis

1. S O C I A L R I S K
A N D
M I N D F U L N E S S :
D E V E L O P I N G S K I L L S
I N C O M M U N I C A T I O N
A N D L E A D E R S H I P
L I S 7 1 6
A L E X A N D R A W O M A C K

2. INITIAL CLASS GOALS
When I began this class, I had a series of learning goals that I wanted to pursue. Based
on my previous experience with leaders and successful leadership, and my knowledge of
my own communication skills and issues, I wanted to:
– Learn how to translate my everyday communication habits into skills that I could use in my
professional career
– Practice my social and group awareness
– Analyze how I communicate
– Develop communication skills so that I can communicate with other styles of
communication efficiently

3. INITIAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
Communication
Style
I am a
socializerI speak quickly, often
without completely
developing an idea in my
head. I like to be in control
of the flow and distribution
of information. I try to
connect and relate on a
personal, often anecdotal
level to the person I am
communicating with.
Strengths
Awareness of
non-verbal
cues
I am very dependent on
my ability to recognize
and respond to non-
verbal communication and
cues. These cues help me
direct and maintain a
conversation, and provide
a level of feedback that I
require to maintain a
logical conversation.
Weaknesses
Aversion to
social risk
It is difficult for me to make myself
take social risk—begin
communication with people I do not
know/have not been introduced to,
or professional face to face and
digital communications. I am more
likely to avoid speaking if I am very
uncomfortable in a situation.

4. LEARNING DEVELOPMENT: MINDFULNESS
OF THE COMMUNICATION METHOD
• For me, the most important aspect of the communication method is ‘feedback’
– I rely on feedback to provide me with information that I then use to continue the
conversation
– I am most comfortable with non-verbal cues as visual feedback, and so
communication that is not face-to-face is often a source of anxiety
• Being completely involved in a conversation ‘in the moment’ is sometimes something
that I struggle with, especially when I am not talking to a person face to face, and
mindfulness is a skill I have worked hard to develop over the course of this class
• Maintaining mindfulness, for me, means focusing on the tone, content, and context of
a conversation; focusing on developing this skill has allowed me to identify and
address some of the behaviors that support bad or poor conversation habits that I
have slipped into

5. NEW COMMUNICATION GOALS
• Keeping in mind everything that I have learned during this semester, I intend to keeps
these goals in mind:
– Take initiative in communication; do not mindlessly avoid social risk
– Eliminate as much noise as possible from the conversation; understand what noise
exists and why
– Maintain awareness and mindfulness of the conversation and the context of the
conversation to lower the risk of misunderstanding, miscommunication, or missed
opportunities for professional development

6. CURRENT SKILLS AND FUTURE GOALS
CURRENT SKILL
• Developed skills in
– Mindfulness
– Group communication
– Professional development
• Practiced communication and leadership
skills in group and individual project
work
• Pursued and completed a culminating,
synthesis project that applied acquired
skills in leadership and communication
FUTURE GOALS (2 YEAR GOALS)
• Maintain professional connections
through effective communication
• Be aware of group communication
needs at all communication levels—
professional, personal, etc.
• Expand culminating vision leadership
project into marketable experience
and/or a job opportunity