Communication skills, just like coding skills, can be supported, improved and mastered with the use of tools, strategies and approaches. While some people seem naturally gifted, others need to work to improve these skills. But all of us can learn to listen, to question, to clarify, and to make requests more effectively. This session will outline a range of communication tools, techniques and approaches, but also ask the audience to work in small groups to talk about talking. How we do it, whether online, in text in our issue queues and chat tools, or by using voice and video, or in person at meetups and sprints. We will also explore the challenges presented by our tools, and by our cultural diversity. My hope is that by having this conversation, and looking at "Tools for Talking" means we can all accept and embrace the challenge to improve how we communicate. Note: This is a conversation. Not a presentation. ​Participants will be expected to share their own experiences too.

2. Tools for Talking
a core conversation facilitated by
Donna “kattekrab” Benjamin
#tools4talking

3. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Outline
● 5 min intro
● 10 min exploring
our tech tools
● 10 min on general comms
skills and strategies
● 15 min on how we could bring
these together for better
collaboration for the next cycle
● 15 min report back
● 5 min summary and
where to from here?
Communication skills, just like coding skills, can be supported,
improved and mastered with the use of tools, strategies and
approaches. While some people seem naturally gifted, others need
to work to improve these skills. But all of us can learn to listen, to
question, to clarify, and to make requests more effectively.
This session will outline a range of communication tools, techniques
and approaches, but also ask the audience to work in small groups
to talk about talking. How we do it, whether online, in text in our
issue queues and chat tools, or by using voice and video, or in
person at meetups and sprints. We will also explore the challenges
presented by our tools, and by our cultural diversity.
My hope is that by having this conversation, and looking at
"Tools for Talking" means we can all accept and embrace the
challenge to improve how we communicate.
Note: This is a conversation. Not a presentation.
Participants will be expected to share their own
experiences too.

4. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Who am I?
Donna Benjamin
also known as kattekrab
1. Chair, Community working group
2. Board member, Drupal Association
3. Executive Director, Creative Contingencies
4. Oceania outreach, Open Invention Network
5. Drupal Watchdog team, Tag1 Publishing.

5. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Why do
I care about
communication?

10. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Tech tools for talking
Everyday we use
tools to communicate
● IRC / Slack / hipchat / gitter / skype chat
● hangouts / hello / talky.io / skype video
● telephones / voice chat / conference calls
● Issue Queues / github / redmine / basecamp
● Email / mailing lists / online forums
● Meetups / camps / cons / workshops / seminars

11. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Human tools for talking
1. Powerful Non Defensive Communication
2. Non Violent Communication
3. Active Listening
4. Appreciative Inquiry
5. Transactional Analysis
6. The Drama Triangle vs
The Empowerment Dynamic
7. The 7 Cs

12. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Powerful non-defensive
communication
1. Ask questions
2. Make observations
3. Predict
consequences
PNDC

13. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Non-violent
communication
1. Observations
2. Feelings
3. Needs
4. Requests
NVC

14. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Active listening
1. Physical Attention
2. Paraphrasing
3. Reflecting
4. Clarifying
5. Encouraging

15. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Appreciative inquiry
prin-ciples summary
Construc-tionist prin-
ciple
Words create worlds
Reality as we know it is a subjective vs. objective state.
It is socially created through language and conversations.
Simul-taneity prin-ciple
Inquiry creates change
Inquiry is inter-vention.
The moment we ask a question, we begin to create change.
Poetic prin-ciple
We can choose
what we study
Orga-ni-za-tions, like open books, are endless sources of study and learning.
What we choose to study makes a difference. It describes — even creates —
the world as we know it.
Antic-i-patory prin-ciple
Image inspires action
Human systems move in the direction of their images of the future.
The more positive and hopeful the image of the future, the more positive the
present-day action.
Positive prin-ciple
Positive ques-tions lead
to positive change
Momentum for large-scale change requires large amounts of positive affect
and social bonding. This momentum is best generated through positive ques-
tions that amplify the positive core.

16. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Transactional analysis
1. I’m OK, You’re OK
2. Parent
3. Adult
4. Child TA

17. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
The Drama Triangle
1. Victim
2. Persecutor
3. Rescuer

18. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Empowerment Dynamic
1. Creator
2. Challenger
3. Coach

19. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
7Cs of Effective communication
1. Clear
2. Concise
3. Concrete
4. Correct
5. Coherent
6. Complete
7. Courteous
7 Cs

20. @kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon
Credits for Icons from the Noun Project
forum by
Stuart McMorris
bow by
Mark Shogreen
eyes by
Vicons Design
ear by
Yo Szczepanska
voice by
Mon Aguilar
https://thenounproject.com/

21. I can haz
feedback plz?
kknet.nl/tools4talking
@kattekrab #tools4talking @drupalcon