EPISODE · Oct 28, 2019 · 14 MIN
Two Ears – One Mouth?
from The Tutor Podcast · host Neil Cowmeadow
Effective communication isn’t a one-way street. Listening is as much a part of effective communication as speaking, but what’s the best way to really listen to what’s being said? If you’re in the business of tutoring, then it’s especially important to hear what’s being said and understand what’s going on, as by doing so we can decide on the best way of instructing our students. In this special episode, Neil shares some of his wisdom on the best ways of spotting potential communication blocks, and how to deal with them. KEY TAKEAWAYS Compliant responders work with you. They want to say yes, so go with it. Polar responders go against what you’re saying and often argue against what you’re suggesting. By dropping your breath and allowing for pauses, you’ll force your student to mentally concentrate harder, as well as relax. By adding the word “yet” to a statement of defeat such as “I can’t do that”, you’ll coerce them into mentally believing that any limitations are temporary. Tricky procedures or difficult processes can always be surmounted by gradual improvement. You can make your way around any obstacle if you go slow enough. Sometimes all that’s needed is a change of mental interpretation. If a student believes their fingers are slow and heavy, ask them to imagine that they’re swift and nimble. It’s a technique that often produces instant results. BEST MOMENTS ’Surely they can’t mess THAT up!’ ‘It’s all useful information’ ‘You can eat an elephant eventually if you slice it up thin enough’ ’Their words are windows to their minds' VALUABLE RESOURCES The Tutor Podcast Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow www.Neilcowmeadow.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD [email protected]
What this episode covers
Effective communication isn’t a one-way street. Listening is as much a part of effective communication as speaking, but what’s the best way to really listen to what’s being said? If you’re in the business of tutoring, then it’s especially important to hear what’s being said and understand what’s going on, as by doing so we can decide on the best way of instructing our students. In this special episode, Neil shares some of his wisdom on the best ways of spotting potential communication blocks, and how to deal with them. KEY TAKEAWAYS Compliant responders work with you. They want to say yes, so go with it. Polar responders go against what you’re saying and often argue against what you’re suggesting. By dropping your breath and allowing for pauses, you’ll force your student to mentally concentrate harder, as well as relax. By adding the word “yet” to a statement of defeat such as “I can’t do that”, you’ll coerce them into mentally believing that any limitations are temporary. Tricky procedures or difficult processes can always be surmounted by gradual improvement. You can make your way around any obstacle if you go slow enough. Sometimes all that’s needed is a change of mental interpretation. If a student believes their fingers are slow and heavy, ask them to imagine that they’re swift and nimble. It’s a technique that often produces instant results. BEST MOMENTS ’Surely they can’t mess THAT up!’ ‘It’s all useful information’ ‘You can eat an elephant eventually if you slice it up thin enough’ ’Their words are windows to their minds' VALUABLE RESOURCES The Tutor Podcast Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow www.Neilcowmeadow.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD [email protected]
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Two Ears – One Mouth?
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