Leadership and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS)
2010
Assessment Title: Observation Report
Submission Date: 22nd July 2010
Name: Ndenko Asong
Word count: 1,386
Table of Content
Contents
Introduction 3 The Setting 3 Casual Attributions in Conversation 4 Body Language and Rapport 4 Summary & Conclusion 5 Bibliography 6
Introduction
Much about conversation depends on the rapport between the two parties. As Clutterback explains in his title; “Creating a Coaching Culture,” the quality of a relationship is determined by the rapport between the two parties in it. A good rapport implies a healthy relationship and therefore a learning conversation. Observations of people in conversation can reveal a great deal about the rapport between them and therefore an insight into the relationship they share. The tell-tell signs will be the body language of the parties in conversation as well as the brief moments of silence they share as part of their conversation. After all 55% of communication is done via our body language and facial expression (Albert Mehrabian – Best Practice in Performance Coaching).
Though this task required the observation of the conversation of just a group, I must admit that I had to observer a number of groups in a number of settings before focusing on one. As I carried out these observations, the variations coupled with the literature on the subject brought out very many insights into the power of conversation and the enormity of the focus necessary, as a coach, to execute successfully, a learning dialogue. Staying in control is the ultimate goal and even when going down a slippery slope it is you who would have to determine how far down the slide goes.
The Setting
In my observations, I discovered that social environment in which the conversation takes place can have a great deal to do with the nature of the conversation. Cafés make for very fast light hearted conversations
Bibliography: Clutterbuck, D and Megginson, D (2005) – Making Coaching Work Wilson, C (2007) – Best Practice in Performance Coaching Miller, J G (1984) – Culture and the Development of Everyday Social Explanation. Credo references. www.credoreferences.com