Putting it All Together

In summary, you’ve learned about a set of communication strategies—attending and active listening, seeking and verifying, and joining and supporting—that can help you build collaborative relationships with professionals and families. The strategies were introduced one at a time, but in reality, all of these strategies can be combined in a variety of ways throughout the process of collaboration. A critical part of communication is being sensitive and responsive to each person’s unique communication style. Becoming an effective communicator generally requires extensive practice outside of formal training experiences and feedback from people with whom you communicate in your work setting.