MUSC College of Graduate StudiesBiomedical Trainee Retreat on the

Responsible Conduct of Research and Career Development

“Effective Communication Strategies”

Ed Krugkrugel@musc.edu

876-2404BioE room 101

12/04/2009

Anatomy Of A Difficult Conversation

A(you)

B(PI)

X“the issue”

training needs

your priorities

personalissues

job market

their priorities

administrative duties

personalissues

maintainingfunding

mis

perce

ptio

n misperception

We all view a situation through our own personal “screens” of misperception that are influenced by

personal styles, cultural norms, experiences, age, etc. and compounded by daily responsibilities and events.

© 2009 MUSC ISOP

Anatomy Of A Difficult Conversation

A(you)

B(PI)

X“the issue”

training needs

your priorities

personalissues

job market

their priorities

administrative duties

personalissues

maintainingfunding

mis

perce

ptio

n misperception

We all view a situation through our own personal “screens” of misperception that are influenced by

personal styles, cultural norms, experiences, age, etc. and compounded by daily responsibilities and events.

© 2009 MUSC ISOP

“THE SOLUTION”

There is no such thing as a “clear understanding” without

discussion…

…and confirmation of what was concluded to avoid

assumptions by either party.

How well do others know the “inner” you?

Brooks Peterson - "Cultural Intelligence” Intercultural Press, Boston, MA, 2004.

Jung Typology Test (“MBTI-like”)http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp

Introversion (I) Extraversion (E)Sensing (S)Intuition (N)Thinking (T)Feeling (F)Judging (J)Perceiving (P)

source of energy

preference for taking in information

decision making

dealing with the outside world

CommunicationIntroversion (I) Extroversion (E)

• Likes to think about an issue before giving a response

• Stays silent – can be misconstrued as agreement

• Keeps own opinions• Tends to seek privacy

• Likes to talk around an issue to reach a conclusion

• States thoughts – can be misconstrued as a decision

• Expresses views• Tends to seek social

contact

WorkJudging (J) Perceiving (P)

• Plans work and follows plan

• Make decisions and stick to them

• Meets deadlines with time to spare

• Sets goals and works to achieve them

• Tackles work in a flexible manner

• Likes to review decisions in light of new information

• Prefers to leave things until last minute

• Explores issues and makes the most of opportunities

WorkThinking (T) Feeling (F)

• Tends to see the flaws in a person or situation

• Asks: Is it the right thing to do?

• Treats others fairly

• Tends to see the positives in a person or situation

• Asks: Do I want to do it?• Treats others as they

need to be treated

Bottom line … confirm critical communication in writing.

You are walking down the hall and hear shouting from a nearby conference room, door slightly ajar. You hear a colleague (you are co-PIs) yelling angrily at a research team meeting, “I don’t have time for careless so-called colleagues and lazy research assistants to screw up my hard work.” And, “You people better not eat or sleep until you’ve fixed that problems, called back the participants, and re-run the study.” You decide to have a conversation with your colleague. • How will you open the conversation?• What is your message?• What questions might your colleague ask?• What are the potential pushbacks/reactions and how will

you respond?• How will you close the conversation?

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/CPPA

Case Study: Concerned Professional

Make two lists as you watch the video:• Actions by individuals that seem wrong or

questionable• Conflicts between individuals or groups that may

have had the greatest impact on facilitating the

current AIDS epidemic