From the Director

From the Director
Bethany Colson, Interim Director

Staff from the Center recently had the privilege of attending the 2018 EHDI Annual Meeting. This conference is an excellent way for our staff to interact and learn from other stakeholder groups outside Indiana. We brought back new tools and information about provider self-assessment, audiological management, IDEA and ADA, parent support, language development, trauma-informed care and so much more.

The opening plenary of this meeting was given by Beth Wolfson, a master trainer with VitalSmarts. Her talk centered on the book Crucial Conversations. The definition of a crucial conversation is when differing opinions, strong emotions and high stakes exist.  In these conversations, Beth shared that effective discussion can occur when participants are 100% honest and 100% respectful. As we interact with other professionals and families, crucial conversations may occur. We can engage with one another honestly and respectfully, finding our mutual purpose to reach an agreed upon objective.

Ms. Wolfson shared techniques to candidly and respectfully engage in crucial conversations. These included managing our own emotions, getting our motives right and separating fact from story. She reminded the EHDI attendees that our emotions are our own — emotion is not forced by others in conversation. Managing these can create a more productive environment for crucial conversations to occur. Being aware of motivations also keeps the conversation on track. Unproductive motivators include being right, avoiding conflict and blaming/shaming. Productive reasons for dialogue include learning options, producing results, and strengthening relationships. Getting away from the “me” and entering into the “we” dialogue. As we engage in these conversations, we begin to tell a story to ourselves. It is key to keep our story, or judgment, separate from the facts.

There are opportunities for crucial conversations along this journey. Let us all strive to respectfully engage with one another in these crucial conversations to enhance the resources and services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.