As part of Values Month we were delighted to welcome Alan Shortt to school this week. Alan is a communications coach and works with groups and individuals to build their skills and confidence in communicating in all fields. On Tuesday evening Alan presented to Parents and Guardians on the topic of “Can an adult brain talk to a teen brain?” It was a very enjoyable presentation and provided some great insight into how the brain of a teen works.
Alan then spent Wednesday speaking to our Fifth and Sixth Year students. Students were introduced to the concept of hard and soft skills in the workplace and Alan pointed out to them that with the growing prevalence of AI the emphasis will be on soft skills and the ability to communicate well with others.
Students gained a deeper understanding of their own brains, how they process information and the best way to get their message across. Students were surprised to learn that the words you use are only a small part of the message you convey, the emphasis should also be on body language and tone of voice. Hopefully the skills learned in the workshop will support students as they continue in senior cycle and progress to third level and/or the world of work.
