Have you ever felt that what you say doesn't always quite match the way you would like to say it? Nance Guilmartin wants to help you. Drawing upon 25 years of experience as a senior executive in broadcasting, government, and business, Nance Guilmartin (LA '75) teaches students a powerful approach to having bold and comprehendible conversations through the Ex-College's "The Art of Communication: Listen and Be Heard in Today's World." The class was designed to give students the skills, confidence, and determination to have a productive and effective conversation.
Every Tuesday evening, 26 students attend this new, high-demand class, where Guilmartin guides them through the art of communication. The class is made up of students of all ages, because as Guilmartin puts it, " Life is made up of people of all levels and ages that must learn how to communicate with each other."
Her goal seems simple: teach students that the key to being heard is to first be able to listen. But the task is not that easy. The three-hour class gives students the basic and advanced skills that are required to participate in the types of conversations that many of us avoid - conversations with peers, family, colleagues, and strangers.
Members of the class will learn to hear both what was said and what was meant, deepen their communications skills during unpredictable moments, and learn the true meaning of listening. Guilmartin also offers private coaching sessions to students who want one-on-one treatment.
Guilmartin's class is interactive, fast-moving - class participation is a must. But she has a gift that enables students to feel at ease. In the classroom, Guilmartin acts more as a facilitator than as a teacher.
"The course will reflect a 'see one, do one, teach one' mentality where students will have a chance to see skills demonstrated, try them out themselves, and then coach or be coached in using them with others," Guilmartin said.
Students interact with each other and participate in exercises and activities that make communicating effective and valuable.
Freshman Maher Zamel enjoys the class' practical applications. "It's a great class in leadership and conversation skills," Zamel said. He adds that the class is an "active course."
"It's more of an assessment class and not so much learning about theories," Zamel said.
The course is not just all talk, however. The students read three books on conversation, including Emotional Intelligence, Getting Past No, and The Four Agreements. The reading contributes to the practicing of these speaking exercises done in class.
Students' grades are based on class participation, willingness to experiment with new strategies and ideas, short papers, and journal entries. At the end of the semester, there will be written and oral exams to test the students' ability to have difficult and challenging conversations.
Guilmartin's list of accomplishments reflects her success in fields of study other than the art of communtication. Guilmartin is a four-time Emmy award winning broadcast journalist, has served as Press Secretary to the late US Senator Paul Tsongas, and is a former Westinghouse Broadcasting senior marketing executive. Today, Guilmartin is a business consultant and public speaker. She helps companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals achieve success by what she calls, "strengthening what is often their weakest link: communications."
Guilmartin credits Tufts, and taking an Ex-College class, with turning her career toward media-based advocacy and problem solving.
"My liberal arts education at Tufts taught me to learn how to learn. To question. To try ideas. To go beyond convention. I've been doing that ever since I left," Guilmartin said.
Through "The Art of Communication," Guimartin hopes to give students the tools to be flexible, curious, open minded, and able to handle life's inevitable upsets.
Today, Guilmartin is called into many companies, including Nike, Kraft Foods, and the American Medical Association, to help executives fix old habits that may hamper their success. Guilmartin also runs coaching sessions and workshops about problem solving, customer relationships, conflict resolution, and partnerships. She is the author of the upcoming book, Healing Conversations: What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say, which is due out in April 2002.
This creative class is useful for students who want to work on their conversation skills. And as one anonymous senior in the class says, it's a class for everybody.
"Everyone should want to learn how to be more effective when they speak. I want to become more assertive and more confident. The Ex-College is a great place for a course like this - it shows how education goes beyond textbooks and power point," she said.
"The Art of Communication" teaches skills that can be used forever. Although Guilmartin is not yet sure whether she will teach it for a second time next fall, students are already asking for it.
"By knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to speak, students will understand how their lives and careers can benefit from great conversations," Guilmartin said.
