Does Your Professional Learning Experience Have A ‘Strong Door’?

August 22, 2017

Read Jennifer's guest blog column for Learning Forward on how to have a "strong door" in your professional learning experience.

Excerpt:

I have a restauranteur friend, Lynn.  Although we come from different industries and perspectives, we both believe a restaurant needs to have a “strong door”: the good feeling you get when you walk through the door and immediately feel welcomed. Within the first moments of your arrival, the strong door hostess greets you, positively manages your experience if there’s a wait, and makes you feel seen and acknowledged. A strong door creates the impression that you are in a place you want to be.

We’ve all been to restaurants that don’t have a strong door:  No one acknowledges your arrival, the “weak door” hostess is in no hurry to ask for your name, and you can feel the indifference as she shows you to your table. Unfortunately, it isn’t just at restaurants where a weak door metaphor works; some district offices, schools and professional learning events have weak doors, as well.

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Jennifer Abrams

About Jennifer Abrams

Jennifer has been recognized as one of "21 Women All K-12 Educators Need to Know" by Education Week's 'Finding Common Ground' blog. She considers herself a "voice coach," helping others learn how to best use their voices – be it collaborating on a team, facilitating a group, coaching a colleague, supervising an employee and being an all around better human being in all types of interactions.

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    Praise for Jennifer

    “I recently participated in an enlightening online workshop titled ‘Having Hard Conversations’ facilitated by Jennifer Abrams. This virtual workshop brought together participants from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and shared learning. Despite the physical distance, Jennifer created an immersive and thought-provoking experience. Through interactive exercises and discussions, we explored practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations. Active listening, empathy, and building trust were emphasized as crucial elements. The online format seamlessly integrated multimedia resources, enhancing our learning experience. Engaging in discussions and collaborating with fellow participants added a valuable dimension to the workshop. Jennifer’s expertise and the virtual platform allowed us to address the specific challenges we face within our contexts effectively. Participating in Jennifer Abrams’ online workshop was transformative. I am grateful for the insights gained and look forward to applying them in my interactions. Thank you, Jennifer Abrams for facilitating meaningful conversations, even in the online realm.”

    Nadia Hussain, Leader of Learning
    Qatar Foundation