Meet Shawonna Coleman

We recently connected with Shawonna Coleman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawonna, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

Effective communication is the foundation of understanding and being understood. As an individual who grew up in a household where I was able to freely express myself, one would assume that I would be a great communicator by nature. This was not the case. Learning to communicate effectively is something that I trained myself to do but was triggered by a friend. I would usually shut down or not be able to express myself. This sometimes yielded in me lashing out later at someone who was not my target. My friend likes to have what I call C squares, “Curtis Conversations” in which he forces you to have tough conversations and think through what’s bothering you. It taps into your emotional intelligence. The C Squares and Therapy assisted me with communicating effectively. I take time to process my emotions and listen to for understanding vs to respond. It doesn’t matter the situation, I am able to talk about at some point and to share how I feel or at minimum the facts because we all know that in heated moments or in the midst of conflict, facts are what weathers the storms. I also have a 48-72 hour rule. If I am disturbed or upset about something, I wait to address it 48-72 hours later to assure that I am able to process and communicate effectively. Also, being in leadership shifted my communication skills as well. As a leader, I come in contact with individuals from diverse backgrounds which requires effective communication. These skills spill into all facets of my life. I love having C Squares now and am proud of my emotional intelligence which allows me to be able to communicate effectively.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I currently serve as the Executive Director of Georgia Reading Corps and Math Corps which is a state level branch of Ampact. We provide tutorial services in school districts across Georgia powered through the service of AmeriCorps members. I enjoy the work that I do in the nonprofit sector in general. It brings me great joy to strategically grow organizations and find our niche to develop a blueprint for success. As a former classroom educator and having served in many capacities within the nonprofit sector, I am passionate about seeing organizations reach their highest impact potential while truly thriving in the space of their mission.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

It is my belief that skills can be learned an mastered but who you are at the core and as an individual is what will bring you success. Being true to yourself and genuine in your approach is always the prize. I like to do my work as if I am working for Jesus. That means, I do right by people, I hold myself and others accountable, I have compassion, and I seek to find a silver lining in all situations. I think these all shaped my journey along with my ability to be flexible and having follow through on tasks and goals. The best advice I could give someone early in their journey is to know, acknowledge, and understand your why and to also be flexible enough and provide yourself enough grace for error, course correction, and ultimately knowing when it’s time to move on or revise your plan. Find a mentor and an accountability partner. Identify strengths and always find ways to grow and learn consistently.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Overcoming challenges first requires acknowledgement of the challenge. It is human nature to try to not acknowledge challenges or to diminish the challenges we face. I like to address them and call them out as exactly what they are. Challenges help us to plan for the future. If I overcome this challenge now then I am able to properly plan for any similar challenges in the future. Challenges have helped me to better strategically plan when projection planning. I have learned to swiss cheese every scenario that I can possibly think of and identify possible solutions before they arise and tackle them head on when I am faced with them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @drshawonnacoleman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawonnacoleman/

Image Credits

ADJ Media