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In today’s world, most job classifications in any field require effective communication skills, which were labelled in a 2016 LinkedIn survey as amongst the most sought-after skills. To conduct research effectively, students need to possess strong communication skills, as well as good interpersonal skills, to discuss their work with their supervisors, peers, or other team members, and to request information and/or resources. If information is not transferred in the right way or at the right time, the tasks may be incomplete or done incorrectly, resulting in unmet goals and reduced productivity. Moreover, when the information is not transferred correctly to the right people, some miscommunication and misunderstanding may occur, bringing about mental stress and anxiety and sometimes even leading to severe outcomes. For instance, an RPg student might think the supervisor has said one thing, while other team members think otherwise. In this case, how can the RPg and supervisor work towards the same goal and increase productivity?

In March 2021, two interesting Zoom workshops on the topic of the ‘Communication Gap between Students and Supervisors and Its Impact on Productivity’ were delivered by Dr. Nimisha Vandan, our HKU alumnus and founder of OKAY MINDS, and Dr. Amit Wanchoo, CEO of Space Communications and one of the 2018 AsiaGlobal Fellows. In workshop 1, students were introduced to the communication mechanisms and different barriers that may create a communication gap. Negative consequences of the communication gap on mental health were discussed thoroughly, and some tips and tools were provided to overcome anxiety and stress. A technique named ‘GAP’ was recommended, and students were encouraged to use it and share their experiences in the second workshop, which was conducted three days later.  Workshop 2 discussed the ‘Johari Window Model’ to raise participants’ self-awareness of and reflection on their own interpersonal communication style and to identify their areas for improvement using a self-disclosure and feedback process. Along with the techniques, the workshops also discussed mental resiliency, which helps participants to establish a positive and productive communication style. 

The Graduate School would like to take this opportunity to thank the two speakers for their open sharing and practical advice to help students to develop a healthy and productive mindset for their personal and professional development.