When leading policy change, communication skills are vital. Communicating clearly,effectively, and in a way that accurately conveys the message behind the policy change will be essential in turning ideas into actions. According to Mind Tools (n.d.) there are seven C’s of communication. These C’s consist of:
When reflecting on my own communication skills, and reviewing my results from the “Communication Anxiety Inventory” I think I could improve in being concise and complete in my communication. On the anxiety inventory I scored a 49, which related to being somewhat anxious about communicating, but moreso situational anxiety. As I reflected on my own experiences communicating, this makes total sense to me. When I have to communicate in large group settings, I am confident if I am fully prepared. However, when I am asked questions I feel as though I need to work on answering concisely and completely. I can go on and on about a topic, and then afterwards feel as though I did not even answer the question completely. Sometimes I start talking and I haven’t thought all the way through the response which can be an area for improvement as well.
Strengths in communication for me include communicating correctly and courteously. When I am in large, small, and one-on-one settings, I always make a point to ensure my communication is correct. I feel as though if it is not correct, then I lose some credibility. When I have led professional development sessions, some participants have a tendency to disagree or become rude in their comments and questions. I make a conscious effort to be courteous in my communication. As a leader and role model in my school, my courteousness may not always be well-deserved, but I believe it is well-respected.
Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication. Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Communication anxiety [Interactive media]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu.
- Clear
- Concise
- Concrete
- Correct
- Coherent
- Complete
- Courteous
When reflecting on my own communication skills, and reviewing my results from the “Communication Anxiety Inventory” I think I could improve in being concise and complete in my communication. On the anxiety inventory I scored a 49, which related to being somewhat anxious about communicating, but moreso situational anxiety. As I reflected on my own experiences communicating, this makes total sense to me. When I have to communicate in large group settings, I am confident if I am fully prepared. However, when I am asked questions I feel as though I need to work on answering concisely and completely. I can go on and on about a topic, and then afterwards feel as though I did not even answer the question completely. Sometimes I start talking and I haven’t thought all the way through the response which can be an area for improvement as well.
Strengths in communication for me include communicating correctly and courteously. When I am in large, small, and one-on-one settings, I always make a point to ensure my communication is correct. I feel as though if it is not correct, then I lose some credibility. When I have led professional development sessions, some participants have a tendency to disagree or become rude in their comments and questions. I make a conscious effort to be courteous in my communication. As a leader and role model in my school, my courteousness may not always be well-deserved, but I believe it is well-respected.
Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication. Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Communication anxiety [Interactive media]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu.