- 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.