Personal Communication Skills Evaluation
This week’s assignment involved evaluations of our communication skills that included communication anxieties, verbal aggressiveness, and listening styles. In order to gain an understanding that our personal perception of ourselves may differ from those we interact with, these evaluations included responses from a professional colleague, family member, and myself.
I was expecting some differences between my colleague and family member’s responses since my interactions with these individuals are based in different contexts and behavior expectations. However, quite surprisingly, all three of the evaluations were almost identical with the largest difference being three points on the verbal aggressiveness scale. I was also a bit surprised to find that these evaluations recognized that I am capable of communicating in a way that supports and respects the ideas of others while also being able to evaluate and defend the ideas of a conversation without criticizing the person holding those viewpoints. My new professional role has put me in a place in which this skill has been necessary and reading this evaluation has given me some confidence in my ability to continue in this role and meet its communication expectations.
This week has brought awareness that some of my colleagues, friends, and family members have communication skills that in some ways differ from my own. This explains the different perspectives and awareness that others have in what is considered appropriate behavior during communication. When communication expectations are the same, working effectively together can seem smoother and easier, with less complications and effort. However, when there is some discrepancy between what is considered appropriate in our communication behaviors, it requires more effort and awareness of these differences to find a common ground in which participants can understand each other, move forward, and accomplish their goals. In order for us to effectively work and communicate with each other, these similarities and differences need to be taken into consideration. I have also come to realize that communicating effectively and respectfully also means including self-respect and the courage to maintain and express one’s beliefs and values. The skill of an effective communicator, whether in a professional or personal context, lies in the ability to do this while still maintaining respect for the individual you are interacting with.