Personal Communication Audit, Part 2: Developing ...



Personal Communication Audit, Part 2: Developing Communication Skills

In Part One of this book, we introduced you to business communication and began to examine the processes of critical thinking and message creation. In this part, we will begin our exploration of the communication process with a detailed examination of speaking, writing, reading, and nonverbal communication. We will look at writing and speaking as related, yet separate instances of language use, each playing a very different but equally important role in human communication. We will also have a look at nonverbal communication and the remarkable range of abilities we have to communicate with one another without using words.

Personal Communication Audit

Please respond to the questions below using the following scale: Very Strongly Agree (VSA); Agree (A); Disagree (D); Very Strongly Disagree (VSD). Circle your response.

|I clearly understand my purpose for communicating. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I know I can make myself clear. If I am being ambiguous, I know exactly |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|why I'm doing that. | | | | |

|I can tell when the channels of communication are open. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I will know when my intended receiver both receives and understands what I|VSA |A |D |VSD |

|am communicating. | | | | |

|I intend to ask for feedback. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I will recognize and understand feedback once it is sent. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I have confidence in my ability to select an appropriate channel for this |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|message. | | | | |

|I know when I need more than one channel for a particular message. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I know how to make my message brief, specific, and cogent. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I know how to make my message coherent and complete. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I understand when to make my message redundant. I also understand when |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|it's becoming excessively redundant. | | | | |

|I know when my verbal and nonverbal messages are congruent. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|My use of the language is always appropriate. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I know whether my intended receiver shares the language with me. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I know how to make my style, tone, and manner of expression both correct |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|and appropriate. | | | | |

|I share an appropriate frame of reference with my intended receiver. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I understand the potential barriers to effective communication. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I am ready and able to take responsibility for my own communication. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|I know how to listen actively, reflectively, and in a way that will help |VSA |A |D |VSD |

|me communicate more effectively. | | | | |

|I intend to communicate in an ethical way. |VSA |A |D |VSD |

Add the numbers that you circled Sum: ____________

Your score will give you a general indication of how well developed your communication skills are. The following range is a general indication of your readiness to communicate.

80 - 60: Fully Prepared. You are ready to begin speaking and writing in professional business situations with very little additional preparation in communication skills. Technical skills and subject matter expertise are another matter entirely.

59 - 40: Competent. You already know a great deal about communication and the skills required to succeed in the workplace. A little more study and practice, and you'll be well on your way.

39 - 20: Marginal. You know quite a bit, but still have a substantial amount of work to do. In addition to studying the principles and concepts of business communication, you need actual practice in writing, speaking, listening, reading, and nonverbal interaction.

19 & Below: Non-Competent. You are just getting started. There is plenty left for you to learn and lots of work ahead. The good news is that you are already underway and have begun to take stock of your skills, confidence, and communication abilities.

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