Running header: COMMUNICATION SKILLS 1
Communication Skills Assessment
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COMMUNICATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT 2
Communication Skills Assessment
Communication, in a very broad sense of the word refers to the process of passing on or
sharing of information from one party to another. The party from which the information in
question originates is referred to as the sender whilst the party for whom the information is
meant is referred to as the recipient.
Communication is very important as it forms the basis of our actions. It the vehicle in
which information in the form of ideas, beliefs, values, attitudes and expectations is driven and
exchanged; information that influences our decisions as individuals and on a much larger scale
influences the decisions of bodies corporate. Worth noting also is that communication is critical
in the making or breaking of any relationship- personal, professional, business or other. I find
that this therefore makes it vital to understand how the communication process works so as to do
it effectively and enhance the quality my relationships.
To do this, understanding the various types of communication is imperative. They include
Verbal/Oral communication, written communication, non-verbal communication and visual
communication.
Oral/verbal communication involves the use of sound, speech, words. I use this type of
communication daily in my interactions with people. While communicating verbally, I realize
that there are certain key aspects that I have to pay close attention to such as the tone of my voice
which I have to adjust accordingly depending on the message I am putting across. The speed
with which I speak also matters as making it too slow or too fast may lead to distortion and/or
boredom. Another key aspect is how well I articulate words as this may cause distortion of the
intended message. Lastly the volume of my voice should be used accordingly.
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Seventy percent of communication is non-verbal. That being said, it is needless to
emphasize the need to thoroughly understand non-verbal communication and how well I can use
it to not only enhance my communication skills but also the quality of information I intend to
pass across. Non-verbal communication uses no words but instead makes use of other
communication elements. The elements that make up this type of communication include facial
expressions, body posture and gestures. A key issue with using proper facial expressions is to
maintain eye contact with whomever I am communicating with. My posture is also of utmost
importance as it speaks volumes. For example, drooping shoulders indicates a feeling of
inferiority; slouching on a chair indicates boredom. How I use gestures could also either take
from my intended message or add to it.
I use written communication in mostly formal occasions. I usually follow set guidelines
in such communications depending on the kind of message I am delivering. For example when
writing official letters, I adhere to the rules that govern official letter-writing. I also consider the
media to use depending on the length of the message and its urgency for example use e-mail, fax,
text messaging.
To be an effective communicator is to be able to share information using the medium and
language that ensures the message is not only delivered in good time but also understood by the
recipient. This is why in analyzing my personal communication skills I use these well-known
criteria for effective communication-The Seven C’s.
They conferred that for communication to be effective, the following should be applied:
Completeness of information such that all relevant facts are included in the message being sent
so that the recipient reacts in a manner consistent with the sender’s expectations.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT 4
Clarity of the message which involves a use of language that is easy to understand as well as a
simple sentence structure.
Correctness of information being shared such that it is free of error and can be relied upon
Consideration-taking into account the feelings as well as effect of the information being
conveyed on the recipient.
Courtesy should also be applied such that the message being sent has a polite tone.
Concreteness ensures that the message is not vague and obscure but rather, is vivid in its nature.
Lastly, the message should be concise by being straight to the point and ultimately save both the
sender and recipient time.
In my analysis, I came to the realization that I have communication gaps that I need to work on. I
sometimes do not prepare adequately before a presentation which not only disrupts the
logical flow of my ideas but also goes against the conciseness principle. Not paying
attention to the non-verbal cues I give off to an audience is also a problem I gave
discovered that needs to be addressed.
In trying to improve my communication skills, I have identified certain barriers that hinder
effective communication. Differences in language, age, social status, educational level,
technology savvy have all hampered my efforts at effective communication.
To improve my current skills and try to bridge these gaps I will have to read up on more books
on effective communication. I shall also pay heed and practice proper use non-verbal
cues such as maintaining eye contact, ensuring proper posture at all times, using gestures
appropriately to reiterate the message I am putting across. I shall also vary the tone of my
COMMUNICATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT 5
voice accordingly so as to hold the attention of any audience, articulate words as they
should be in a clear manner.
Also, in dealing with stage fright, it helps to be well-versed in the topic due for presentation as
well as to practice before hand.
Being a skilled communicator is a very handy attribute in the professional world. Thus
improving my skills will be crucial during job interviews; asking for promotions and
raises; interacting with work colleagues; drafting documents; interacting with clients. All
these interactions are important as they determine how fast and how far up I can climb
the corporate ladder. It is only through constant improvement of my communication
skills that I can develop attributes such as tact and courtesy which will go a long way in
furthering my career.
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REFERENCES.
Scott, M. C. (1952) Effective Public Relation. New York City. Basingstoke, Hampshire,
Palgrave Macmillan.
