Mendez (1992) explains that the ability to communicate and listen pivots on being able to communicate your vision, interpret feedback and values the contributions of others. Communication Self-Evaluation tests incorporated in work programs and educational systems has enabled me rectify behaviors that prevent dialogue such as arguing over trivial issues.
To start, I have learnt that effective listening and questioning skills is a key component during a conversation. As a journalist I am frequently faced with angry clients who I always dismissed. I have since learnt that attentive communicators use nonverbal body language such as smiling, nodding, appropriate body posture, and eye contact to ensure that the other person feels heard and understood (Kang & Hyun, 2012). This strategy works by relieving anxiety, tension and eventually establishes a long lasting and trusting relationship between the aggrieved parties.
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Interpersonal skills are another trait that effective communicators possess. Duffy et. al., (2004), describes interpersonal skills as the ability to share the same thoughts and feelings towards a problem. Before taking the communications test I always believed in being self-reliant rather than working with others. According to (Segumpan, Christopher, & Rao, (2007) friendly people find it easy to interact with others because they encourage and acknowledge information sharing and imparting of expertise especially for new journalists.
Last, Good communicators often look for feedback from their team members. I often asserted my opinions on others when I strongly disagreed with them which led to conflict. The communications test showed me how effective communicators decode nonverbal body language in their team members to help provide an accurate response to what people are experiencing or trying to say (Ting, Oetzel, & Yee ‐ Jung, 2001). This strategy has helped me know when it is the correct time for an idea to gain acceptance from the management (Mendez, 1992).
Before taking the Communication Self-Evaluation test I was an animated communicator who responded to conflict guided by negative emotions. Although different communication styles are appropriate for different settings. For example, a person who works in Machinery will communicate differently from the one who works in the hospitality industry. It is therefore important to find a middle ground between when to be assertive and when to be attentive to others.
References
Duffy, F. D., Gordon, G. H., Whelan, G., Cole-Kelly, K., & Frankel, R. (2004). Assessing competence in communication and interpersonal skills: the Kalamazoo II report. Academic Medicine, 79(6), 495-507.
Kang, J., & Hyun, S. S. (2012). Effective communication styles for the customer-oriented service employee: Inducing dedicational behaviors in luxury restaurant patrons. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31(3), 772-785.
Mendez-Morse, S. (1992). Leadership Characteristics That Facilitate School Change.
Segumpan, R., Christopher, A. A., & Rao, R. (2007). Cross-cultural communication styles in multinational companies in Malaysia. Human Communication, 10(1), 1-19.
