Communication Skills

In this week’s assignment we were ask to evaluate ourselves on our communication skills by taking three communications surveys, which were on verbal aggressiveness, listening styles and communication anxiety.  As directed once I completed the surveys I asked my sister and a very close friend to assess me as well, and I have to admit I discovered that I may not be as attentive in my listening skills as I thought and that because of my tendency to trust others, it interferes with my personal judgment of others.

My sister’s assessment of me was that if necessary I afford confrontation and I would presumably allow others to have their way for the sake of peace, rather than stand my ground, I was surprised about how accurate her evaluation of me was in this area.  She also noted that I love meeting new people and that I have a way of making others feel comfortable when talking with them.  My close friend told me that I respect others point of view by listening and even when I may not agree with the others person point of view that the tone of my voice and the way I present alternatives and/or other suggestions to be considered, that I do in such away, the other person does not feel as though they are being attacked or disrespected.

I’ve learned that if someone approaches me and too busy to listen, that it’s best if I let them know when it would be a good time for me to speak to them, rather than appear to impatient because I really did not have the time to listening attentively.