How to Improve Personal Communication

Directions
Review "Directions

6. The paper is well-organized, well-developed, and reflects proper word choice, sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation. The paper is between 600 – 800 words in length and free of plagiarism." in Chapter 2 and compare your personal communication style to the communication skills outlined in this section. Reflect on your communication habits and tendencies as you reread this section. In a two to three page essay, describe your communication strengths and weaknesses. Consider the following questions:
• Do you use clear, concise language?
• Do you use parallel channels of communication?
• Are you mindful of appropriate timing?
• Do you consider your audience when communicating and chose the receiver’s preferred communication method?
• Do you have effective active listening skills?
• Are you capable of critical listening? Or do you have a tendency to see the topic from your own point of view?
• Are you empathetic? Or are you impatient? Do you want people to think you are listening when you are actually thinking about something else?
• Do you give people the impression that you are judgemental?

How would you rate your overall communication skills on a scale of 1-10 (1=weak; 10=strong)?

Second, briefly describe the communication technologies you use. Do you use email? Do you text? Are you on Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? What are the positives and negatives of communication technologies?

Last, summarize how improving your communication skills can benefit you professionally and personally.

Using APA style, be sure to cite any outside resources, including your textbook, in order to avoid plagiarism. Submit this assignment here for grading. This assignment is worth 60 points and will be graded according to the scoring guide below.

SCORING GUIDE ( 60 POINTS )
Rating Scale
10-9 Work meets or exceeds criterion at a high level of competence.
8 Work reflects an understanding of criterion with minor misunderstandings/misconceptions.
7 Criterion partially met, but one or more important concepts/skills are missing or flawed.
6 Work reflects an attempt to meet criterion, but significant misunderstandings/misconceptions are apparent.
5-0 Criterion not met or work is absent.
Criteria
1. Student presents a thorough description of his/her communication style, including his/her tendencies and habits.
2. Student presents a thorough analysis of his/her communication style and accurately pinpoints his/her strengths and weaknesses.
3. Student describes the communication technologies he/she uses and describes the positives and negatives for each type of technology.
4. The students outlines how she/he can improve his/her communication skills.
5. The student clearly identifies how improving his/her communication skills can benefit him/her professionally and personally.
6. The paper is well-organized, well-developed, and reflects proper word choice, sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation. The paper is between 600 – 800 words in length and free of plagiarism.