At first, my results from the willingness to communicate test surprised me, but after analyzing my behavior more carefully, I understood that it was mostly correct in describing my skills. My total score was 86, which was not a surprise since I am personally an extremely open person and usually experience no difficulties when talking to people, especially those I am aquatinted with. The lowest scores I received were for “interpersonal,” 60 points, and for “stranger,” 70 points because I usually do not initiate conversations with people whom I see for the first time in life. This seems slightly awkward for me to approach an individual even if we stand in line together and begin talking to them about random topics.
The highest score I received was for “friend,” 100 points, which demonstrates the fact that I enjoy having conversations with my friends and family members. I also scored high on group discussion and public speaking, with 96 points for both. These results correctly represent my skills concerning presenting reports in front of others and not being afraid of voicing my opinion in the presence of strangers if a certain situation requires me to do it. As I mentioned earlier, I am excellent at oral communication, and I rarely have negative experiences when talking to people around me, whether in a business or informal setting. Moreover, I always prefer talking in person rather than using text messages since, in face-to-face situations, it is easier to understand the intentions of the other party.
My primary strength is active listening which I have mastered over the years and which now contributes to my ability to effectively maintain conversations even with strangers. This extremely helps me in my day-to-day activities and on the job because people perceive me as a person who is genuinely interested in what they have to say. I also possess empathy and can assist others when they go through difficult periods in their lives by speaking with them and encouraging them to persevere.
Additionally, I am an open-minded individual, and I do not allow myself to interrupt people even if I do not agree with the ideas they voice. Yet, there are also areas in which I need to improve in terms of my communication skills.
For instance, I often notice that I tend to use too many words when telling stories or when explaining certain notions or phenomena, I do it at an excessive length. Quite frequently, people who listen to me experience confusion since it becomes difficult for them to follow my narrative because of the small details which I cover when speaking. Moreover, even though I usually do not fear presenting in front of an audience, I, nevertheless, get feelings of self-doubt and nervousness, which can be heard in my voice. Essentially, the primary areas where I encounter problems are confidence and clarity, and there are steps that I can take to overcome these issues.
To fix the problem with clarity, I need to think and formulate my sentences before I speak, understand my audience’s level of expertise, and ensure that the listeners comprehend my words (Rice, 2019). Addressing the confidence issues requires me to practice public speaking more often, as well as be familiar with all the aspects of my topic and focus on delivering excellent performance and not on the audience. Taking these steps will certainly help me counter my oral communication weaknesses and will assist me in becoming a better speaker.
Reference
Rice, K, A. (2019). Communicate with clarity and precision: Five steps to improve your efficacy. The National Law Review. Web.