Communication Skills Self-Assessment

Listening Skills

You are more likely to enjoy more meaningful relationships and are less likely to misunderstand what others are communicating – you don’t just hear what is being said, but bring together the verbal and non-verbal signals to gain an accurate interpretation of other people’s views and opinions.

• I will interrupt the speaker if I disagree with a statement they have made.
• I offer verbal signals while listening, things like, ‘Go on… ’ or ‘Uh-huh’ to encourage the speaker to continue.
• I try to have the last word on a subject.
• I finish people’s sentences for them when they pause and I know what they are going to say.
• I am often thinking of something witty to say in response while listening.
• I make eye contact with others while listening.
• I sit and listen with my legs and arms folded in front of me.
• When I have something to contribute to a conversation, I’ll interrupt the speaker to make my point.
• When communicating with others, I pay attention to non-verbal signals – body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
• I get bored with conversations easily – most people have nothing interesting to say.
• I nod my head and use other gestures and facial expressions to show that I’m interested in what is being said.
• I decide whether or not to listen based on the speaker’s appearance and how they talk

Emotional Communication

Emotional intelligence is a measure of how well you understand and deal with your emotions and the emotions of others.

How you perceive others and how others perceive you:

• I avoid difficult conversations and confrontations.
• I find it difficult to make new friends.
• In a group situation, I generally know how the members feel about each other.
• If I’m feeling stressed I know exactly why this is.
• I get irritated by other people’s habits but avoid telling them about it.
• I can interpret the mood of others when I communicate with them.
• I’m frequently self-critical of my mistakes.
• I am confident about my existing skills and abilities and willing to learn new ones.
• I can tell when someone doesn’t understand what I’m saying.
• I am usually a good judge of character.
• I am content with who I am.
• I understand and respect the views of others – even if they are different from my views.
• *When other people become emotional around me I am most likely to feel:
  • Awkward – I would like to leave the conversation.
  • Somewhat uncomfortable – I am unsure how to react or respond.
  • Indifferent – I feel the same as in any other conversation.
  • Confident – I feel able to cope with the conversation.
  • Empathetic – I can put myself into the other person’s shoes and see their position.

Verbal Communication

Having good verbal communication means that you can express yourself well to others – explaining your ideas and opinions in such a way that they are usually understood by others.

Compared to other people my vocal skills are:

• I express my ideas clearly.
• I speak fluently.
• I vary the tone, volume and pitch of my voice appropriately in conversations.
• People understand what I say.
• I use jargon and technical language whenever possible.
• I can restate the essence of what others have said in fewer and different words. I can accurately reflect the content.
• I repeat everything I have just heard back to the speaker.
• I like to use uncommon words when talking to others – to show how intelligent I am.
• I’m quick to offer advice to people’s problems.
• I am generally nervous about speaking to other people.
• *Are the following statements true or false?
• My friends and family tell me I talk a lot.
• I have to repeat myself often because people don’t understand my message the first time around.
• I have difficulty putting my thoughts into words.
• Three words to describe how you are most likely to feel when introducing yourself to new people in a formal or semi-formal setting (such as at meeting at work, at school, or when joining a group).
  • Awkward
  • Excited
  • Nervous
  • Anxious
  • Shy
  • Confident
  • Uncomfortable
  • Stressed
  • Pleased
  • Bored
  • Interested

Communicating in Groups

Although how you behave in a groups situation is linked to your self-esteem, your ability to listen and process information and speak effectively are also important – you may find it useful to watch others the next time you are in a group situation for ideas on how you can improve your communication skills further.

• I avoid giving other people eye contact in group situations.
• In a meeting or classroom situation, I prefer to sit at the back.
• I make new friends easily and generally get on well with people I have just met.
• I participate.
• I can dominate a group and tend to do the majority of the talking.
• I feel like I’m an outsider.
• I feel comfortable and confident.
• I am nervous about having to answer a question in front of a group of people.
• I find it easy to fit into most group situations.
• I do not usually say much when in a group of people.
• I worry about what to say when talking to others.
• I avoid group situations whenever possible

How to Apply Your Communication Skills Self-Assessment

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Summary of Communication Skills Self-Assessment

Doing a Communication Skills Self-Assessment is the first step in improving your communication.