Communication Skills to Enact Change
Communication
is essential in communicating ideas, facts, and information regarding
policy. Communication is not simply
relaying information. It includes
listening as well. Effective
communication involves the usage of a particular set of skills that cements
your intended ideas with the audience’s understanding. The cohesiveness of the ideas and
understanding is what makes effective communication.
The two
most important skills of communication are making your ideas clear and being coherent
(Mind Tools, n.d.). When your ideas or
intent are clear, it eliminates confusion and enables a greater understanding
for the audience. It also provides a platform from which other ideas, concerns,
or questions can be gleaned. Having
coherence in communicating allows the listener/reader to follow in a logical
manner. This enables the listener to grasp
the ideas of the presenter in a carefully sequenced order that is easy to
follow. If a communication is concise,
concrete, or complete and is not clear or coherent; the presentation has not
been communicated effectively.
In taking
the “Communication Anxiety” self-assessment, I made a 33 (Laureate Education,
2011). The description for this score
indicates that I feel comfortable in communicating with people and that I am
somewhat confident as I encounter those situations. I rarely have anxiety with communicating in
small groups or with encountering people that I have not met. I also feel that
I am very effective in one on one situations. According to Mind Tools (n.d.) I have
encountered some anxiety in communicating in very large groups of more than 200
people and worry if I have made a good impression. I have researched various cites on how to
reduce stress and found research on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
to have some promising results (Marchand, 2013). This process reduced anxiety and reduces
stress with regular usage. I will
practice this technique to assist with my communication anxiety in large groups.
References
Laureate
Education (Producer). (2011). Communication anxiety [Interactive media]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Marchand, W. R. (2012).
Mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy,
and Zen meditation for depression, anxiety, pain, and psychological distress. Journal
of Psychiatric Practice®, 18(4),
233-252.
Mind Tools.
(n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication.
Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm
