Effective Communication Techniques

Running head: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES 1
Effective Communication Techniques
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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES 2
Effective Communication Techniques
Effective communication is an essential skill in romantic relationships, family affairs, and
business dealings. Nevertheless, I have found myself to be unable to communicate with other
people in different settings effectively. This has caused me to get frustrated about my
communication methods, and I took it upon myself to better understand my strengths and
weaknesses when it comes to the way I voice my opinions and listen to other people. I, therefore,
took five tests to shed light on my communication style and determine the areas that need
improvement. The tests showed that my primary weaknesses in communication are the lack of
assertiveness and poor listening skills.
The first test I took was an assertiveness test. Assertiveness refers to the ability of an
individual to clearly and precisely voice their feelings and opinions regarding a given matter and
firmly advocate for their needs and rights (Heimberg et al., 2007). When being assertive one
does not need to violate the rights of other people. An assertiveness test is a tool that evaluates
one’s aptitude, self-confidence, and assertiveness skills (McIntyre et al., 2014). This test aids to
determine whether one is an aggressive, passive, or assertive communicator. Research has
indicated that many people think they are assertive, but after taking this test, they realize that
they have either moderate or low levels of assertiveness.
The results of the analysis depicted that I have a score of 54. This score shows that there
are instances where I fail to address the most important concerns that I have, or I hesitate to
discuss them. In these cases, I fail to bring the concerns to the appropriate stakeholders.
However, the test also showed that in situations where I feel that people are treating me poorly, I
usually stand up for myself and let them know that I do not accept that form of treatment. These
results showed me that I should act like I deserve respect because when I do so, people will most

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES 3
likely respect me. The results also taught me that I should not be passive in my communication
style. I need to be an assertive communicator who stands up for my rights, does not allow other
people to either manipulate or abuse me. Additionally, I need to maintain eye contact when
communicating with people about any concerns that I have, and I should also express my
feelings in a respectful, appropriate, and precise manner.
When one displays an assertive communication style, they become more mature since
they usually address problems and issues as they arise as opposed to becoming resentful due to
an inability to voice their concerns. They are also able to take control of their lives and connect
with other people better (Umphrey & Sherblom, 2018). I would like to achieve these outcomes,
and since I have identified my main communication problem, I will work to improve my
assertiveness over the next six months.
The second test that I took is the communication quiz in which I had a score of 56. This
questionnaire aims to determine how effective one is at receiving and sending messages (Stewart
& Arnold, 2018). The results of the test showed that I am a capable communicator and sender of
information, but I occasionally experience problems in message reception whether physically or
using different mediums such as emails. From this test, I learned that encoding information is
one of my strengths but decoding it can be quite a challenge. I thought that I was good at
receiving messages, but this test showed me that I am not. To improve on this, I learned that I
need to pay attention to the body language of the communicator and not just concentrate on their
verbal cues. Additionally, I discovered the significance of taking some time to reflect on what
someone has said before providing a reply. I also learned that I should not interrupt a person to
ensure that I get the full information even when I have a burning question that requires
clarification. I also learned the art of empathic listening. This involves the comprehension of the

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES 4
emotions behind any given message. In some cases, the same words may mean entirely different
things based on the feelings behind them. Finally, I learned the importance of taking feedback
from people that I communicate with as opposed to just passing the message without waiting for
a response. Therefore, this test taught me to become an active listener.
The third test that I took is the willingness to listen diagnostic. This is a test that is
designed to determine an individual’s orientation towards listening (Macnamara, 2016b). For this
test, I had a score of 65. This score showed that I have a moderate willingness to listen. The
results of this test were similar to the results of the communication quiz, and this further
indicated that I need to be more open to listening to what other people are saying. Upon further
reflection to my listening habits, I realized that in very many cases, I usually listen to what
someone is telling me with the aim to respond as opposed to aiming to understand their point of
view. If someone disagrees with me, I listen to their argument and seek to provide a counter-
argument. Instead, I learned that it is essential to listen to comprehend the other person’s point of
view to see where their opinions are coming from. By so doing, I will not only relate to them
better, but I could also learn something new.
Fourth, I took the interpersonal communications skills test for which I had a score of 68.
The results of this test indicated that I am relatively good at interpreting people’s actions and
words and in some cases, I can see things from their perspective. However, there are instances
when misunderstandings occur. The results also showed that I could sense what other people feel
and I usually adjust my behavior according to their feelings. Incidentally, I can detect when they
are feeling uncomfortable or confused, and I consequently change my behavior to accommodate
them. Additionally, I learned that there are times when I pay more attention to the message I am
sending as opposed to looking at how it is received. However, I discovered that with practice and