Who am I as a Communicator?

I found this week's application assignment to be very informative and really did give me some information about how I perceive myself as well as how I am perceived by others.  I had my husband and one of my colleagues evaluate my communication skills.  Both of them gave me scores very similar to my own, with minor differences.

I was most surprised that I scored in the moderate range for verbal aggressiveness.  I am quiet, shy and tend to avoid conflict if possible.  I was certain that I would score in the low range for verbal aggressiveness.  When my husband evaluated me, I scored in the mild range, but it was very close to moderate.  When evaluated by my colleague, I scored in the moderate range as well.  This was different than I perceived myself or even how I believed others perceived me.  After considering this rating, I realized that I don't like conflict, however if I feel the need to express a thought or opinion about something, I will do it.  I guess that it is what I say when I do speak, not my apprehensiveness about speaking that led me to score in the moderate range.  

I also learned that I have a people-oriented listening style and that I have situational communication anxiety.  I agree with this assessment of myself and feel that the description of these two attributes are accurate.  Being people-oriented will help me build relationships with the children and families with whom I work as well as with family members and friends.  One down side to this, however is that I may be too trusting of others and could possibly be taken advantage of (Rubin, Rubin, Graham, Perse, & Seibold, 2009).  I have always been reluctant to speak in front of others or even have conversations with those whom I'm not comfortable.  Being labled as having "situational" communication anxiety is accurate.  Who I am communicating with affects my comfort level and I do tend to avoid these situations.  I seek out opportunities to challenge myself to become more comfortable with these situations.  I volunteer to deliver staff development as well as interact with people I don't know very well when my husband and I are out at social events.  

The information provided by these assessments will help me to become a better communicator and I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn about my perceptions as well as the perceptions of others.  

Resources

Rubin, R. B., Rubin, A. M., Graham, E. E., Perse, E. M., & Seibold, D. R. (Eds.)

       (2009). Communication research measures II: A sourcebook. New York: 

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