An Evaluation of My Personal Communication Style

     In evaluating my communication style, I utilized the communication measures developed by Ruben, Palmgreen and Sypher (2009), which included the Communication Anxiety Inventory, the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale, and  the Listening Styles Profile-16 (2009).  The measures are presented as self-assessment questionnaires.  When I completed the assessments I found, from the Communication Anxiety Inventory, that at times, my communication anxiety levels are "elevated", meaning that, "[I] feel uncomfortable in several communication contexts".  This is true when I am trying to make conversation with people who are new to me.  The self-assessment results from the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale rate my verbal aggressiveness as moderate:  "[I] maintain a good balance between respect and consideration for others' viewpoints, and the ability to argue fairly by attacking the facts of a position rather than the person holding that position."  From the third self-assessment, Listening Styles Profile, I find that I am in "Group 1":  "[I] am empathetic and concerned with the emotions of others.  This listening style helps [me] to build relationships, but it can interfere with proper judgment because [I] tend to be very trusting of others".

After completing the assessments myself, I invited my daughter, Kira, (pictured at left) and my dear friend and colleague Berit (pictured below) to evaluate my communication style using the same assessments.  I was pleased to see that they both evaluated me as "moderate" in verbal aggressiveness and as "Group 1" on the Listening Styles Profile, which were congruent with my own findings.  The results differed however in the Communication Anxiety Inventory.  Kira rated me as having "mild" communication anxiety meaning, "[I] feel a bit uneasy in some communication situations and somewhat more confident in other contexts.  Communication does not seem to be something that []I worry a great deal about" (2009).      Berit rated my communication anxiety as "low" meaning, "[I] feel comfortable communicating in most situations and feel confident in anticipating such encounters" (2009).  I am not surprised by this aspect of the evaluation, because although I feel anxious at times in communication situations, I also endeavor to calm any feelings of anxiety as quickly as possible for the sake of effective communication, therefore others are less likely to sense anxiety on my part.    

Resources:

Rubin, R. B., Rubin, M. A., & Sypher, H.E. (Eds) (2009).  Communication research measures:  A resource book. New York: Routledge.

Rubin, R.D., Rubin, M. A., Grahm, E. E., Perse, E. M., & Seibold, D. R. (Eds) (2009).  Communication research measures II:  A sourcebook.  New York:  Routledge