Types of Communication
Find the Types of Communication you want on this page or please view the following pages for more
Types of Communication.
Check Your Communication Skills
Use this check list to assess your communication skills. Focus * Do you pay complete attention to others when they are speaking? (A wandering
focus discourages open communication.) * Do you manage your thoughts during a conversation, focusing them on
understanding what the other person is saying? (Effective listening requires more
concentration than any other form of communication. If you are thinking about
anything other than what the person is saying, you are defeating your ability to
understand.) * Do you postpone preparing your reply until after you have heard everything the
other person has to say? (Thinking about what you plan to say while the other
person is speaking prevents you from understanding what that person is saying.) * Do you ignore distractions, such as other people, ambient noise, and the
surroundings? (Attending to distractions makes you appear uninterested,
unfocused, and rude.) * Do you make eye contact during a conversation? (Watching a person's face shows
that you are paying attention. You also gather nonverbal messages, which can
convey most of the important information being conveyed to you.) Environment * Do you convey confidence, courage, and strength during your conversations? (A
pleasant manner will encourage people to trust you and tell you more. Negative
behavior conveys weakness, insecurity, and fear.) * Do you react calmly to bad news? (Anger will frighten people into avoiding you.) * Do you encourage others to speak freely? (Appearing interested, asking questions,
and treating others with respect will facilitate open communication.) * Do you use a diplomatic, positive vocabulary? (Talking about what you want is
more forceful than talking about what you don't want, won't do, or can't do. This
means that in most cases you would delete the word "not" from what you say.) * Do you seek solutions? (Seeking approval, culprits, or excuses, discourages
communication.) Clarity * Do you stick to the subject? (Introducing new unrelated issues will confuse the
other person and degrade the quality of your conversation.) * Do you maintain a "you" focus? (Speak in terms of what the other person needs,
wants, and understands because that will enhance the impact of what you say.) * Do you avoid games? (Asking trick questions, setting traps, and making others
look bad will cause people to avoid you.) * Do you use a linear, logical approach to explaining things? (Make it easy for others
to understand you because it's more efficient.) * Do you use common terms? (Avoid jargon and flowery speech because these
impress only the person using them.) IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and author Steve Kaye works with leaders who
want to be more effective. His innovative workshops have informed and inspired
people nationwide. His facilitation produces results that people will support. Call
714-528-1300 or visit his web site for over 100 pages of valuable ideas. Sign up for
his free newsletter at http://www.stevekaye.com
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