Module
7 Assignment 2
As a child growing up I always talked too much. On all
my report cards in elementary school, in the comment section, it stated that I
talked too much in class. Now as a mature adult, the table has turned. I listen
to what other people have to say and then I form my opinion and then start
talking. The only people that I just continuously talk to are my best friends.
Two communication skills that are important to embody
when leading a policy change are talking and active listening. When talking one
must know as much as possible about the topic or ask questions to become more
knowledgeable about the topic. When
listening to others one must actively listen to what a person has to say and
then form an opinion. Active listening is where you hear and understand what is
being said,” according to mindtool.com. (2015). The five key listening
techniques are; pay attention, show that you are listening, provide feedback,
defer judgement and respond appropriately. One must also use prior and new
knowledge to determine how to respond.I scored 31 on the Communication Anxiety Inventory. According to this inventory I feel comfortable communicating in most situation and feel confident in anticipating such encounters. This is very accurate. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about what we have in common. My dad was in the military the first 10 years of my life and we traveled a lot. I met new children all the time and developed my social skills and learned how to interact with people from other cultures. There are times when I hear what I want to hear. My mom calls it selective listening. I usually only do this with my family.
I can always improve on my active listening skills by focusing on the person speaking and not being distracted by things or people around me. I can also stay informed on the latest educational research in the area of child development and use my improved talking skills to have a meaningful dialogue with others.
Reference
Hill, R. (2015). Active
Listening Hear What People Are Really Saying. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/Activelistening.htm
