Communication

Goal: Demonstrate clear and effective communication

Adjust communication for the audience and purpose

• Effective communicators think about who they are communicating with and why they are communicating. They can adjust what they say and how they say it in order to connect with their audience members and achieve the desired result. They can use both formal and informal language in ways that are relevant and respectful.

Resources

• 6 Steps for Effectively Connecting with Your Audiences
• How to Adapt the Way You Communicate
• How Language Can Help You at Work
• Professionalism: Language

Supporting artifacts could include: cover letters; resumes; reports for clients; recorded presentations, speeches, interviews

Listen to build understanding

• Effective communicators are active listeners. This means they listen to understand where the other person is coming from. They listen to learn. They also demonstrate behaviors that support listening, including making eye contact, and eliminating distractions.

Resources

• 10 Steps to Effective Listening
• Learn about Active Listening Skills with Examples

Ask questions and provide feedback

• Effective communicators are skilled at asking questions and providing feedback. They ask questions to check their understanding, to clarify, and to learn more. They can ask productive follow up questions to keep a conversation going. They can ask open-ended questions that produce in-depth responses. They also give feedback in order to support growth. They can deliver constructive feedback and praise supported with evidence.

Supporting artifacts could include: CTSO awards, testimonials, interviews

Resources

• Ten Tips for Asking Good Questions
• Effective Feedback

Can you demonstrate the skills consistently and in multiple contexts? What evidence do you have?