Who Am I as a Communicator?

Who Am I as a Communicator?

By

Anita L. Coles

          

       In taking the test I assigned numbers to make sure that I would not confused whose scores were whose. I assigned the numbers 1, 2, & 3, me being number and so on. Our scores were almost identical except for the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale score (Taylor & Francis Group, 2009). I scored myself a 70. Number two scored me a 57, and number three a 63. 

         

        After reading both score results I knew without a doubt that I fell under the moderate level. After reading the significant level I knew right away that this level did not describe me at all. I was very surprise that our scores were so far apart. I am not too sure why I scored myself in the 70 area. The only thing that comes to my mind is that I did not want to sound like I was trying to toot my own horn, and would therefore rather underscore myself than sound conceited.

         

            In the Listening Styles Profile (Taylor & Francis Group, 2009), I fell under the Group 1 level. In the Communication Anxiety Inventory (Rubin, Rubin, Graham, Perse, & Seibold, 2009) number two scored me at 35, number three at 31, and I scored myself at 35, working with families and with the public for so many years have helped me to feel comfortable with public speaking, as well as feeling comfortable with talking for the first time with new people. However, if someone would have tested me on these questions fifteen years ago it would be a totally different story. All I can say is I am happy that Public Speaking was part of my college degree plan.

          

            Another thing that surprise me was although I try to be very conscious of how I listen to others, especially when I was working with families who had children with delays, I wanted to make sure that the families always felt and believed that I cared about them and their children (I can be somewhat of a dreamer if I am not careful), however, I was not sure if anyone else notice if I was attentive listener when others were talking to me. I feel super good knowing that it (according to those who scored me) is evident that I am a good listener. I think that this will also encourage me in continuing to want to work even harder on improving my listening skills.

References

Communication Measures: Rubin, R. B., Palmgreen, P., & Sypher, H. E.

           (Eds.) (2009). Communication research measures: A sourcebook. New

           York: Routledge

Communication Measure: 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: Routledge.