Summary
Put your learning into action! Gather, Plan, and Execute all your new skills from the Effective Communication and Active Listening course. Write short, simple notes for each question, focusing only on what comes to mind first. Answers should be brief, as they will change with your pursuits or direction.
Establish a daily routine to review the EL-AL action checklist until completion.
Gather
Start with gathering information about your current communication habits and identifying areas for improvement.
- Reflect on your past communication experiences, both successful and unsuccessful. What were the key factors that contributed to the outcomes?
- Identify your dominant communication style. Are you assertive, passive, aggressive, or passive-aggressive? How does your style impact your interactions with others?
- Analyze your listening habits. Are you engaged when others speak, or are you easily distracted? Do you actively try to understand their perspective or begin to formulate a response?
- Seek feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends on your communication and listening skills. How do others perceive your communication style?
Plan
Create a plan to enhance your communication and active listening skills. Set realistic goals, leverage your notes, and develop strategies to overcome communication barriers.
- Set specific goals for improving your communication and active listening skills. For example, “practice paraphrasing and clarifying during conversations” or “give and receive feedback more constructively.”
- Identify additional resources to help you develop your skills, such as books, articles, workshops, or online communication and active listening courses.
- Develop strategies to overcome common communication barriers, such as managing your emotions, adapting your style to different audiences, and using clear and concise language.
- Create a plan to practice active listening techniques, such as paying attention, demonstrating engagement, providing feedback, and deferring judgment.
Execute
Put your plan into action and continuously evaluate your progress. Apply your enhanced communication and active listening skills in social settings and the workplace. Seek and utilize feedback and actively engage in ongoing development.
- Practice your communication and active listening skills in various settings, such as meetings, presentations, one-on-one conversations, and team collaborations.
- Pay close attention to your verbal and nonverbal communication, ensuring they are aligned and convey your message clearly and respectfully.
- Use active listening techniques to build trust and rapport, enhance understanding, and constructively resolve conflicts.
- Seek feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and mentors on your communication and active listening skills.
- Reflect on your communication experiences and identify areas for continued growth and development.
- Embrace lifelong learning by seeking opportunities to enhance your communication and active listening skills through workshops, courses, or self-study.
You can take action with this checklist and hone your communication and active listening skills. You will create more effective interactions, lead, build stronger relationships, and succeed tremendously personally and professionally.