Communications Skills Assessment

In general communications is a means that we as human beings use to convey messages or information from one person to another. This information can be conveyed in the form of emails, memorandums, letters, or through talking, etc.... Communications can be very formal(structured) in format or as most people do, based on their educational background, can be done in a non formal format(unstructured).

Through education and work experience a person can and will learn the formats that are acceptable in the business environment. Based on my educational background, as well as, my previous employment, I have had the opportunity of being able to learn that in business communications is done differently than you would if you were talking with a friend....

My communications strengths, I would think, can be described as being flexible, albeit it may not be perfect, but I can convey in both worlds in respect to being professional. The strengths I feel I have, can attribute to my previous employment where I held several managerial positions, as well as, having owned my own business, I had to be able to convey a point to a variety of people, and how to convey the same message in a different style or format. These people could be employees, other managers, as well as present and perspective clients.

As for limitations in communicating effectively, I think that the limitations that I have are the ones that I put on myself, in respect to not being able to get up in front of a class of peers and do a presentation, but in a business sense I have no problem in presenting a proposal or an idea to a group of complete strangers, also I tend to stand in the background in a situation such as at a Business Trade Show until I am put in the position of having to be the only one there and having to deal with the people.

To become a more effective "business" communicator I need to start working outside of my comfort zone and just do it, also I need to learn how to condense and convey the same message in a shorter time frame. This is important to me and I am willing to expend the time and effort to learn it, as it will help me tremendously in the field of study that I am anticipating getting a job in and make me a more competent communicator. I will know that I have learned how to overcome my weaknesses, as it will be second nature and I will feel more comfortable and confident in my presentations, as well as, in my written word.