Communication Skills

Communication for me as a Speech and Language Pathologist is a way of life. In school we were taught the 7C’s of communication which include being clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete and courteous (Mind Tools). Each of these are important in effectively communicating policy changes but the two most important are being correct and courteous. It is important in being correct in the information that you provide. When being a leader or voice of the people it is imperative to be correct in the facts that are presented. When data is falsified by someone that is attempting to change any policy gives the person presenting the information poor credibility. This can be compared to Brian Williams on NBC. He was a respectable new anchor until it was determined that he falsified information that he was giving to the public. Effective communication is built on trust that had to last.

The next communication skill that is important to embody when leading policy change is being courteous. This can be a difficult one to embody especially when those who you are communicating with are oppositional to the policy that is being changed. This is not the time to lose your cool or be disrespectful in any way. This includes verbal and nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication that is not courteous is poor body language such as folding your arms, your tone of voice, muscle tension and breathing (Helpguide). Maintaining your cool through adversity is what will help to get better results. Being courteous also includes considering the people that the policy will affect.

I would like to improve on being more correct and accurate in the information that I present to others. I am able to do this in the field of Speech and Language Pathology and hope to be as adequate in my delivery of Early Childhood Educational information. I never want to be labeled as someone who gives false and incorrect information. I honestly would like to improve on each of the 7 C’s of communication to be as convincing and factual as I can be when addressing law makers and the people these laws will affect!

Resources

Helpguide.org. (n.d.). Effective communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/effective_communication_skills.htm

Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication. Retrieved

             October 15, 2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm