Effective Communication

Which of the following statements is the most concise?

• I’m going to the grocery store to buy apples, brown sugar, pie crust, and vanilla extract for a pie that I’m baking for a church potluck event next Saturday night.

• I’m going to the grocery store to buy apples, brown sugar, pie crust, and vanilla extract for a church event.

• I’m going to the grocery store to buy ingredients for an apple pie.

• I’m going to the grocery store to buy ingredients for an apple pie that I’m making for

  a church event next Saturday night.

Active listening involves paying attention, displaying proof of listening, and providing:

• criticism.

• feedback.

• support.

• reassurance.

Why are behaviors such as spelling words incorrectly or using filler words barriers to effective communication?

• Because these behaviors make the sender sound too intelligent

• Because the receiver will probably think the sender is nervous

• Because these behaviors distract from the actual message

• Because the sender will feel self-conscious about his/her behavior

Which of the following statements is true?

• Communication requires at least one person

• People rarely make mistakes when communicating

• Communication is a two-way process

• Employers don’t really value communication skills

Written communication tends to be more formal than other methods of communication because it:

• is always used by knowledgeable people.

• allows individuals to organize their thoughts meaningfully.

• is always composed of facts, not opinions.

• is the preferred method of communication for all jobs.

Without effective communication skills, you are unlikely to receive a:

• promotion.

• demotion.

• bank loan

• credit increase.

Communication skills are crucial for your success as an employee because:

• otherwise you will not make any friends at work.

• nearly every job requires communicating with other people.

• employers want workers who will blindly follow instructions.

• most jobs today require mostly independent work.

Michael is applying for a new part-time job. What should he do to increase his chances of receiving an interview?

• Emphasize his communication skills on his résumé

• Send the hiring manager a weekly letter of interest

• Provide the employer with his most recent credit report

• Ask current employees to vouch for his abilities

Communicating positively with individuals who are different from you can provide you with:

• reinforced stereotypes and generalizations.

• automatic understanding of other cultures.

• feelings of distrust towards other people.

• new perspectives and ideas about life.

Being complete in communication means:

• excluding personal opinion and including only facts.

• telling the receiver only the bare minimum.

• explaining things that the receiver already knows.

• including everything that is necessary to understand the message.