Read the following mistakes we make in communication, and indicate the ones you make regularly. Try to eliminate these mistakes and improve your communication with others.
- You do not organize your thoughts before you speak.
- You include too many (irrelevant) ideas in your messages.
- Your statements do not contain enough information or repetition to be understandable.
- You ignore the amount of information the receiver already has about the subject.
- Your message is not appropriate to the frame of reference of the receiver.
- You don’t give your undivided attention to the sender.
- You start thinking of a possible answer instead of listening to the entire message.
- You listen for detail instead of the full message.
- You evaluate whether the sender is right or wrong before you understand the full message correctly.
- You ignore or reject the feelings and message of others.
- You only give advice or false compliments.
- You change or sidestep the subject easily.
- You use general and unclear terms.
- You are sarcastic.
- You give commands e.g. “Shut up”.
- You threaten, e.g. “If you don’t, I will…..”
- You ask forgiveness for being human.
- You make assumptions rather than ensuring that you have all the facts.
- You keep quiet about things which bother you.
- You act in rage, attack, condemn or humiliate: “This is the dumbest idea I have ever heard.
- You speak on behalf of others.
- You are not specific.
- You interrupt others.
- You complete sentences for them.
- You blame.
- You accuse.
- You use emotional blocks: words which lead to negative feelings and inhibit your listening e.g. “You never listen ……”
Ria Vorster
Cell: 083 459 4189 Fax: 086 605 8596
Email: riavorster@tccst.co.za
Facebook: The Communication Channel
Web Site: www.tccst.co.za
