Experiential Exercise: Communication Competency
Communication Inventory75
The following statements relate to how your current or former manager and you communicate on the job. There are no right or wrong responses. Respond honestly to each statement using the following scale:
_____ 1. My manager criticizes my work without allowing me to explain.
_____ 2. My manager allows me as much creativity as possible in my job.
_____ 3. My manager always judges the actions of his or her subordinates.
_____ 4. My manager allows flexibility on the job.
_____ 5. My manager criticizes my work in the presence of others.
_____ 6. My manager is willing to try new ideas and to accept other points of view.
_____ 7. My manager believes that he or she must control how I do my work.
_____ 8. My manager understands the problems that I encounter in my job.
_____ 9. My manager is always trying to change other people's attitudes and behaviors to suit his or her own.
_____ 10. My manager respects my feelings and values.
_____ 11. My manager always needs to be in charge of the situation.
_____ 12. My manager listens to my problems with interest.
_____ 13. My manager tries to manipulate subordinates to get what he or she wants or to make himself or herself look good.
_____ 14. My manager does not try to make me feel inferior.
_____ 15. I have to be careful when talking to my manager so that I will not be misinterpreted.
_____ 16. My manager participates in meetings with employees without projecting his or her higher status or power.
_____ 17. I seldom say what really is on my mind because it might be twisted and distorted by my manager.
_____ 18. My manager treats me with respect.
_____ 19. My manager seldom becomes involved in employee conflicts.
_____ 20. My manager does not have hidden motives in dealing with me.
_____ 21. My manager is not interested in employee problems.
_____ 22. I feel that I can be honest and straightforward with my manager.
_____ 23. My manager rarely offers moral support during a personal crisis.
_____ 24. I feel that I can express my opinions and ideas honestly to my manager.
_____ 25. My manager tries to make me feel inadequate.
_____ 26. My manager defines problems so that they can be understood but does not insist that his or her subordinates agree.
_____ 27. My manager makes it clear that he or she is in charge.
_____ 28. I feel free to talk to my manager.
_____ 29. My manager believes that if a job is to be done right, he or she must oversee it or do it.
_____ 30. My manager defines problems and makes his or her subordinates aware of them.
_____ 31. My manager cannot admit that he or she makes mistakes.
_____ 32. My manager tries to describe situations fairly without labeling them as good or bad.
_____ 33. My manager is dogmatic; it is useless for me to voice an opposing point of view.
_____ 34. My manager presents his or her feelings and perceptions without implying that a similar response is expected from me.
_____ 35. My manager thinks that he or she is always right.
_____ 36. My manager attempts to explain situations clearly and without personal bias.
Scoring and Interpretation
Place the numbers that you assigned to each statement in the appropriate blanks. Now add them to determine a subtotal for each communication category. Place the subtotals in the proper blanks and add your scores.
Part I: Defensive Scores
A. Evaluation: Add point values for statements (1) ___ + (3) ___ + (5) ___ = _____
B. Control: Add point values for statements (7) ___ + (9) ___ + (11) ___ = _____
C. Strategy: Add point values for statements (13) ___ + (15) ___ + (17) ___ = _____
D. Neutrality: Add point values for statements (19) ___ + (21) ___ + (23) ___ = _____
E. Superiority: Add point values for statements (25) ___ + (27) ___ + (29) ___ = _____
F. Certainty: Add point values for statements (31) ___ + (33) ___ + (35) ___ = _____
Subtotals for Defensive Scores
A. Evaluation _____
B. Control _____
C. Strategy _____
D. Neutrality _____
E. Superiority _____
F. Certainty _____
Add subtotals for A thru F = _____
Place an X on the scale below to indicate what your perception is of your manager's communication skills.
Part II: Supportive Scores
A. Provisionalism: Add point values for statements (2) ___ + (4) ___ + (6) ___ = _____
B. Empathy: Add point values for statements (8) ___ + (10) ___ + (12) ___ = _____
C. Equality: Add point values for statements (14) ___ + (16) ___ + (18) ___ = _____
D. Spontaneity: Add point values for statements (20) ___ + (22) ___ + (24) ___ = _____
E. Problem Orientation: Add point values for statements (26) ___ + (28) ___ + (30) ___ = _____
F. Description: Add point values for statements (32) ___ + (34) ___ + (36) ___ = _____
Subtotals for Supportive Scores
A. Provisionalism _____
B. Empathy _____
C. Equality _____
D. Spontaneity _____
E. Problem Orientation _____
F. Description ____
Add subtotals for A thru F = _____
Place an X on the scale below to indicate what your perception is of your manager's communication skills.
Interpretation
You will note that low defensive scores in Part I indicate a high degree of defensiveness, whereas low supportive scores in Part II indicate a high degree of supportiveness.
Questions
1. Based on the assessment of your manager on the defensive scores (Part I), what suggestions and comments would you have for him or her if you were serving as a communication consultant to this individual?
2. Based on the assessment of your manager on the supportive scores (Part II), what suggestions and comments would you have for her or him if you were serving as a communication consultant to this individual?
3. Using the factors that foster ethical dialogue from Figure 9.3, what changes would you propose in your own communications with your manager?
Figure 9.3
