Tool: A Quiz for Assessing and Discussing Your Communication Behavior
Adapted from Joining Together by David W. Johnson and Frank P. Johnson
Begin a discussion of communication in groups by answering the following questions as honestly as possible.
- If I, as a group facilitator, were giving information, and the other group members sat quietly with blank faces, I would
___state the instructions clearly and precisely and then move on.
___encourage members to ask questions until I was sure that everyone understood, and knew what was expected of him.
- If a group facilitator gave information that I didn't understand, I would
___keep silent and later ask another group member what the facilitator meant.
___immediately ask the facilitator to repeat the instructions and answer my questions until I was sure I understood and knew what was expected.
- How often do you let others know when you like or approve of something they say or do?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you let others know when you are irritated by, impatient with, embarrassed by, or opposed to something they say or do?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you check out what others are feeling and how they are reacting, rather than assuming that you know?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you encourage others to let you know how they are reacting to your speech and actions?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you check to make sure you understand what others mean before agreeing or disagreeing?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you paraphrase or restate what others have said before responding?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you keep thoughts, ideas, feelings, and reactions to yourself?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- How often do you make sure to pass on whatever information you have about the topics of importance or topics under discussion?
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The first two questions look at whether your communication is two-way. Questions 3 and 4 focus on your willingness to tell others about the effect of their messages on you; 5 and 6 on your willingness to ask for and receive the same information about your own messages from them. Questions 7 and 8 deal with how you take in others' messages. And 9 and 10 concern how willing you are to give information out.
- Looking at the whole picture, how would you describe your own communication pattern?