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?
