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7 Characteristics of a
Competent Communicator
Characteristic #1:
A Wide Range of Behaviors
"Effective communicators are able to choose their actions from a wide range of behaviors." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 21)
"Indeed, many poor communicators are easy to spot by their limited range of responses." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 23)
Characteristic #2:
Ability to Choose the Most Appropriate Behavior
"Simply possessing a large array of communication skills isn't a guarantee of effectiveness. It's also necessary to know which of these skills will work best in a particular situation." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 23)
"Although it's impossible to say precisely how to act in every situation, there are at least three factors to consider when you are deciding which response to choose: the context, your goal, and the other person." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 23)
Characteristic #3:
Skill at Performing Behaviors
"After you have chosen the most appropriate way to communicate, it's still necessary to perform the required skills effectively. There is a big difference between knowing about a skill and being able to put it into practice." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 23)
Characteristic #4:
Empathy/Perspective Taking
"People have the best chance of developing an effective message when they understand the other person's point of view. And because others aren't always good at expressing their thoughts and feelings clearly, the ability to imagine how an issue might look from the other's point of view is an important skill." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 23)
Characteristic #5:
Cognitive Complexity
"Cognitive complexity is the ability to construct a variety of frameworks for viewing an issue. Cognitive complexity is an ingredient of communication competence because it allows us to make sense of people using a variety of perspectives. People who are able to choose and embody a range of listening responses based on the speaker's needs are highly prized good listeners." (Adler et al., 2017, p. 24)
Characteristic #6:
Self-Monitoring
"Psychologists use the term self-monitoring to describe the process of paying close attention to one's behavior and using these observations to shape the way one behaves. . . High self-monitors are able to separate a part of their consciousness and observe their behavior from a detached viewpoint. . . People who are aware of their behavior and the impression it makes are more skillful communicators than people who are low self-monitors. They tend to adapt more readily to new work and school environments."
(Adler et al., 2017, p. 24)
Characteristic #7:
Commitment to the Relationship
"One feature that distinguishes effective communication in almost any context is commitment. For example, romantic couples who frequently express their commitment to each other tend to stay together longer and rate themselves as more satisfied than couples who are in committed relationships but don't talk about it much." (Adler et al, 2017, p. 24)
Adler, R. B., Rodman, G. R., & DuPré, A. (2017).
Understanding human communication (Thirteenth
edition, Instructor’s edition.). Oxford University Press.