Strengths and Weaknesses

Essay by TamaraSJCollege, UndergraduateA+, January 2005

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

Downloaded 101 times

Strengths and Weaknesses

Communication is essential in my life if I am going to have successful relationships with my family, friends, and co-workers. When I think of communication I think of all the ways in which I express myself to those around me. Communication could mean a phone call, letter, e-mail, face to face conversation or simply snuggling up on the couch to watch a good movie. There are ways in which my communications skills are powerful, and other times when I feel as if I should place my foot in my mouth.

My biggest weakness in verbal communication is my inability to practice restraint. Being a very open and honest person, I often find myself speaking my feelings without thinking twice. I can become very passionate about something that I believe in, and there is no stopping me. My father always told me I should be on the debate team when I was younger because I loved a challenge.

However, having this kind of attitude in communication can sometimes make others feel as if I am not listening, or not respecting their opinions. This aspect of my communication has been in development for almost two years now, and my conversations have become much more productive because of it. I have learned to stop, and listen to what a person is saying, repeat back the understanding, and then offer my feedback or response. This solution has been wonderful for normal everyday conversations, and I have learned to incorporate the same solution when experiencing a conflict.

We have all experienced arguments as a means of communication, and have most certainly found them to be an ineffective means of resolving a problem. Allowing myself to become defensive would be another weakness I have in communication. This problem only seems to...