Unit II Essay: Identifying Your Social Style Inventor 700610

Unit Ii Essaytake The Identifying Your Social Style Inventory On Pag

Evaluate the results of the "Identifying your Social Style" Inventory from your textbook, compare your self-perception with feedback from a family member or friend, analyze how your social style influences your messages, and identify three communication skills to improve based on Chapters 2-3. Your response should be at least four pages, citing your textbook and other sources in APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

The exploration of personal social styles is a fundamental step toward enhancing effective communication. In this essay, I will analyze my results from the "Identifying your Social Style" Inventory, compare my self-perception with feedback received from a family member, discuss how my social style influences my verbal and non-verbal messages, and propose three communication skills I aim to improve after engaging with this assessment and the related chapters.

Introduction

Understanding social styles allows individuals to recognize their natural communication tendencies and adapt their interactions for improved relationships. The Inventory, detailed on pages 31-33 of the textbook, provides insights into different social styles—driver, expressive, analytical, and amiable—and helps in identifying one's dominant traits. Self-awareness derived from such tools complements feedback from others, fostering a more holistic view of one’s communication behaviors.

My Results from the Social Style Inventory

According to my results from the Inventory on page 31, I fall primarily within the "Expressive" social style category. This style characterizes individuals who are enthusiastic, persuasive, and highly energetic in social interactions. The assessment highlighted traits like assertiveness, openness, and a tendency to be emotionally expressive, aligning with my self-perception as someone outgoing and driven by motivation to connect with others. The pages 32-33 further describe the expressive style as those who enjoy lively conversations, value recognition, and often influence others through enthusiasm.

My high score in the expressive category resonated with my own perception of myself, as I often seek social engagement, enjoy sharing ideas passionately, and tend to speak openly. However, the assessment also pointed out potential challenges, such as the tendency to overlook details or become distracted from tasks due to an overly energetic demeanor.

Feedback from Family and Friends

Sharing my results with a close family member and a friend provided valuable external perspectives. Both individuals confirmed my expressive traits but offered nuanced insights. My family member noted that I often appear animated and eager during conversations, reinforcing my self-assessment. My friend highlighted my tendency to dominate discussions at times, which could be perceived as overbearing or interruptive. Interestingly, both acknowledged my warmth and enthusiasm, aligning with the expressive style but also pointed out instances where I might come across as overly impulsive or inattentive to others' cues.

This feedback prompted me to reflect on my interpersonal communication, recognizing that perceptions from others sometimes differ based on context and relationship dynamics. It underscored the importance of balancing expressive energy with active listening and awareness of non-verbal cues.

Impact of Social Style on Verbal and Non-Verbal Messages

My social style significantly influences my communication, both verbally and non-verbally. Verbally, I tend to be assertive, animated, and persuasive, often using expressive language, gestures, and a lively tone to engage others. My enthusiasm helps motivate team members and create an energetic environment, but it can also lead to misunderstandings if I overlook others’ input or appear impatient.

Non-verbally, my facial expressions, gestures, and body language tend to be open and animated. I frequently use eye contact, hand movements, and expressive facial expressions to emphasize points and connect emotionally. While these non-verbal cues often strengthen my verbal messages, they can sometimes be perceived as overwhelming or intrusive depending on the context or the other person's social style. Recognizing these influences will help me modify my approach for more nuanced and effective interactions.

Communication Skills to Improve

After completing the inventory and reflecting on chapters 2 and 3, I identified three key communication skills I aim to develop:

  1. Active Listening: I recognize the need to listen more attentively without interrupting or dominating conversations. Developing this skill will foster mutual understanding and demonstrate respect for others' perspectives.
  2. Non-verbal Attunement: Improving sensitivity to others' non-verbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, will help me gauge reactions more accurately and respond appropriately.
  3. Patience in Dialogue: Cultivating patience during discussions will prevent impulsive reactions or excessively energetic communication, especially in situations requiring careful deliberation or when engaging with different social styles.

Enhancing these skills aligns with the insights gained from Chapters 2-3 regarding effective interpersonal communication, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.

Conclusion

Understanding my social style as an expressive communicator has provided valuable insights into my natural tendencies and areas for growth. The feedback from trusted individuals complemented my self-assessment, revealing strengths like enthusiasm and warmth, as well as areas needing refinement, such as active listening and awareness of non-verbal signals. Recognizing how my style impacts my messages allows me to tailor my communication to be more effective in diverse interactions. Moving forward, deliberate efforts to improve specific skills will enhance my ability to connect authentically with others, fostering stronger personal and professional relationships. This ongoing self-awareness is vital to becoming a more adaptable and empathetic communicator.

References

  • Adler, R. B., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Proctor, R. F. (2018). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication (14th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Floyd, K. (2019). Interpersonal communication (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Hargie, O. (2016). Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory and practice (6th ed.). Routledge.
  • McCornack, S. (2018). Choices and connections: An introduction to communication (2nd ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s.
  • Peterson, R. S. (2020). The art of effective communication. Wiley.
  • Richmond, V. P., McCroskey, J. C., & McCroskey, L. L. (2017). Organizational communication for survival (11th ed.). Routledge.
  • Wood, J. T. (2015). Communication mosaics: An introduction to the field of communication (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Burke, R. J. (2012). Interpersonal communication in organizations. Routledge.
  • Hecht, M. L. (2013). Communication in personal relationships. Routledge.
  • Schnurr, S., et al. (2020). Nonverbal communication: Science and applications. Routledge.

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