Reflective Essay On Communication

“Perfection, in the form of a flawless stream of words delivered with cool composure, is never as persuasive as realness. An impassioned but imperfect speech, which shows you care too much to hide flaws, is far more compelling.”
(Beers, 2012)
This quote sums up my key takeaway from the SPCH 100 course. Prior to the course the greatest communication challenge I perceived I had was the overuse of interjecting words such as “um” in between sentences when I speak. This concern derived from the misconception that a speech must be perfect to be effective.
Although, I now realize this is false, I also know that too many issues can be distracting and may be possible barriers to communication. Some barriers can also come from underdeveloped interpersonal communication skills. Discovering methods of self-monitoring myself is one way I’ve progressed as a result of this course. I’d like to further develop these skills and become better at identifying issues and potential corrective actions in my behavior.
My understanding of the importance of relationships necessary for groups to become an effective team has increased my small group communication abilities. Working on my ability to build trust and strengthening my conflict management abilities would be key areas I’d like to further develop.
From a non-verbal communication perspective, recognizing when behaviors don’t match the intended message is one of my learning points. Paying more attention to eye contact, facial expressions, other