This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Self-Analysis » Communication
In my personal viewpoint, I see communication as something that I've always had some difficulty with. Being a very quiet person since I was little, it was not until a few years ago did I realize the need to be able to communicate my ideas effectively. As such, while I feel I have gone very far from where I started, I still have much to learn and utilize.
Strengths
One of my strongest points in communication is my ability to put technology to good use. I grew up breathing electronics; as such, I have a high understanding of almost all consumer technology. Being such a person has made it easy for me to be able to utilize various tools such as instant messaging, e-mails, and bulletin board services within an organization to keep everyone updated on current events. When working with a group to create a presentation, I am always the one in charge of compiling and finalizing the presentation, either through Microsoft PowerPoint or any other media. Through these means, I have been able to pull together a group of strangers into a cohesive group aimed at a common goal.
In addition to being able to utilize current technologies to expand my communication channel, I have learned to be more open to new information and be able to effectively communicate my thoughts. My youthful self had much trouble communicating with others and often secluded myself in my room with a book. Nowadays, I have learned to be more receptive to my surroundings and acknowledge what others think and feel. Using the Diversity Awareness self-assessment test, I can compare myself to how I felt before to now; I am more aware of different cultural, racial, and political issues that I would have previously ignored. Through all these factors, I am able to accentuate my own personal self through external and internal examination.
Weaknesses
One of my weakest points in this subject relates to my oral skills. While I constantly strive to improve that ability, I do not believe they are as up to par as they can be. Defeating my anxiety while doing an oral presentation has been one of the hardest challenges I made myself overcome; even still, I would find myself stuttering slightly, using “Um…” and “Ah…” infrequently, or speaking either too fast or too softly. When in a large group, I occasionally have a hard time getting a word in, either because I feel lost within the conversation or that I will be overpowered by others. Though I can attribute some of these behaviors to my natural quality as an introvert, I feel that I should also be able to speak my mind when it is needed without the fear of others disregarding my ideas.