|
COMMUNICATION
Please
note: This competency profile will be revised to be consistent
with the Alberta
public service competency model.
COMPETENCY
DESCRIPTION
Below
is a description of the competency as well as behaviours
typically demonstrated by high performers in each classification.
Communication: Clearly
conveying and receiving messages to meet the needs
of all.
Behaviours: |
Administrative
Support |
Professional |
Managers |
| Communicates
effectively. |
Listens
with sensitivity. |
Adapts
communication for the audience. |
Fosters
effective communication with others. |
| Communicates
in a way that is accurate, timely and easy to understand,
verbally and in writing. shares information in
an open and honest way. Explains the reasons
for a decision. |
Seeks
to understand others from their own frame of reference. Probes
to understand unexpressed or poorly expressed thoughts,
concerns or feelings. Accurately assesses root
causes of behaviour. Predicts others' response
and alters own behaviour to respond appropriately. |
Personally
investigates to better understand a situation or determine
communication needs. Uses different ways of conveying
a message to add clarify and meaning to communications. Adapts
the style of presentation and media used to best meet
these needs. |
Develops
communication skills in others. Demonstrates understanding
and effective use of the communication process. Provides
coaching and feedback to help others develop their
skills. |
ASSESSING
YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
The
Career
and Learning Planning section of the Corporate Human Resources
(CHR) website has a
self-assessment tool you may find helpful.
DEVELOPING
COMPETENCE IN COMMUNICATION
- TIPS FOR STAFF
| Behaviour |
Ideas for
On-the-Job Competency Development |
| Communicates effectively. |
- Volunteer for an assignment that would involve
preparing and presenting briefs, operational plans
and/or program overviews.
- In meetings, verbalize your concerns so they
can be openly discussed.
- Ask employees and colleagues what information
they would like to receive from you and include
their comments in your next memo.
- Volunteer
to write a newsletter, brief, or formal report. Make
sure your language is clear and easy to understand.
|
| Listens with sensitivity. |
- Use
effective non-verbal behaviour to let others
know you are listening. Each day, focus
on dong one or two of these things in conversations.
- Move from behind the desk
- Maintain eye contact and lean forward slightly
- Allow pauses, don't feel you must speak when the other
person pauses to collect his/her thoughts
- Avoid distractions (telephone)
- Use
open-ended probing questions to get other people
talking. They begin with phrases like "tell
me about", "explain", "describe". Today,
keep rack of how many open-ended questions you
use and make a goal to use more tomorrow.
- Use
reflective statement, such as "it sounds
like you are worried about..." or "it sounds like
you are very upset by..." to demonstrate to people
that you have heard and understood. Make
a goal to use a reflective statement with someone
today.
- At the end of a conversation, summarize to indicate
that you have heard and understood.
|
| Adapts communication to audience. |
- During
the next week, carefully notice the non-verbal
messages being sent to you in a variety of situations. Look
for non-verbal indicators of listeners' feelings
(such as loss of eye contact, posture, facial expressions
and hand motions. Record in a table the
behaviour, the message communicated and the
probable causes.
- In your next presentation, use a new medium for
presenting your idea.
- Volunteer for an assignment or speaking engagement
that will exposure you to a new or different type
of audience.
|
| Fosters effective communication
with others. |
- If someone comes to you for information that
should be obtained from another source, redirect
him or her to the appropriate resource instead.
- Practice paraphrasing with a peer with whom you
have a good working relationship.
- Have a trusted peer keep track of how many times
you interrupt others in a discussion, then set
a goal to decrease this number.
- Offer to help a co-worker prepare for a presentation.
|
DEVELOPING
COMPETENCE IN COMMUNICATION
- TIPS
FOR SUPERVISORS
| Type of
Support |
Ideas for
Developing Staff |
| Coaching |
- Provide employees with feedback on their communications;
discuss how they can tailor their communications
to meet the need.
|
Development/
Learning |
- Provide training if required.
- Assign employees to prepare and present briefs,
operational plans, or program reviews.
- Encourage employees to participate in assignments
that would involve interaction with a new or different
audience.
|
PREPARING
FOR AN INTERVIEW
- POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
- How do you keep your various stakeholders
- staff, superiors, clients, and so on - in the loop
with regard to issues and strategies that affect them?
- Describe
a situation you were involved in that required a multi-dimensional
communication
strategy. what were the key elements of your
strategy?
- Give
an example of a difficult or sensitive situation that
required you to use excellent communication
skills. What did you do?
- Give an example of how you have developed
communication skills in others.
|
|
|
|
Contact
Us
