WORKSHEET IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAIN AND IMPROVE YOUR ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS Part 1 Choose one of the following questions and write down your thoughts. 1. What is the best job you have ever had OR can imagine having? Explain why. 2. Would you rather be your own boss or work for someone else? Explain why. 3. Imagine that you are recognized as “employee of the month” at your new job. Explain some things that you’re really good at that might have gotten you the award. 4. Would you rather work for a large company or a small company? Explain why. Notes: Copyright © 2020 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture is committed to provide learning content that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our learning content and in doing so adhere to many of the available standards and guidelines. WORKSHEET Part 2 Instructions: One participant will be the speaker (verbal communicator), the second will be the active listener and the third will be the observer. Role play should take approximately 5 minutes. The following are the specific tasks for each role: • Speaker: Explain your answers to the above question. (Note: Focus on using clear and simple language, and speaking clearly. In addition, pay attention to the listener's verbal and non-verbal signs: what he/she says, but also the body language he/she uses.) • Listener: Demonstrate active listening skills by paraphrasing (repeating in your own words) what the speaker said. (Note: Concentrate on what the speaker is saying and ask questions to paraphrase correctly. In addition, show positive non-verbal signs, e.g., nodding and smiling.) • Observer: Provide feedback to both participants, using the questions below. Speaker Feedback Yes / No Did the speaker use simple clear language? Did the speaker speak clearly and at the appropriate volume (not too loud or soft)? Did the speaker pay attention to the listener’s verbal and non-verbal signs? Did the listener look at the speaker and concentrate on the message? Did the listener ask questions and paraphrase effectively? Did the listener use appropriate non-verbal signs (e.g., nodding)? HAVE FUN COMPLETING THE TASK! Copyright © 2020 Accenture. All rights reserved. Comments WORKSHEET USEFUL RESOURCE Skills Builder can help you learn more about different ways you can vary your tone and body language to engage your audience. The Skills Builder Partnership is a collaboration of over 700 educators, organisations and employers working together towards a common mission: to ensure individuals of all ages build the essential skills to succeed. An essential skills framework has been developed which breaks down eight essential skills into teachable and measurable steps. These are skills that you may already have, or skills you would like to develop. Throughout the ‘Improving Your Communicaton Skils‘ activity pack, you have built your understanding of: - How speaking clearly and concisely can help to avoid misunderstandings and create positive communication with friends and colleagues. The interactive activity in this pack references Step 5 of the essential skill Speaking in the Skills Builder framework: “I show I am listening by using open questions to deepen my understanding.” - How listening actively by asking questions and paraphrasing can help to open up the conversation to learn more and improve communication. The interactive activity in this pack references Step 7 (“I speak effectively by using appropriate language”) and Step 8 (“I show I am listening by summarising or rephrasing what I have heard”) of the essential skill Listening in the Skills Builder framework. For more information, please refer to https://www.skillsbuilder.org/universalframework, where you can access the Skills Builder Interactive Universal Framework. Copyright © 2020 Accenture. All rights reserved.
