CC-4: COMMUNICATION
Communication skills are important across all positions and relationships. It is a skill that runs throughout many other competencies, as one’s ability to communicate impacts teaching, leading, building connections, marketing programs, communicating with the public, and much more.
SUB-COMPETENCIES AND INDICATORS
A.Communicates effectively in interpersonal relationships:
1)Demonstrates active listening
2)Uses professional and contextually appropriate language
3)Choose the appropriate medium, tone, and style for communicating different messages
4)Uses nonverbal communication that aligns with communicative intent
B.Writes well in a variety of contexts, including for internal communications, reports, newsletters, scholarly publications, and the media:
1)Understands how discourse style changes based on the type of writing
2)Understands and uses process-based writing
3)Self-edits and seeks feedback from others to improve writing
4)Understands when and how to properly use citations
D. Delivers effective lectures and presentations:
1)Is able to address a large audience
2)Is comfortable developing and delivering a formal presentation
3)Employs best practices for keeping an audience engaged
E.Employs a variety of strategies for communicating with the media:
1)Uses value statement effectively when speaking with the media
2)Understands when to engage or not engage with the media
3)Is able to communicate complicated projects or research to the media clearly and succinctly
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1)Ask your colleagues or supervisor for feedback on your communication style.
2)Take courses in elevateU on improving your listening skills.
3)Critically consider if you are choosing the correct media for the message (phone, email, text, video conference, face-to-face. Etc.).
4)Identify a difficult relationship at work and make an effort to improve relations through increasing the amount of spoken communication (as opposed to email or texts) with that person.
5)When writing for a context or genre you do not often write for, find and read other similar texts first.
6)Use a colleague or the MSU Writing Center (online, free, feedback sessions) to receive feedback on your writing.
7)Learn to cite sources properly from resources at the MSU library, and/or learn to use a citation-managing program if you frequently do this.
8)Register for the course D2L Course on Teaching and Learning and complete the module “Giving Better Presentations.”
9)Join Toastmasters International if there is a chapter near you.
10)Read the MSU Extension Public Value Statements. Write out a personal value statement for the work you do. Practice delivering it to a colleague and/or record yourself.
11)Explore resources from the MSU Communication and Brand Strategy Toolkit.