Interpersonal Communication Skills Self-Appraisal Process

STEP ONE:

On registration and payment, you are emailed a document containing four exercises. These may take between 20 and 40 minutes to complete. You email your responses to us typed within the document or hand-written, scanned and attached. When we receive those, you are emailed the following three steps together.

STEP TWO:

You study a simple concept designed to help you make constructive choices between listening and speaking during dialogue. Applying the concept is neither rocket-science nor is it common practice.

STEP THREE:

You compare your Step One responses with our analysis of them. This may take you anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours. We provide -

Our view of effective, appropriate responses in each case.
Suggestions and illustrations for comparison with your responses.
Examples of opportunities for improvement.
A guide to distinguishing and recording your strengths and targets for improvement.

You will then have at least four vital reference-points for development or consolidation of your current practices:

What you consider is constructive/effective communication, given time to carefully consider your responses.
What you know about your everyday real-life behaviours.
An understanding of constructive responses based on the concepts we advocate, to compare with yours.
Clarity about your strengths and opportunities for improvement.

STEP FOUR:

You are provided with URL access to target-setting and development planning documents, and our comprehensive range of guides and other resources to inform, plan and monitor your progress. These are designed to help you make immediate changes wherever this is easy for you, and incremental improvements to achieve more challenging, longer-term targets. We encourage you to aim at achieving groups of three changes at a time within a 12-month period of development.

NB: At any point you may email queries to Tom Watkins the programme's designer and author, if you need support with the process and your progress through it. If it appears that his responses will occupy more time than he is prepared to offer at no charge (for simple responses), Tom will advise you of fees that would apply if you wish to engage his online support.

Is this for you?

Hear and Be Heard is for those who recognise that responsibility for constructive interactions and harmonious relationships begins with improving their own behaviours and attitudes. People at all levels of responsibility find the programme establishes important reference-points for development, whatever their current interpersonal competence. It appeals to people who value and are open to -

Understanding and taking responsibility for our own part in the problems we experience with others.
Beginning improvement efforts with a focus on changing ourselves.
Treating ourselves and others respectfully.
Getting to the root causes of problems.
Clarifying personal values and ideals.
Planning and managing long-terms progress through small-step change.

Benefits

People who undertake the programme learn how to -

Enhance capacity for interacting cooperatively.
Determine problem ownership in interactions.
Determine the most appropriate response skills.
Speak so that others can easily listen and understand their needs, views, concerns or problems.
Listen so that others are heard and understood.
Increase sensitivity to others' needs whilst respecting their own.
Establish and hold boundaries with other people.
Deal with and negotiate around differences or conflict fairly and respectfully.
Respond constructively to others' distress, problems, criticism or hostility.
Apply these generic people-skills to leading, managing, supervising, coaching others' performance and giving constructive feedback.

Follow this link for further information about Hear and Be Heard, the programme on which this online process is based.

Click here to begin the self-appraisal process with your registration and payment.