You’re struggling to communicate with your team. How can you improve your self-evaluation skills?

1 Assess your communication style

The first step to improve your self-evaluation skills is to understand your own communication style and preferences. Do you tend to be assertive, passive, aggressive, or passive-aggressive? How do you express your opinions, emotions, and needs? How do you listen and respond to others? How do you handle conflicts and disagreements? By answering these questions, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator and set goals for improvement.

2 Seek feedback from others

The second step to improve your self-evaluation skills is to seek feedback from others who interact with you regularly, such as your team members, manager, or clients. Ask them how they perceive your communication style, what they appreciate and what they would like you to change. Be open and receptive to their opinions, and avoid being defensive or dismissive. Thank them for their honesty and use their feedback as a learning opportunity.

3 Use a feedback model

The third step to improve your self-evaluation skills is to use a feedback model that can help you structure your feedback in a clear, specific, and constructive way. One example of a feedback model is the SBI model, which stands for Situation, Behavior, and Impact. When giving feedback, you should describe the situation where the behavior occurred, the behavior itself, and the impact of the behavior on you, the team, or the project. When receiving feedback, you should listen carefully, ask clarifying questions, and summarize the main points.

4 Reflect on your actions

The fourth step to improve your self-evaluation skills is to reflect on your actions and their consequences after each communication situation. Ask yourself what went well and what could have been done differently. How did you feel and how did others react? What did you learn and what can you apply next time? By reflecting on your actions, you can increase your self-awareness and learn from your mistakes.

5 Practice your skills

The fifth step to improve your self-evaluation skills is to practice your skills regularly and deliberately. Look for opportunities to communicate with your team members in different settings and situations, such as meetings, emails, phone calls, or chats. Try to apply the feedback you received and the feedback model you learned. Seek more feedback and reflect on your progress. By practicing your skills, you can enhance your confidence and competence as a communicator.

6 Celebrate your achievements

The sixth step to improve your self-evaluation skills is to celebrate your achievements and recognize your efforts. Communication is a complex and dynamic skill that requires constant improvement and adaptation. You may not always get it right, but you can always learn and grow. Acknowledge your successes and challenges, and reward yourself for your improvement. By celebrating your achievements, you can motivate yourself and your team to keep communicating effectively.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?