Nick Wygant

Personal Change Proposal

COMM 2110
6/5/2017

Goal: To help eliminate or reduce my communication apprehension pg.42 and be

able to comfortably talk with those that I do not know and are meeting for the first time
or in front of crowds. I will try to speak clearly with a meaningful voice and not have
any fear.

Rationale: When you have communication apprehension, it can hinder your

communication with the people you are trying to communicate with and the way you
talk to them will not be efficient and could lead to listener apprehension pg. 130. I
have had communication apprehension since I was about 4 or 5. I believe that it was
hereditary. My parents were introverted and also had communication apprehension
when it came to talking to my teachers or parents of friends. I think that by observing
this behavior, it became the way that I communicated with everyone that talked to. My
parents were that way and I was never corrected in my communication skills and didn't
learn proper techniques to assist in my communication with others. I would like to
overcome this and become an "other-oriented" communicator.

Strategies: When the Personal Change Report is due, I will have followed these
strategies at least 60% of the time.

1. "Active Listening" (Beebe, p. 137) I will try not to daydream or tune out the person
that I am communicating with. I will strive to listen with intent, so that they are aware
of my engagement in the conversation.

2. "Willingness to Communicate" (Beebe, p. 42) I will try to speak with random

people in different locations and situations, people that I have never spoke with before
and open a dialog of conversation.

3. "Extraversion" (Beebe, p.41) I will strive to make this part of my personality as

much as possible, I know it is a long shot but I believe a personality trait worth going
for. This strategy is going to be the most difficult I believe to implement into my
communication style. I am hoping that by practicing it over and over it becomes almost
like muscle memory and it will become part of my personality.

Implementation: I am going to go out a lot more often, at least twice a week, to a new
place and open a conversation with someone that I have never met before. I will start
the conversation and practice all of my strategies. I will keep practicing my
strategies even when I am talking with people that I have conversations with every
day. I will then ask some of the people that I have never met before about how they
perceive my communication and ask for feedback and constructive criticism. I will also
talk with my family and co-workers to see if they have noticed any changes in the way
that I communicate and interact with other people in conversations. I will then ask for
their input and constructive criticism of how I communicate with them on a daily basis.

Works Cited: Beebe, S., Beebe S., & Redmond M. (2014). Interpersonal
Communication: Relating to Others (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson Publishers.