Thank you for your interest in the Conversation Style Guide (CSG). The survey should take you about 10-15 minutes to complete. After you submit your responses, you will receive a customized report on your personal conversational style, its strengths and limitations.
Purpose of the Conversational Style Guide (CSG):
We each have a basic style of talking and listening. It's part of who you are, like your name or how you dress. Your "conversation style" is a collection of attitudes, habits, skills and preferences for relating to others in a way that is most natural and comfortable for you. The Conversation Style Guide is designed to help you understand your fundamental conversation style, your "default" mode, how you prefer to talk, listen, and relate.
Your style is one primary influence on how you converse. A second significant influence is the unique circumstance of any interaction - whom you are talking with, the roles and relationships involved, the topic, your mood, the setting, time available etc.
In any given conversation, the unique circumstances of the moment plus your default "conversation style" merge to determine how you will conduct yourself. Much of this happens subconsciously. The CSG will make this process more conscious by giving you insights into your unique style. As you become more aware of your default style, you can choose consciously to further develop and rely on that style, or you can explore ways to migrate to, or include aspects of, other styles. With increased awareness, you will make better, more conscious choices, thus becoming a more mindful, more skilled and more successful conversationalist.
Format
The questions in the CSG are divided into four sections:
1. One-on-one conversations
2. Group conversations
3. General Communication
4. Closing
Scope
For the purposes of this survey please consider ONLY conversations that are:
Real-Time (i.e. not using text messaging, email or other asynchronous means of communication. You may consider conversations that are not face-to-face but use technology, such as phone, video, real-tme connecting via computer apps etc.)
Adult-to-adult
Examples would include dinner with a friend, problem-solving with colleagues at work, a neighborhood party, meeting with your boss, a family reunion, waiting in line at the grocery store etc.
Your Approach to Answering
Don't overthink your answers. Usually, the first answer that feels right represents your most basic tendency. There are also spaces where you can write in any additional thoughts you wish.
l. ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS
For the questions below select the ONE item that best represents your typical behavior in ONE-ON-ONE conversation.
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements when in a one-on-one conversation.
ll. GROUP CONVERSATION
For the next set of questions, please answer in relation to being WITH A GROUP (3 OR MORE) PEOPLE.
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements with regard to A GROUP (3 OR MORE) PEOPLE..
lll. GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
Please select the answer(s) that most accurately reflects your view in each question.