Step 1 Establish a Goal for Yourself
Goal 1. Something a person wants or works for; aim; purpose. 2. The end; the outcome. Synonyms: intent, aspiration, ambition, target, objective.
COM 102 Goal 1. An expressed intention to achieve greater communication competence through specific behaviors. 2. An opportunity to take the information from this course and apply it to your life. 3. An exciting component of the course which strengthens your relationships and contributes to your personal and professional happiness.
Achieving your COM 102 Goal Will:
1. Improve your relationships with others
2. Make you more promotable at work
3. Increase your self confidence
4. Motivate and inspire others
5. Help you reach other goals in your life
6. Attract other goal oriented people to you
Setting a COM 102 Goal:
1. First read the suggested course goals
guidance sheet to help identify what goal sounds like it would
be right for you (this is what you'll write your learning contract
about.)
2. Then, consult the Skills to Consider
chart to identify what skill(s) to practice to help you attain
your goal.
Resources: (Here are some resources that may help you achieve
your goal.)
1. COM 102 class, lecture and exercises
2. Your friends
3. A mentor/role model
4. Groups you belong to
5. Your family
6. Magazine articles
7. Books
8. Audio/video tapes
9. Workshops
10. Internet
11. Your text
Step 2 Write the Learning Contract Paper
Description - This paper asks you to think about what you would like to improve about your interpersonal communication. Think of an interpersonal communication goal that you would like to achieve. You will answer 4 questions about your goal. Number you paper to indicate which question you are answering.
Evaluation This paper will be evaluated based on your thoroughness in responding to the questions. It will also be evaluate based on your correct us of spelling, grammar and punctuation. Please proofread you paper.
How Papers are Graded:
20 - 18 A 100% - 90% shows creativity; in- depth understanding
of concepts
17 - 16 B 89% - 80% shows some creativity and understanding
15 - 14 C 79% - 70% meets assignment - basically
answers the questions in the application guideline
13 - 12 D 69% - 60% partially fails to meet assignment
11 - 0 F 59% - 0% fails to meet half of assignment
requirements
Answer These Questions: (5 points each)
1. What is your specific interpersonal communication course goal?
2. Why did you choose this goal? What problems (dissatisfactions) are you currently experiencing because you are not using this particular communication behavior?
3. Who do you know that is good at this skill? Tell me about how they use this skill. What do you admire about them as it pertains to this skill?
4. What will be different in your life if you achieve this
goal, i.e. what changes and/or benefits would you like to see?
Who else (specifically) in your life do you think will benefit
from you learning this new skill? (Please don't say, "Everyone
I meet will benefit from my new-found skill." We'd like you
to identify someone close to you or someone you interact with
often that will appreciate the growth you've made.)
Sample
LEARNING CONTRACT
Learning Contract
Name of Student (thanks for letting me use your paper!)
1. My specific interpersonal communication course goal is to build supportive communication climates.
2. I chose this goal because I want to be better able to interact
with people, to develop relationships that are supportive and
open. It seems every year at appraisal time the recurring theme
is that the parents in my class do not feel they can approach
me or talk to me. I have difficulty seeing both sides, and tend
to push my side as being right. This leads the parents, and even
my coworkers, to feel uneasy when it comes to sharing ideas, concerns,
or suggestions with me. I tend to focus too much on myself, and
not allow others to open up and share in a way that can be supportive
to both of us. I have difficulty opening up to others. I need
to find a way to show others that I want to talk to them, help
them, and that I value what they have to say.
At work, it is very important that the parents of the children
in my class feel that they can talk to me, that I convey to them
an openness to allow them to share and discuss any concerns with
me. I need to be able to show them I'm trustworthy and knowledgeable
in a way that doesn't come across as demeaning or cold. The same
is true for my personal life. I think that if I learned how to
be more open with myself, as well as more open to other ideas,
I would have better, stronger, more fulfilling relationships.
3. I have a coworker who is excellent at getting people to
trust her and open up to her. She has a way about her that lets
people know she cares and will work with them. The parents in
her class listen to her and value what she has to say. When she
talks to others, not just parents, but coworkers also, she doesn't
just talk, but she listens too. She asks open-ended questions,
and tries to find out their side of the story. I admire the way
that she draws them into communicating with her by gaining an
understanding of their point of view, trying to look at the problem
from their standpoint, not just her own. In the end, she always
manages to get the other person to see her side too. They may
not always agree, but they can work together to find some common
ground. People like talking to her, and respect her.
4. If I achieve this goal, the first thing that would be different
would be my job performance. I will be better able to develop
strong, trusting relationships with the parents in my class, as
well as with my coworkers. I will have more influence over decisions
that are made because I will be able to see both sides of an issue.
The parents will want to talk to me because we will be able to
work with them to solve problems and better meet the needs of
the children. My boss will not have to worry about stepping in
and helping ease tensions between me and the parents. My appraisal
will be more positive, and I will feel better about my performance
overall. It will also help me to get promoted. My long-term career
goal is to be an administrator. By being a more effective communicator,
I will be better prepared to meet this goal.
As for my personal life, my friends and coworkers will be able
to trust me and will like talking to me. And, my relationships
with my friends and family will be stronger and more meaningful.
The last romantic relationship I had fell apart because of my
lack of open communication. I may not be able to fix that relationship,
but I will be able to open up and be more supportive in the next
one. I may just run into Mr. Right soon, and this time I will
be able to talk to him in a way that lets him know I value him,
and that I'm someone he should want to get to know.
Last updated on 12/22/00
Please contact Chris Murphy for comments, suggestions, etc. regarding this site, E-Mail chris.murphy@wright.edu