Week 4: Verbal Communication & Message Design
Message Makeover
Instructions
This activity helps you practice transforming unclear or aggressive messages into clear, assertive ones. Take 20-25 minutes to work through each prompt, focusing on specific language choices.
1Practice Prompt
Transform this aggressive you-statement into a complete I-statement: 'You always interrupt me when I'm trying to make a point. It's so rude!' Write out all four components (behavior, feeling, impact, request).
Remember: describe the behavior neutrally, own your feeling, explain the impact on you, and make a clear request.
2Practice Prompt
Identify the language barrier in this message and rewrite it for clarity: 'We need to synergize our bandwidth to leverage core competencies and drive stakeholder engagement.' Translate this into plain, concrete language.
Ask yourself: What does this actually mean? What specific actions are being requested?
3Practice Prompt
Think of a real situation where language caused a misunderstanding in your life. Describe what was said, how it was misinterpreted, and how clearer language could have prevented the problem.
Consider instances of bypassing, abstraction, or ambiguity.
4Practice Prompt
Write two versions of a message asking a roommate to do their dishes: one passive, one assertive. Then analyze: What makes the assertive version more likely to get a positive response?
Focus on being direct but respectful in the assertive version.