How a Communication Skills Test Will Tell You What You Didn’t Know

Ever taken one of those communication skills tests? 

These can actually reveal what you didn’t know by offering objective feedback on many of your unconscious and subtle communication habits, which you simply can’t assess yourself. 

The test can help identify areas of improvement in your communication, empowering you to be more successful, both now and in the future.

In both professional and personal circles, communication is often referred to as the lifeblood of everything from relationships and careers to communities and personal wellbeing. 

We all need to communicate effectively on a day-to-day basis through speech, visual cues, gestures, written text, and even silence. 

Since communication is so casually ingrained in everyday life, most folks assume that they are already good at it, likely based on the reactions they receive when communicating with others. 

However, much like any other passive activity which you engage in without thinking too much (such as driving or cooking), communicating every day doesn’t mean that you are doing it effectively. In fact, for the vast majority of people, there’s lots of untapped potential and areas of improvement. 

This brings us to using a communication skills test like this one from ZandaX (which is good because it’s accurate … and free!) – specifically, how it can help you uncover areas of improvement, discover negative habits, and more. 

Taking a Communication Skills Test to discover what you didn’t know

Discover the nuances of communication beyond just ‘good’ or ‘bad’

When you ask most people about classifying their communication skills, they tend to choose one of the following:

• Good 
• Average 
• Bad or Poor

This overly simplistic assessment misses many of the nuances of communication, such as:

• Verbal ability – Your choice of words, clarity in speech, and pacing
• Listening skills – Actively processing what is being heard rather than simply listening to better understand what someone is saying
• Nonverbal cues – Gestures, posture, body language, eye contact, and micro-expressions
• Emotional intelligence – How empathetically you are able to respond and manage your emotions during an interaction

A communication skills assessment breaks down all these components, providing detailed insights into each. You might believe that you’re a great communicator (and you may very well be) because of how confidently you speak in, say, meetings. But the test might reveal how you need to bring up your active listening skills. 

Recognise blind spots

Yes, indeed – even in communication, there are blind spots. 

For instance, you might think that you’re assertive while others might perceive you as aggressive or passive-aggressive. 

You may consider yourself to be a good listener but have a tendency to interrupt people without acknowledging it. 

Tests like these serve as a mirror of sorts – they help you reflect on how your communication habits and/or style are perceived in practice, not just how you understand or perceive them. 

Communication blind spots can adversely affect relationships, put a cap on career growth, and even limit your potential for reaching leadership status at the workplace. Without a structured evaluation that a test provides, you may never uncover these blind spots. 

Choose objective feedback over subjective assumptions

While most of your friends, family members, and colleagues would eagerly offer you feedback on your communication abilities and skills, chances are their responses will include some form of personal bias. 

In fact, some may not want to hurt your feelings and sing nothing but praise, while others might jump at the chance to criticise you!

By taking the communication skill test, however, you get objective feedback. The standardised criteria, data, and at times, simulations, ensure that you gain insight into the various aspects of communication. 

This level of objectivity also ensures that results are reliable as opposed to mere subjective opinions, helping you see the difference between perception and reality. 

Discover strengths you never knew you had

Interestingly, tests like these don’t just reveal weaknesses and areas of improvement, they also show you the strengths you may have underestimated or didn’t know you had in you. 

For instance, you may discover that your storytelling and narration skills are much more impressive than you had believed, making you great at corporate presentations. 

Perhaps, your calm demeanor and empathetic tone make you an excellent negotiator and well-versed in conflict resolution. 

Discovering such strengths can boost confidence, helping you make better career and personal choices. 

Learn the impact of communication on your professional life

In a professional setting, communication is among the top skills recruiters and managers look for. Whether you are responsible for leading a team, handling client concerns, or pitching ideas to stakeholders, your ability to effectively communicate can almost guarantee positive results. 

When you take a communication skills test, you understand the various areas of improvement before recruiters or managers even question them, including:

• Am I speaking too much or dominating during meetings without giving others a chance or space to contribute their ideas and thoughts?
• Are my written communications too long-winded and difficult to follow?
• Am I struggling with anxiety when engaging in public speaking?

By identifying these issues (before recruiters do), you can start to work on them. This not only preserves your professional reputation but also helps you further your career. Plus, taking the test can give you an edge over your peers or other candidates by helping you discover additional skills: cross-cultural adaptability or persuasive speaking, for example. 

Conclusion: Seeing the Bigger Picture for Lifelong Growth

Communication isn’t a static thing. It evolves with your experiences, the environment you’re in, and the technology you interact with. 

Do you recall how communication dynamics changed during the pandemic? It shifted from face-to-face to video calls, messaging, and other digital channels. You may have had great communication skills in-person, but you might have realised how you needed to work on them in a different context. 

Taking the test isn’t a one-time event either. It’s part of a lifelong journey towards growth and fulfilment. Regular assessments help track your progress, adapt your strategies, and ensure that you are always improving in a constantly changing world. 

We live in a world where attention spans are always dwindling. Connections and clarity now matter more than ever. Investing some time in understanding and refining your communication is one of the smartest life decisions you can make.