By Steve Adubato, PhD

It's time to get serious about your CQ. That's right, IQ matters, but so does CQ, or your "Communication Quotient." What good is it if you are really smart but can't get your point across and connect with others? The most successful professionals are those with the best relationships, not always with the greatest intellect. But always, they are the best communicators.

In order to reach you potential as a communicator, you have to ask yourself some tough questions surrounding how you see your communication style as well as how those around you see it. Further, you need to follow-up and make a commitment to improve your communication weaknesses. So here we go. It is time to take the Steve Adubato / Star-Ledger Communication Inventory. (Be totally honest without sugarcoating your answers and take the test with an open mind and a positive "Hey, I want to improve my communication" attitude.)

• List three adjectives that best describe your communication style when dealing with those around you at work. Is your style significantly different at home? If so, how?

• What three adjectives do you think those closest to you would use to describe your communication style?

• Now it gets a little tricky. Select at least six, but no more than ten, people you work closely with (or family members) and ask them the following question; "What three adjectives would you use to describe my communication style?" Also ask respondents to provide specific examples to explain their answers. Then ask those same people to identify the communication skill that you most need to improve. If you want to provide confidentiality, ask them to type their responses and put them, unsigned, in a box.

• Now it is time to compare your answers to those around you. Where are the similarities? Where are the greatest differences? What was the biggest surprise or disappointment to you?

• Given these results, what one area do you need to improve in the way you communicate (or don't communicate) with those around you? For example; "I need to be a more patient listener." Or, "I would like to speak up more at meetings when I really have something to contribute."

• Time for action. Identify one specific situation where you can and more importantly, you will, practice getting better. What specific action are you going to take that will produce this improvement? For example, say you want to work on your listening skills: "In this week's staff meeting, I am going to work harder to concentrate to what others say and follow-up with specific questions. I'm also going to fight the urge to interrupt just because a thought comes into my mind." (Log on to my Web site www.stand-deliver.com for a list of back columns on numerous communication topics for you to pick from.)

• Finally, how specifically are you going to monitor or evaluate your communication progress in this area? Consider this suggestion. Three months from now, go back and ask those same people how they think you are doing. Ask, "On a scale from one to five, to what degree to you believe my communication skills regarding XYZ have improved in the last three months?" One is virtually no progress, and five means you are hitting a homerun. Also ask respondents to provide at least one concrete example to support their answer regardless of whether they give you a one or a five.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? Well, becoming a great communicator doesn't happen overnight and it's not easy. But the payoff is huge. Go ahead, take the test. What do you have to lose?