Professional Communication Competency Milestone

Professional Communication Model

Effective communicators contemplate the reasons for the communication, the best method for delivering the communication, and the identities and preferences of the recipient(s) with a commitment to effectuate an exchange that is genuine and useful to all.

Effective communicators exchange information with purpose, accuracy, clarity, and awareness, while engaging thoughtfully to assess and modify their content and delivery throughout the communication process.

Professional Communication Sub-Competency

Sub-Competencies	Rarely	Sometimes	Usually	Consistently
Purposeful. The communicator is purposeful in identifying specific goals for the communication and in choosing and competently using a medium/platform(s), and effecting a tone and behaviors, best suited to achieving the goal(s). Additionally, the communicator is attentive and responsive to recipients, adapting medium, tone, behaviors, and content to most effectively and appropriately engage and exchange with recipients.	The communicator is rarely purposeful.	The communicator is sometimes purposeful.	The communicator is usually purposeful.	The communicator is consistently purposeful.
Clear. The communicator is clear, choosing words, construction, and concepts precisely, and organizing them concisely, to most effectively convey the information intended without wordiness or redundancy, and using words and concepts that are likely to be understandable to reasonably foreseen recipient(s).	The communicator is rarely clear.	The communicator is sometimes clear.	The communicator is usually clear.	The communicator is consistently clear.
Accurate. The communicator is accurate, exchanging information with attentiveness to detail and with an ethical honesty that is error free and implements best practices in format and structure for communicating on the chosen medium/platform.	The communicator is rarely accurate.	The communicator is sometimes accurate.	The communicator is usually accurate.	The communicator is consistently accurate.
Aware. The communicator is aware, exercising good judgment and making deliberate choices in content, form, and delivery that aim to be without bias, prejudice or assumptions, and demonstrate awareness of and respect for the relationship between the communicator and recipient, the personal, cultural, and professional identity of the recipient, and the conventions and expectations of the applicable organization/industry/employer/school/recipient.	The communicator is rarely aware.	The communicator is sometimes aware.	The communicator is usually aware.	The communicator is consistently aware.

Purposeful Communication Sub-Competency

Purposeful Communication	Rarely	Sometimes	Usually	Consistently
The communicator thoughtfully and deliberately identifies specific goal(s) for communicating with the recipient(s) (e.g., to persuade, inform, seek assistance, thank, empathize, inspire).	The communicator rarely thoughtfully and deliberately identifies specific goal(s) for communicating with the recipient(s).	The communicator sometimes thoughtfully and deliberately identifies specific goal(s) for communicating with the recipient(s).	The communicator usually thoughtfully and deliberately identifies specific goal(s) for communicating with the recipient(s).	The communicator consistently thoughtfully and deliberately identifies specific goal(s) for communicating with the recipient(s).
The communicator chooses, and competently uses, a medium(s)/platform(s) best suited for communicating and achieving the intended goals.	The communicator rarely chooses, and competently uses, a medium(s)/ platform(s) best suited for communicating and achieving the intended goals.	The communicator sometimes chooses, and competently uses, a medium(s)/ platform(s) best suited for communicating and achieving the intended goals.	The communicator usually chooses, and competently uses, a medium(s)/ platform(s) best suited for communicating and achieving the intended goals.	The communicator consistently chooses, and competently uses, a medium(s)/ platform(s) best suited for communicating and achieving the intended goals.
The communicator effects a tone and behaviors (e.g., body language, etc.) that are best suited for communicating and achieving intended goals.	The communicator rarely effects a tone and behaviors that are best suited for communicating and achieving intended goals.	The communicator sometimes effects a tone and behaviors that are best suited for communicating and achieving intended goals.	The communicator usually effects a tone and behaviors that are best suited for communicating and achieving intended goals.	The communicator consistently effects a tone and behaviors that are best suited for communicating and achieving intended goals.
The communicator is attentive to recipient cues, responses, and feedback, adapting medium, tone, behaviors, and content to most effectively and appropriately engage with and respond to recipients.	The communicator is rarely attentive to recipient cues, responses, and feedback, adapting medium, tone, behaviors, and content to most effectively and appropriately engage with and respond to recipients.	The communicator is sometimes attentive to recipient cues, responses, and feedback, adapting medium, tone, behaviors, and content to most effectively and appropriately engage with and respond to recipients.	The communicator is usually attentive to recipient cues, responses, and feedback, adapting medium, tone, behaviors, and content to most effectively and appropriately engage with and respond to recipients.	The communicator is consistently attentive to recipient cues, responses, and feedback, adapting medium, tone, behaviors, and content to most effectively and appropriately engage with and respond to recipients.

Clear Communication Sub-Competency

Clear Communication	Rarely	Sometimes	Usually	Consistently
The communicator uses words and concepts that are understandable to reasonably expected recipient(s).	The communicator rarely uses words and concepts that are understandable to reasonably expected recipients(s).	The communicator sometimes uses words and concepts that are understandable to reasonably expected recipients(s).	The communicator usually uses words and concepts that are understandable to reasonably expected recipients(s).	The communicator consistently uses words and concepts that are understandable to reasonably expected recipients(s).
The communicator is precise, using words, construction, and concepts that most effectively convey the information intended.	The communicator is rarely precise, using words, construction, and concepts that most effectively convey the information intended.	The communicator is sometimes precise, using words, construction, and concepts that most effectively convey the information intended.	The communicator is usually precise, using words, construction, and concepts that most effectively convey the information intended.	The communicator is consistently precise, using words, construction, and concepts that most effectively convey the information intended.
The communicator is concise, so that the communication is without wordiness and redundancies.	The communicator is rarely concise, so that the communication is without wordiness and redundancies.	The communicator is sometimes concise, so that the communication is without wordiness and redundancies.	The communicator is usually concise, so that the communication is without wordiness and redundancies.	The communicator is consistently concise, so that the communication is without wordiness and redundancies.
The communicator presents information in an organized structure that is logical and that effectively conveys main point(s) and supporting information in a way that the recipient(s) can follow.	The communicator rarely presents information in an organized structure that is logical and that effectively conveys main point(s) and supporting information in a way that the recipient(s) can follow.	The communicator sometimes presents information in an organized structure that is logical and that effectively conveys main point(s) and supporting information in a way that the recipient(s) can follow.	The communicator usually presents information in an organized structure that is logical and that effectively conveys main point(s) and supporting information in a way that the recipient(s) can follow.	The communicator consistently presents information in an organized structure that is logical and that effectively conveys main point(s) and supporting information in a way that the recipient(s) can follow.

Accurate Communication Sub-Competency

Accurate Communication	Rarely	Sometimes	Usually	Consistently
The communicator exchanges content (e.g., facts, law, dicta, quotations, data, opinions) with attention to detail and ethical honesty.	The communicator rarely exchanges content with attention to detail and commitment to ethical honesty.	The communicator sometimes exchanges content with attention to detail and commitment to ethical honesty.	The communicator usually exchanges content with attention to detail and commitment to ethical honesty.	The communicator consistently exchanges content with attention to detail and commitment to ethical honesty.
The communicator exchanges information that is error free in its use of grammar, mechanics (e.g., capitalization, punctuation, spelling), and pronunciations.	The communicator rarely exchanges information that is error free in its use of grammar, mechanics (e.g., capitalization, punctuation, spelling), and pronunciations.	The communicator sometimes exchanges information that is error free in its use of grammar, mechanics (e.g., capitalization, punctuation, spelling), and pronunciations.	The communicator usually exchanges information that is error free in its use of grammar, mechanics (e.g., capitalization, punctuation, spelling), and pronunciations.	The communicator consistently exchanges information that is error free in its use of grammar, mechanics (e.g., capitalization, punctuation, spelling), and pronunciations.
The communicator implements the standards/best practices for format (i.e., appearance and layout) and structure (i.e., organization of content/ideas) of the exchange based on the chosen medium / platform / technology.	The communicator rarely implements the standards/best practices for format and structure of the exchange based on the chosen medium / platform / technology.	The communicator sometimes implements the standards/best practices for format and structure of the exchange based on the chosen medium / platform / technology.	The communicator usually implements the standards/best practices for format and structure of the exchange based on the chosen medium / platform / technology.	The communicator consistently implements the standards/best practices for format and structure of the exchange based on the chosen medium / platform / technology.

Aware Communication Sub-Competency

Aware Communication	Rarely	Sometimes	Usually	Consistently
The communicator makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the relationship between the communicator and the recipient(s) (e.g., associate to partner, law student to professor) and follow relevant confidentiality rules.	The communicator rarely makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the relationship between the communicator and the recipient(s) and follow relevant confidentiality rules.	The communicator sometimes makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the relationship between the communicator and the recipient(s) and follow relevant confidentiality rules.	The communicator usually makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the relationship between the communicator and the recipient(s) and follow relevant confidentiality rules.	The communicator consistently makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the relationship between the communicator and the recipient(s) and follow relevant confidentiality rules.
The communicator makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the personal, cultural, and professional identities of the recipient(s).	The communicator rarely makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the personal, cultural, and professional identities of the recipient(s).	The communicator sometimes makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the personal, cultural, and professional identities of the recipient(s).	The communicator usually makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the personal, cultural, and professional identities of the recipient(s).	The communicator consistently makes deliberate decisions in content, form, and delivery that demonstrate awareness of and respect for the personal, cultural, and professional identities of the recipient(s).
The communicator is self-aware of thoughts, emotions, assumptions, and judgments, makes deliberate decisions in order to communicate without bias or prejudice, and refrains from making unsupported assumptions about the recipient(s).	The communicator is rarely self-aware of thoughts, emotions, assumptions, and judgments, rarely makes deliberate decisions in order to communicate without bias or prejudice, and rarely refrains from making unsupported assumptions about the recipient(s).	The communicator is sometimes self-aware of thoughts, emotions, assumptions, and judgments, sometimes makes deliberate decisions in order to communicate without bias or prejudice, and sometimes refrains from making unsupported assumptions about the recipient(s).	The communicator is usually self-aware of thoughts, emotions, assumptions, and judgments, usually makes deliberate decisions in order to communicate without bias or prejudice, and usually refrains from making unsupported assumptions about the recipient(s).	The communicator is consistently self-aware of thoughts, emotions, assumptions, and judgments, consistently makes deliberate decisions in order to communicate without bias or prejudice, and consistently refrains from making unsupported assumptions about the recipient(s).
The communicator follows organizational and temporal conventions effectively, meaning the communicator exercises good judgment in selecting the medium/platform and timing that meet expectations of the applicable organization / industry / employer / recipient(s) and are appropriate for the context.	The communicator rarely follows organizational and temporal conventions effectively, meaning the communicator rarely exercises good judgment in selecting the medium/platform and timing that meet expectations of the applicable organization / industry / employer / recipient(s) and are appropriate for the context.	The communicator sometimes follows organizational and temporal conventions effectively, meaning the communicator sometimes exercises good judgment in selecting the medium/platform and timing that meet expectations of the applicable organization / industry / employer / recipient(s) and are appropriate for the context.	The communicator usually follows organizational and temporal conventions effectively, meaning the communicator usually exercises good judgment in selecting the medium/platform and timing that meet expectations of the applicable organization / industry / employer / recipient(s) and are appropriate for the context.	The communicator consistently follows organizational and temporal conventions effectively, meaning the communicator consistently exercises good judgment in selecting the medium/platform and timing that meet expectations of the applicable organization / industry / employer / recipient(s) and are appropriate for the context.