Big Five Personality Traits and Assertiveness do not Affect Mastery of Communication Skills

Abstract

BackgroundMastering communication skills is often emphasized as an important aspect of job or academic performance. However, research into the relationships between personality factors and these skills is scarce. PurposeThis study investigated whether the big-five personality factors and assertiveness predict mastery of communication skills before and after following communication skills training. MethodThe skills level of 143 psychology students was assessed after two communication skills courses, namely a basic and an advanced communication skills training. Personality factors were assessed with the Five Factor Personality Inventory and the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior. ResultsParticipants showed substantial progress in their mastery of the communication skills after both courses. Surprisingly, none of the personality factors predicted the level of mastery of these skills. DiscussionThis seems to imply that trainees can become professional communicators, regardless of their scores on these personality factors.