Communication in the Workplace Quiz (AKA The Small Talk Test)

This quiz is designed to help you figure out just how advanced your interpersonal communication skills at work are. Are you being effective or just shooting yourself in the foot? A big part of understanding how to improve your communication skills is become aware that you may actually need a little help.

This quiz, also known as the Small Talk Test, is designed to be a challenging but simple approach to helping you get a better assessment of where you need to focus your skills growth laser-beam.

You can take this quiz alone and get some good information out of it, but this is primarily made to be used in conjunction with the “Just Say Something!” book on Amazon. This book is about overcoming the fear of using small talk as a useful communication tool for greater success in life, careers, and professional relationships.

The Assertive and Defensive Situational Types

If you’re here from the book, then great! You’ll be ready to jump right in and figure out just what kind of Small Talker you are. If you came here from another source, then welcome! There are a few “Assertive Types” of situations and “Defensive Types” of situations that you can apply your small talk skills to. Let’s detail those below:

For the Assertive Situation Types you’ll need to step your game up, make yourself count, and control the situation to create a win-win outcome for everyone. These situations usually end up good no matter what you do, but you want to take them to the next level and make them great.

Assertive Situation Types:

• Technicians
• Subject Matter Experts
• Management
• Executive Management
• Vendors
• Clients

For the Defensive Situation Types you’ll need to be on major guard to make sure the situation stays professional, doesn’t harm anyone, and keeps your future aspirations in mind. These situations almost always end in a bad outcome, but you want to transform them into positive situations.

Defensive Situation Types:

• Gossipers
• Chatty Chris’s
• Micromanagers
• Know It Alls

Ready to Take the Quiz?

If you’re ready to go through this short quiz and figure out your Small Talk Type, then get going. Good luck!

Communication in the Workplace Quiz Questions

1	Someone is talking negatively about a coworker in the break room, what should you do?
	Ignore them
	Listen to what they have to say
	Tell them to stop it
	Go get HR
	Start swinging fists
2	Your coworker has been recounting vacation stories for 30 minutes now, what do you do next?
	Add in your own stories
	Pretend to go asleep
	Turn around and start working
	Cue the end and excuse them
	Start copying what they say
3	Your project manager has asked you to change the font in paragraph 3 of your report again, how do you respond?
	Pretend you didn’t get the email
	Change the font and deliver the report
	Do the work then confront the manager
	Refuse and carry on
	Move to a different cube
4	An angry-looking co-workers chimes in again during a long meeting about how everyone was doing it wrong, what should you do?
	Call him a grump and move on
	Nod your head, pause, and then carry on
	Just keep on talking
	Throw a stapler at him
	Turn his point into a positive hint at a possible solution
5	The chemical technician on your project is looking for guidance on an experiment, how do you respond?
	Tell him to follow the directions and hurry up
	Insist he work with his management for answers
	Offer on the job training for him
	Write up a detailed report and email it to him
	Work with him to create a new set of better instructions
6	Your company’s resident scientist offers to help with your latest assignment, what do you do?
	Work with her schedule to get the needed information
	Accept a few hints, but don’t dive too deep
	Say you have it covered and keep working
	Call her a nerd and run away
	Recount stories of her last failed attempt to help
7	Your company’s CEO is at the supply cabinet and you’re walker her way. What do you do?
	Work your way into a brief discussion about the main contract
	Get right in her space and ask her how her day is going
	Wait until she’s done and then ask a super-quick question
	Ask for a pen while she’s in there
	Just stare until she decides to leave
8	The paper materials vendor is at the back door again and asking about getting more business, what do you say?
	Laugh and shrug it off as a joke
	Tell him you’ll get with Sales and see what’s possible
	Let him know you’ll personally guarantee it happens
	Ask about what you’re going to get out of it
	Sign the purchase order right then and there
9	A frantic client calls asking about the latest hardware delivery being broken, what now?
	Apologize, ask for a return shipment, and let him know your company will fix it ASAP
	Apologize and tell him all sales are final then hang up the phone
	Say you’re sorry and tell him to call Returns for the correct processing route
	See if you can solve the problem over the phone right now
	Chuckle, call him a sucker, and reassign him to your most hated coworker
10	Your new boss is having a hard time getting people to do their performance appraisals, what do you do?
	Defend your boss in times of need
	Go with the flow and ignore the performance appraisal
	Email your coworkers and let them know your manager could use some cooperation
	Talk with your manager about how best to approach this topic
	Walk into his offer and let him know performance appraisals are stupid
Congratulations – Your Small Talker Type is on the next page.