What is the outcome of committing to ongoing, consistent practice in correctional communication skills?

• A. Increased empathy
• B. No change
• C. Improvement in verbal and non-verbal skills
• D. Degradation

Answer: (C)

Consistent, ongoing practice builds and strengthens communication skills across both spoken language and body language. When you practice regularly, you become clearer in what you say, choose words more precisely, and regulate your tone, pace, and pauses. At the same time, your nonverbal cues—eye contact, posture, facial expressions, and gestures—become more aligned with your message. Over time, these improvements show up as better overall communication performance in corrections interactions, including clearer instructions, more effective de-escalation, and fewer misunderstandings.

While practice can influence empathy, the most direct and consistent outcome of ongoing, deliberate practice is improvement in verbal and non-verbal skills. The alternatives—no change or degradation—conflict with the established effect of sustained practice on performance.