5A. Covert Rehearsal is an effective way of trying out new communication behaviors. Think about a time that you were daydreaming, or dreaming at night. You can use your imagination to think about an experience or situation that is not really happening at that time or in that place. You can do the same type of simulation on purpose to think about a time and place that will allow you to practice your new interpersonal communication skill to meet your goal as outlined in your new behaviors listed in CCC Part 4E.
Choose one or more behaviors to work on that are listed in CCC Part 4E. Choose a communication event that you would like to prepare for privately or secretly – covertly. As you imagine yourself practicing your new skill, focus hard
How will your physical surroundings affect your rehearsal?
5B. Covert Practice: In a quiet place, begin thinking about the conversation event from Part 5A, as you’d like to see it evolve. Plan and write down your nonverbal and verbal behaviors and responses, including your own behaviors and responses and the reactions of the other person in the communication event.
When you hit rough spots, try a variety of options until you find a response that pleases you. If you are having trouble with this, pretend you are an author planning to write the dialogue for a reality TV episode, or you are composing lines for characters in a play or movie or book. Use the mirror technique and take turns roleplaying both people in the conversation. You can also use puppets, stuffed animals, socks on your hands, or different hats or coats to take the parts of two people having a conversation.
What can you see in the background? The scenery department needs to know how to create the setting for the play, movie, or reality TV show. The illustrator needs to know what to draw or paint for the book you are writing. You need to know exactly what type of situation you are dealing with before you can write the dialogue for the characters.
When you’re satisfied with your imagined scene, write it out so you can see how it looks and read it