The central and most common element in existing conceptualizations of communication competency is the concept of control, which suggests that competency is a function of the communicator's ability to exert influence over physical and social surroundings. This paper identifies six phases of the control process: goal specification, information acquisition, prediction making, strategy selection, strategy implementation, and environmental testing. A number of subphases within these general phases are also hypothesized. The paper contrasts this model of competency to several other views of competency, arguing that substantial ambiguity in explanations of communication competency arises from a tendency to supplement the control orientation with various components of value orientations, such as supportiveness, identity maintenance, empathy and perspective-taking, and self-disclosure. Needs for further research are noted, and a list of references is attached. (Author/RL)