Sam: Hey, Samantha, do you have any idea how I can apply for a job without writing an application letter?
Samantha: Umm, but why don’t you want to write an application letter?
Sam: Well, I am not good at it and I know I won’t get in if I write one.
Samantha: Okay, then be creative, record yourself and mail it to HR.
Sam: No. I don’t want that either, I am not comfortable showing up in front of a camera and speaking up like that.
Did you see what happened in this conversation? Sam is not confident about his writing and speaking skills. However, to apply for a job he needs to find the courage to get through this process.
Now you see how important your communication skills are. Right from the application process to the interview to finally taking part in meetings in your company and pitching ideas, you have to have good communication skills.
Why Good Communication Skills Are Important for Your Career?
10 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills
1. Be a Good Listener
The first step to honing communication skills is to listen to what is being said to you. Listening is a passive skill however, it is the foremost skill to becoming an efficient speaker. After all, when you listen keenly and understand what the other person is trying to convey, you’ll be in a better position to reply.
Listening with the intent to just respond to what is being said is not what we mean here. You have to observe the tone, the sentiments, and the purpose behind what is being said to you. Therefore, listen with an open heart and mind.
2. Penning Down the Thought and Ideas
Writing is the last yet important language skill. In your career growth, you have to hone your writing skills to be able to send emails, messages, and letters to the concerned people to convey your thoughts and ideas.
We are sure you don’t want to be like Sam who is afraid to send out an email for a job application. Being like Sam would mean putting a halt on your career even before it starts.
So, start working on your writing skills and share your ideas with the world and get feedback!
Leverage your social media platforms for the same.
3. Presenting Your Ideas Interestingly
You might have hundreds of brilliant ideas, but if you cannot interestingly present them then there is a high chance that most of them might get unnoticed.
“Without proper communication, even the greatest of ideas can easily go unnoticed, and eventually, wasted.”
So, what is the best way to present your ideas? By telling stories.
Humans have created and lived on stories for millions of years. If you can pitch your idea through storytelling and grab the listener’s attention then no one can stop you from excelling in your career.
Keep telling stories. Refine them and re-tell them!
4. Sharing Your Ideas Effectively
The next step to communication is to be able to express yourself in words. The simplest way is to be vocal about your ideas and thoughts.
If you can speak effectively and weave your words into meaningful sentences orally, then my friend you will win many hearts. Being able to express your opinions, thoughts, ideas, and feelings in a workplace helps you build rapport with colleagues and employers.
Therefore, knowing how to respond clearly and concisely using an appropriate tone and style gives you an upper hand in any industry.
5. Knowing When to Speak Up
An effective communicator knows when to speak and when to keep things to himself/herself.
You might be brilliant in your speaking, writing, and listening skills, however, if you don’t know when to use these skills appropriately, then you will be in a mess.
In your career, at the workplace, there will be times when you would want to burst out on someone but if you work on your communication skills and are aware of how to use these appropriately, you will think through the consequences of your burst out and take appropriate action to resolve conflicts.
6. Clearing Doubts
Asking appropriate questions is one such skill that will help you in the long run. Ask your clients, colleagues, and managers when in doubt or trouble.
Besides, there are jobs where all you have to do is ask questions. Such as in sales. You ask what your client needs and make them help you find solutions through their answers.
7. Using Inclusive Language
Living in the 21st century, you have diversity in terms of language, race, religion, gender, and whatnot. So, when you communicate you need to be conscious of the words you use to not hurt anyone.
Be aware of the backgrounds of people and if you are not sure of that, then use simple yet aware vocabulary.
8. Understanding others efficiently
A good communicator listens patiently and observes the non-verbal signals to get a holistic understanding of what is being said to them. Therefore, if you wish to hone your communication skills, you have to start understanding others’ opinions and be open to debates and discussions.
9. Forming Meaningful Relationships
Having great communication skills helps you form meaningful relationships with people. After all, when you are a great communicator you are empathetic and compassionate about others’ perspectives and opinions.
Therefore, good communication skills help you expand your network and form lasting relations with people around you.
10. Maintaining Order and Discipline
The way you converse with people around you helps you maintain order and discipline in the organization. Your tone and volume decide what impression your message will have on the audience. Use your communication skills to win hearts and make meaningful relationships.
Conclusion
Just remember that you are a human being and your communication skills set you apart from all the other species on this planet. Your communication skills define who you are and what you want to become. Besides, it is a learnable skill and all you have to do is work on it, daily.
FAQs
1. Why are communication skills important for your workplace?
Candidates with good communication skills are preferred rather than people who are not able to communicate properly or convey their thoughts. Communication skills are vital because sometimes employees are required to speak with clients, showcase a presentation or collaborate with colleagues on projects. So, to get the work done you must know how to communicate impressively and get the work done.
2. How to improve your written communication skills?
These are the ways by which you can improve your written communication skills:
- Write a descriptive subject line in your emails
- Always read the matter twice before responding
- Avoid grammatical errors
- Write short and simple sentences
- Do not write lengthy emails, keep them short and crisp
3. How to improve non-verbal communication skills?
These are the ways by which you can improve non-verbal communication skills:
- Make eye contact while speaking
- Avoid distraction
- Sit in the right posture
- Keep your hands on the table
- Do not cross your arms
- Pay complete attention to the person sitting in front of you
4. Why is self-awareness important while communicating with others?
Self-awareness is important while communicating because it helps us in keeping our emotions under control. Many people show up their emotions, such as sadness, anger, or happiness while communicating, but you cannot do the same while you are in your office attending a meeting or giving any presentation. You have to remain calm and composed and complete your task without creating any drama.
