Success

The Top 5 Communication Skills that Can Help You Succeed More at Work

By Laurie Brown┃Posted: May 15, 2019

We often tend to ignore the value and importance of communication in our profession and at our workplace. In our daily routine, we all have to communicate with our peers, subordinates, and seniors, as well as internal and external customers, which makes effective communication skills a must-have.

Here are 5 of the most essential communication skills that you need to focus on:

1. Listening skills: This skill ranks topmost in the list. The ability to listen, understand, and reciprocate others’ views is considered essential in the corporate world. Listening shows that the other person's opinion is important, and that you’re willing to consider their thoughts while being open to new concepts and ideas. Even while speaking, an active listener will always pause for the audience's response, repeat it, and also ask questions that confirm their involvement in the ongoing conversation.

2. Verbal skills: This is one skill that can help you to navigate your way through daily meetings, one on one discussions and brainstorming sessions. Since people have less time to listen and attention spans are becoming shorter, it’s a good idea to present one's thoughts clearly and concisely, focusing on the most vital segments of the conversation. While undergoing training on communication skills, a lot of emphasis is given to the development of verbal skills that involve others and help develop mutual consensus.

3. Written skills: Modern businesses are primarily dependent on communication through emails, presentations, and social media. Writing clear and accurate emails is a great skill to acquire, irrespective of one’s business function. You should be able to focus on significant points without rambling and using irrelevant words or repeating them. It’s also necessary to use an appropriate tone without getting too casual, as this could destroy a perfectly good business association with any client.

4. Interpersonal communication skills: M aintaining a strong interpersonal relationship through effective communication is an immensely valuable asset for a person aspiring to make it to the top. Interpersonal skills help an individual to communicate not only at a business level but at a personal level too, thus taking the relationship a notch higher.

5. Presentation skills: As a busy corporate leader, a typical executive’s day is filled with meetings, video conferences, and presentations that contain a steady stream of ideas, information, or product details. A good presenter uses anecdotes, stories, and references to make a talk impactful and expressive. The complete focus rests on getting the desired outcome by impacting the audience in a positive way. Important ingredients of a memorable presentation include eye contact with the audience, a relaxed attitude, and a dash of humor.

However, remember that no great communicator in the corporate world is born with these skills. Acquiring these skills by attending training sessions and practicing them in real life scenarios is the key to mastering them.

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How professionals benefit from communication skills

Communication plays a key role in all facets of the business. Effective communication in the workplace starts with finding your own voice and the right tone of voice for your message. Business letters, memos and any other letters you write can benefit from an authoritative style. When you communicate well with clients and others within your industry, your professional peers will notice and you’ll climb through the ranks.

Effective speaking can help you to accomplish more

Workplace productivity is greatly improved through effective communication. In the business world, time is money. The ability to speak and communicate clearly will save you a lot of time. Moreover, excellent communication skills save you the trouble of having misunderstood communications with your team or clients that could potentially upset your work.

Opportunities are limitless for individuals who can speak clearly

Whether you’re trying to get your dream job or vying for a promotion, training on effective communication will help you achieve your goals. Employers and managers are constantly on the lookout for individuals who can articulately express themselves. Believe it or not, the way you communicate influences your performance at work and can help you become the ideal candidate for promotion or a new position.

Good communication skills help in solving problems quickly

It’s often said that effective communication can make difficulties disappear. Irrespective of the industry, everyone runs into problems in the workplace. In fact, some jobs are all about problem-solving, where such skills play a pivotal role.

In addition to the above, here are some other aspects of communications training:

Individuals become good salespeople: The marketplace today is flooded with innumerable products and services. Even though some products are better than others, they miss the limelight because the sales team lacks skills to communicate with the targeted market. With the help of training, individuals will be able to develop marketing and persuading skills.

Development of a personal brand is encouraged: To stand out in the crowd, it’s important to develop a personality of one’s own. Unless you have a personal brand that people can quickly identify when they look at you, you’re probably going to fall behind in the race and lose out on your dream job or promotion.

Improved personal and social relations: The workplace isn’t just for working, it’s also for networking and making friends. Without good communication skills, you won’t be able to mix with team members. As you improve your verbal and non-verbal skills, you’ll be able to develop and maintain better social and personal relations.

Consider additional training

Some are born talkers, while others need to develop skills through training. If you’re someone who lacks effective communication skills and finds it difficult to put your views across, you may consider doing some additional training in communication. In addition to improving the way you communicate, training will also help you feel more confident about yourself.