Do you want to stand out from the competition, get hired, land a promotion, or be a success throughout your career? According to Corporate Class Inc., you need to have mastery over your communication skills to get ahead.
In this post, we’ll discuss some of the most important communication skills that are a must for a successful career:
Non-verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication includes everything that is not being spoken in words. Often, this is more effective and carries a stronger message across to the other person. Non-verbal communication includes gestures such as appropriate eye contact, hand movement, and tone of voice all of which impress the message that is being conveyed. An open stance, with a relaxed friendly tone of voice, will make you appear more approachable. Similarly, eye contact will indicate that you are interested in the conversation.
Listening
A good communicator needs to be an avid listener. Communication is a two-way process and no one appreciates talking with someone who is only putting down his or her ideas without giving the time to listen to the other person first. Train yourself to practice active listening. Active listening involves paying close attention, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the other person has just said.
Confidence
Confidence showcases the quality of leadership, indicating that you believe in what you’re saying and will get the job done. There is a fine line between confidence and being aggressive and arrogant. So, always empathize and listen to the other person to understand their point of view.
Respect
For better communication, it is a must to show respect for others and their ideas. Incorporating simple actions like making eye contact, using the person’s name, and actively listening when a person speaks will make them feel respected and appreciated. Similarly, if you are communicating via email, take time to edit and send a well thought, and structured email.
Open-mindedness
Open-mindedness is a must-have communication skill that is required to engage in conversation with people who have an opposing point of view. You’ll need this skill to handle disagreement and conclude with productive conversations. Be open to listening to and understanding the other person’s point of view, instead of just getting your message across.
Feedback
Giving feedback is a vital communication skill. Furthermore, when given appropriately and promptly it can help sub-ordinates enhance their productivity. Supervisors and managers should continuously look for ways to provide employees with constructive feedback, be it through a phone call, email, or weekly updates. Likewise, accepting feedback is also a skill. Steps should be taken to understand the feedback, ask clarifying questions, and make efforts to implement the feedback.
Empathy
It is important to show empathy to others during a conversation. Simple sentences like “I understand where you are coming from” show that you are actively listening and respect the other person’s opinion. Starting the conversation with some light-hearted questions, talking about the weather, and exchanging pleasantries is always a good way to set the stage for a nice conversation.
To conclude, engage in conversation that exchanges just enough information, not too much, nor too little. Get the message across in as few words as required. Also, the words chosen must be clear, direct, and concise. If you ramble on, it will be difficult for listeners to pay attention, and they will lose your core message mid-way during the conversation. Always think ahead before you speak. This will help you keep your audience engaged.