No matter what job profile it is, what company or industry it is, communication skills are crucial everywhere. These skills include the essential ability to initiate and maintain conversations, certain traits and knowledge that assists you in sharing and receiving information.
Whether you are sending emails, making client calls, writing a press release, or simply speaking to your colleagues, it all requires some critical communication skills. This article will guide you regarding communication skills for the workplace.
1. Active listening
While listening is essential, it is even more important to listen actively. What does that mean? Active listening involves listening so that you retain the matter, understand the motives and intent of the speaker, try to fathom their emotions and feelings. This type of listening avoids miscommunication and helps build stronger relations.
You not only listen but also pay close attention to the other person’s body language, tone, and other cues. For example, ensure that you make eye contact, turn towards them, nod when necessary, and respond appropriately.
2. Clarity
This is not just a critical communication skill in the workplace but in general as well. You must have clarity over what you wish to convey and then convey it well to the other person. If you have a presentation coming up, the preparation of clarity can take several days. Still, it must come to you naturally in daily conversations, or you will leave the person utterly confused. This can result in a lot of mess in the workplace.
3. Audience awareness
This is another key communication skill to keep in mind. It would help if you prepared presentations, lectures, and even simple topics for conversation, keeping your audience in mind. Tailoring the content along with other verbal and non-verbal cues helps achieve the motive of the conversation.
4. Method and tone of communication
There is such a thing as appropriate words and tones, considering the people you are interacting with. In a professional environment that prevails in the workplace, it is best to maintain a polite but crisp and clear tone while communicating. The method and technique tend to differ depending on whether you interact with potential customers, colleagues, or superiors.
5. Emotional intelligence and empathy
Emotional intelligence, that is, being in tune with your own emotions and that of the other, is a key communication skill. This ability results in empathy and increases the chance of a conversation where both parties understand one another. This creates a healthy and productive work environment.
6. Few other important skills
- A key skill is to give and receive constructive feedback
- Be aware of body language and its importance in any form of communication
- Presentation and public speaking
To sum up
No matter which workplace you go to in any corner of the world, you need to have some basic communication skills to be successful. This article has listed some of the key communication skills you must keep in mind and consciously train yourself to excel.
About the Author
Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to joining BCJobs.ca, Simon was an advisor for several global blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM, and Ripple. In the past, he also worked with Fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space through SM Digital—a global marketing agency.
