Introduction
We, humans, cannot live alone. We are always involved with someone else throughout the day. That someone may be a family member, a lover, a friend, a school teacher, a clerk at a supermarket or convenience store, or any other person we meet and talk with. At that time, the ability to communicate is important. There are people in this world who are not good at communicating. So, how can we improve our communication skills?
What are communication skills?
One of the basic human skills is the ability to communicate, which is necessary for a more accurate and solid delivery and understanding of information. The ability to communicate can be many things. It can be vocal, visual, non-verbal, or written. Communicative competence is a soft skill that is essential for us to be great at our jobs. Communication, the process by which people talk to each other, consists of several methods. It is the transmission of meaning from one thing to another through the use of understood symbols, rules, and so on. Communicative competence is the activity of accepting many kinds of information in our daily lives. For example, when we are working, there are many examples of how we communicate our opinions about a situation to our colleagues, how we add new information to a project we are participating in, and how we express how we feel when we are involved. There are four main communication skills: speaking, listening, observing, and empathizing, which are reflected in digital communication, such as social networking and e-mail, due to the digitalization that has developed recently (Khullar, 2022).
How to develop communication skills
1. Be clear and concise.
2. Prepare ahead of time.
3. Be mindful of nonverbal communication.
4. Watch your tone.
5. Practice active listening.
6. Build your emotional intelligence.
7. Develop a workplace communication strategy.
8. Create a positive organizational culture (Emerson, 2021).
What you gain by improving your communication skills
There are four benefits to be gained by improving your communication skills.
Trust
Improved communication skills can help build trust. For example, being receptive to other people’s opinions and conversations, suggesting alternatives during discussions, etc. It is likewise important to set goals for yourself and show that you will achieve them.
Better relationships
In order to build a mutually respectful relationship, it is important to listen to what the other person or other people have to say and to express your own thoughts and feelings in response. Perhaps it is the little things, such as returning messages and calls from the other person that may be more important than thought. Such actions may make people feel as if they are being treated well.
Problem-solving
The ability to communicate has an important role in being able to solve problems. When something happens, it is an important means to listen to everyone’s opinions and feelings, to provide a forum for discussion to resolve the problem, or to make a suggestion that may lead to a solution.
Better conflict handling
Conflicts are usually caused by a lack of communication. In order to build better relationships and avoid conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary for everyone to be open and to talk to one another in a way that is appropriate for each person.
Remember, the communication methods you regularly use will not always work. All people are different. There is a way of behaving that suits each person. So, don’t let opportunities to improve your communication skills disappear. By doing so, you will improve your own environment and relationships (Johnson, 2021).
Conclusion
As shown above, communication skills are very necessary in our daily lives, and there is much to be gained by improving them!
References
Emerson, M.S. (2021). Eight Things You Can Do To Improve Your Communication Skills. [online] Professional Development | Harvard DCE. Available at: https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/eight-things-you-can-do-to-improve-your-communication-skills/ [Accessed 27 August 2022].
Johnson, E. (2021). What are the benefits of effective communication skills? | iHASCO. [online] www.ihasco.co.uk. Available at: https://www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry/3234/what-are-the-benefits-of-effective-communication-skills [Accessed 27 August 2022].
Khullar, H. (2022). Communication Skills: Definitions and Examples- Talent Economy. [online] ShineLearning. Available at: https://learning.shine.com/talenteconomy/career-help/communication-skills/ [Accessed 27 August 2022].
