How to improve Communication Skills?

 

What happens when you have poor communication skills in the workplace?

 

Many employers want employees who are able to communicate effectively to customers and colleagues, yet according to a recent survey, only 29% of workers have very good communication skills.

 

While there is a lot of focus on data skills, communicating ideas clearly is also critical in today’s professional environment. Not only is it the most important part of the job, it also sets you apart from your competitors.

 

It’s important to remember that communication skills don’t necessarily require a PhD, there are simple, commonsense tips that you can use to improve your communication skills.

 

Here are some top tips that you can use to communicate effectively:

 

It sounds obvious, but it’s important to remember that you need to speak up and talk about important things to you and your colleagues. You can be the centre of attention if you’re sharing a story or an idea with your colleagues.

 

If you’re just starting out on your career, this isn’t too difficult to remember. When you’re more senior, it’s likely you’ve been through training, so it’s important to continue to train yourself.

 

Sometimes your colleagues may feel as though you’re not listening, or that you’re distracted by your phone, tablet or laptop. This is a sign that you need to take the opportunity to show them that you care and want to get on top of things.

 

 

Although this might sound a bit intimidating, there’s nothing wrong with telling someone to drop what they’re doing to help you. If your colleague is giving you feedback on an important project, and you feel as though you’re getting the same thing over and over again, you may need to ask them to think about it differently.

 

If someone in your team is telling you they’re struggling to make an important presentation, and you can’t help them, then be honest about the difficulty of your own role. Don’t make it look like you don’t care about your team.

 

If you’re feeling like you need to pick up the phone and speak to someone, tell them to drop what they’re doing and take a moment to think.

 

Even if you do have an awkward conversation or go through a checklist of questions, this gives you an opportunity to practice your language skills. It can be hard to think about others, but it’s something that’s vital to your career success.

 

A problem with communication is that there are no right or wrong answers. You’ll always have to ask questions that are important to you and the people you work with. These are the conversations you want to have – even if you feel a bit more awkward about them.

 

Let’s face it, when your colleagues don’t see your work as important, they’re going to treat you poorly. You need to be upfront with them about the projects you’re working on and why you’re not attending meetings.

 

 

It may sound a bit clichéd, but taking time to practice your language skills is vital. You’re not a fool who hasn’t studied English, or is meant to be saying everything with one syllable, you’re working on communication