Communication Skills for Workplace Success

Communication Skills for Workplace SuccessCommunication Skills for Workplace SuccessThe ability to communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues, and staff is essential, no matter what industry you work in. Workers in the digital age must know how to effectively convey and receive messages in part as well as via phone, email, and social media. Good communication skills will help you get hired, land promotions, and be a success throughout your career. Top 10 Communication Skills Want to stand out from the competition? These are the top 10 communication skills that recruiters and hiring managers want to see in your resume and cover letter. Highlight these skills and demonstrate them during job interviews, and youll make a solid first impression. Continue to develop these skills once youre hired, and youll impress your boss, teammates, and clients. 1. Listening Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone w ho cares only about putting in her two cents and does not take the time to listen to the other person. If youre not a good listener, its going to be hard to comprehend what youre being asked to do. Take the time to practice active listening. Active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding (So, what youre saying is). Through active listening, you can better understand what the other person is trying to say, and can respond appropriately. 2. Nonverbal Communication Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice all color the message you are trying to convey. A relaxed, open stance (arms open, legs relaxed), and a friendly tone will make you appear approachable and will encourage others to speak openly with you. Eye contact is also important you want to look the person in the eye to demonstrate that you are focused on them and the conversa tion (however, be sure not to stare at the person, which can make him or her uncomfortable). Also, pay attention to other peoples nonverbal signals while you are talking. Often, nonverbal signals convey how a person is really feeling. For example, if the person is not looking you in the eye, he or she might be uncomfortable or hiding the truth. 3. Clarity and Concision Good verbal communication means saying just enough dont talk too much or too little. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether youre speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want. Think about what you want to say before you say it. This will help you to avoid talking excessively and/or confusing your audience. 4. Friendliness Through a friendly tone, a personal question, or simply a smile, you will encourage your coworkers to engage in o pen and honest communication with you. Its important to be nice and polite in all your workplace communications. This is important in both face-to-face and written communication. When you can, personalize your emails to coworkers and/or employees a quick I hope you all had a good weekend at the start of an email can personalize a message and make the recipient feel more appreciated. 5. Confidence It is important to be confident in your interactions with others. Confidence shows your coworkers that you believe in what youre saying and will follow through. Exuding confidence can be as simple as making eye contact or using a firm but friendly tone. Avoid making statements sound like questions. Of course, be careful not to sound arrogant or aggressive. Be sure you are always listening to and empathizing with the other person. 6. Empathy Using phrases as simple as I understand where you are coming from demonstrate that you have been listening to the other person and respect thei r opinions. Even when you disagree with an employer, coworker, or employee, it is important for you to understand and respect their point of view. 7. Open-Mindedness A good communicator should enter into any conversation with a flexible, open mind. Be open to listening to and understanding the other persons point of view, rather than simply getting your message across. By being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with people with whom you disagree, you will be able to have more honest, productive conversations. 8. Respect People will be more open to communicating with you if you convey respect for them and their ideas. Simple actions like using a persons name, making eye contact, and actively listening when a person speaks will make the person feel appreciated. On the phone, avoid distractions and stay focused on the conversation. Convey respect through email by taking the time to edit your message. If you send a sloppily written, confusing email, the recipient will think that you do not respect her enough to think through your communication with her. 9. Feedback Being able to appropriately give and receive feedback is an important communication skill. Managers and supervisors should continuously look for ways to provide employees with constructive feedback, be it through email, phone calls, or weekly position updates. Giving feedback involves giving praise as well something as simple as saying good job or thanks for taking care of that to an employee can greatly increase motivation. Similarly, you should be able to accept and even encourage, feedback from others. Listen to the feedback you are given, ask clarifying questions if you are unsure of the issue, and make efforts to implement the feedback. 10. Picking the Right Medium An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use. For example, some serious conversations (layoffs, resignation, changes in salary, etc.) are almost always best done in person. Yo u should also think about the person with whom you wish to speak, if they are a very busy person (such as your boss, perhaps), you might want to convey your message through email. People will appreciate your thoughtful means of communication and will be more likely to respond positively to you. More Skills for Workplace Success Review some of the best skills to include on your resume, incorporate them into your job search materials, and mention them during job interviews. How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Highlight Your Skills in Your Application Materials Include the skills that are the closest match to the employers job requirements in your resume and cover letter.Show Hiring Managers You Have the Skills They Need Job interviews provide an opportunity to show the hiring manager that you have the verbal communication skills necessary to succeed in a job.Use Your Communication Skills at Work Whether its participating in a company meeting or talking with a client, youll have many opportunities to show how well you communicate.