Communication Skills

What Are Communication Skills?

Communication skills are the abilities you use when giving and receiving different kinds of
information. Some examples include communicating new ideas, feelings or even an update on
your project. Communication skills involve listening, speaking, observing and empathising. It is
also helpful to understand the differences in how to communicate through face-to-face
interactions, phone conversations and digital communications like email and social media.

Importance of Communication Skills

Communication today is very important both in the business world and in private life. Successful
communication helps us better understand people and situations. It helps us overcome
diversities, build trust and respect, and create conditions for sharing creative ideas and solving
problems.

In this modern time we live in; we are receiving, sending, and processing a large number of
messages every day via various communication channels. But successful communication is far
more than sharing information; it is also an understanding of the feelings behind this information.

Successful communication can deepen relations in personal life or professional life. In personal
life, they can help us understand better people and situations that happen on a daily basis.
Developing great communication and leadership skills can help us avoid conflicts compromise,
and help in better decision making.

What are some communication skills that can boost your career prospects?

1. Listening skills

Listening is more than just hearing what someone says. It involves paying attention,
understanding, and responding appropriately. Listening skills can help you show respect,
empathy, and interest to your colleagues, clients, and managers. They can also help you avoid
misunderstandings, conflicts, and errors. To improve your listening skills, you can practice active
listening, which means asking questions, paraphrasing, summarizing, and giving feedback.

2. Writing skills

Writing is a common form of communication in the professional world. You may need to write
emails, reports, proposals, presentations, or social media posts. Writing skills can help you
express your thoughts clearly, concisely, and convincingly. They can also help you create a positive
impression, build trust, and persuade your audience. To improve your writing skills, you can follow
the basic principles of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
 3. Speaking skills

Speaking is another important form of communication in the professional world. You may need
to speak in meetings, conferences, pitches, or interviews. Speaking skills can help you articulate
your ideas, opinions, and arguments. They can also help you engage, inspire, and influence your
listeners. To improve your speaking skills, you can practice your speech, use appropriate body
language, tone, and pace, and adapt to your audience and context.

4. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the abilities that help you interact with others effectively and
harmoniously. They include skills like teamwork, collaboration, negotiation, conflict resolution,
and networking. Interpersonal skills can help you build and maintain relationships, work well with
others, and achieve your goals. They can also help you cope with stress, diversity, and change. To
improve your interpersonal skills, you can be respectful, courteous, and supportive to others. You
can also seek feedback, learn from others, and expand your network.

5. Digital skills

Digital skills are the abilities that help you use technology to communicate, collaborate, and
create. They include skills like using online platforms, tools, and apps, managing digital
information, and creating digital content. Digital skills can help you communicate faster, easier,
and more effectively. They can also help you access more resources, opportunities, and markets.
To improve your digital skills, you can keep yourself updated on the latest trends, tools, and best
practices.

6. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own and others' emotions.
It involves skills like self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
Emotional intelligence can help you communicate with sensitivity, compassion, and authenticity.
It can also help you handle stress, emotions, and challenges. To improve your emotional
intelligence, you can practice mindfulness, reflection, and gratitude. You can also listen to others,
express your feelings, and seek help when needed.

How to improve communication skills?

• Keep your audience in mind.

What are the barriers for communication?

Here are seven of the most common communication barriers that get in the way of good
relationships.

• Physical Barriers: Research shows that proximity is important for building cohesive teams,
yet workplaces often stifle this with a range of physical communication barriers. These can
include desk and office dividers, closed office doors, separate areas for people of different
statuses, and ‘team territories’ that others avoid.
• Perceptual Barriers: These communication barriers exist in people’s minds based on how
they perceive the world around them. They can be caused by the many cognitive biases
of the human mind that prevent us from perceiving people and situations accurately.
Individuals may also have their own unique biases based on previous experience and the
influence of others.
• Emotional Barriers: Emotional communication barriers are the negative feelings we
acquire about certain people, places and situations. Whether caused by bad experiences
or the influence of others, they evoke emotions such as fear and mistrust that prevent
effective interaction.
• Cultural Barriers: Cultural communication barriers arise if you don’t understand the
group’s required behaviour patterns, which increases the risk of doing something its
members frown upon.
• Language Barriers: Language causes communication barriers if you use words that other
people are unfamiliar with.
• Gender Barriers: They often arise when someone has an oversimplified or stereotypical
idea of how a gender behaves. This can cause them to act in a way that impedes open,
honest and appropriate communication with others.
• Interpersonal Barriers: This could be because of something the person is doing
consciously, such as deliberately switching off their phone or closing their door because
they don’t want to speak to anyone. However, it is often more likely to be something they
are doing unconsciously.

Break Through The Barriers

Identifying barriers is an essential communication skill that helps with management, networking,
sales and generally being able to influence people. It is as valuable to written communication as
it is to verbal. This is why great communicators develop a keen sense for when communication
isn’t going as well as it should. As soon as you detect this, start looking for the clues.

Ask questions to learn more about the person and their perception of the situation. Listen to what
they say, and watch their body language to identify what they might really be thinking and feeling.

Improving the way you communicate is a broad-brush activity that also benefits from looking at
many aspects of yourself. As you communicate, try to change your own thoughts and feelings and
see how it improves the interaction.

Boost your everyday communication skills - This is often the first step to breaking down
communication barriers and building better relationships with colleagues, family members and
friends.