Being able to communicate effectively is perhaps the most
important of all life skills. It is what enables us to pass information
to other people, and to understand what is said to us. You only
have to watch a baby listening intently to its mother and trying to
repeat the sounds that she makes to understand how
fundamental is the urge to communicate.
Communication, at its simplest, is the act of transferring
information from one place to another. It may be vocally (using
voice), written (using printed or digital media such as books,
magazines, websites or emails), visually (using logos, maps,
charts or graphs) or non-verbally (using body language, gestures
and the tone and pitch of voice). In practice, it is often a
combination of several of these.
Communication skills may take a lifetime to master—if indeed anyone
can ever claim to have mastered them. There are, however, many things
that you can do fairly easily to improve your communication skills and
ensure that you are able to transmit and receive information effectively.
This page provides an introduction to communication skills. It is also a guide to the
pages on SkillsYouNeed that cover this essential area to enable you to navigate them
effectively.
The Importance of Good Communication Skills
Developing your communication skills can help all aspects of your life,
from your professional life to social gatherings and everything in
between.
The ability to communicate information accurately, clearly and as intended, is a vital life
skill and something that should not be overlooked. It’s never too late to work on your
communication skills and by doing so, you may well find that you improve your quality of
life.
Communication skills are needed in almost all aspects of life:
Professionally, if you are applying for jobs or looking for a promotion with
your current employer, you will almost certainly need to demonstrate good
communication skills.
Communication skills are needed to speak appropriately with a wide variety of people
whilst maintaining good eye contact, demonstrate a varied vocabulary and tailor your
language to your audience, listen effectively, present your ideas appropriately, write
clearly and concisely, and work well in a group. Many of these are essential skills that
most employers seek.
Verbal communication skills are ranked first among a job
candidate’s ‘must have’ skills and qualities. According to a 2018
survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers
(NACE).
As your career progresses, the importance of communication skills increases; the ability
to speak, listen, question and write with clarity and conciseness are essential for most
managers and leaders.
In your personal life, good communication skills can improve your
personal relationships by helping you to understand others, and to be
understood.
It is almost a cliché that personal relationships need communication. Failure to talk has
been blamed for the breakdown of any number of partnerships and relationships—but
the ability to listen is also an important element. Communication is also vital in wider
family relationships, whether you want to discuss arrangements for holidays, or ensure
that your teenage children are well and happy.
If this area is of particular interest, you may want to read our pages on Communicating
with Teenagers, Talking to Teenagers about Contraception, Pornography and
Consent, and Talking to Teenagers about Sex and Relationships. Our pages
on Personal and Romantic Relationship Skills also contain a number of pages
touching on communication.
Communication skills can also ensure that you are able to manage
interactions with businesses and organisations
Over the course of your lifetime, you are likely to have to interact with a wide range of
organisations and institutions, including shops, businesses, government offices, and
schools. Good communication skills can ease these interactions, and ensure that you
are able to get your point across calmly and clearly, and also take on board the
responses.
Being able to complain effectively is an important skill, for example, as is handling
criticism yourself.
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