10 Communication Skills That Every Great Communicator Must Have

Communication Skills – Importance For Career Success & List of Examples
Table of Contents

It’s no secret that communication skills are an important part of both personal and professional success.

Whether you’re a manager, software engineer, or executive assistant, apart from having excellent hard skills, effective communication is a key to getting things done and achieving goals.

If you’re not sure how to best use the right communication skills when it comes to your profession or even wants to improve on your current skill set, don’t worry.

In this article, we’ll cover the importance of communication skills in different jobs and provide some examples of what effective communication looks like depending on your job.

What Are Communication Skills? Definition & Meaning

Before we provide examples of communication skills by job, it’s important to first define what communication is.

According to Webster, the definition of communication is “to share or exchange thoughts, feelings, information or opinions with another person using some form of expression“.

It helps when you can convey your ideas so that others can understand them and achieve a common goal. Communication is a very important soft skill that a person can have.

Communication skills – Definition & Meaning

Although people may practice these skills on an everyday basis without even thinking about it (when ordering at a restaurant for example), being able to verbalize yourself in a way that both you and your audience will understand can be challenging. But there are ways to improve this skill through study and practice.

Effective communication has five key components:

  • knowing what message to send
  • knowing how to send it
  • knowing your audience
  • anticipating their response
  • understanding how you are being perceived.

10 Examples of Communication Skills

1. Listening

One of the most important things to do when communicating with others is to listen.

Effective listening means more than just hearing what someone is saying; it also involves paying attention to non-verbal cues (facial expressions, posture, etc.) and being able to follow up on a comment or question.

2. Nonverbal Communication

The way you say something is just as important as what you say. More than 70% of our communication comes from nonverbal cues.

It’s up to you to not only make sure that your message is clear but also that it’s being interpreted in the right way by using a variety of different forms of expression such as facial expressions and tone.

Communication skills – List of 10 Most Important Skills With Examples

3. Public Speaking

Whether you’re giving a presentation or addressing an audience at a conference, public speaking can be nerve-wracking for many people. But it doesn’t have to be so scary if you know how to prepare yourself before an event and build your confidence through practice.

4. Customer Service

Whether you’re in sales or support, there’s nothing worse than hearing that someone is disappointed with your service. While it might not be possible to retain every customer, it can be helpful to know some basic steps for providing exceptional customer service.

5. Teamwork

From brainstorming ideas at work to planning family events, being able to work well with others is an important skill that many people have yet to master.

According to business experts, the key is being able to communicate well with both your superiors and subordinates.

6. Interpersonal Skills

One of the best ways to achieve success in any career is by building strong relationships that can help you reach your goals.

The ability to speak well with others not only shows others that you’re capable of communicating effectively but it also makes your life easier when working on group projects or reaching out for assistance in times of need.

Communication skills – List of 10 Most Important Skills With Example

7. Negotiation

Whether you’re negotiating for a raise or working out the terms of an agreement, knowing how to communicate effectively with those on the other side of the table is vital to the success of any negotiation.

8. Presenting Well

Whether you’re giving a presentation at work or meeting potential customers, presenting well is one of the most important job skills that anyone entering the business will need.

Not only is it important to know your subject, but it’s also crucial to know how to deliver that information in an organized manner. This ensures that your audience can understand what you’re actually trying to say.

9. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

In addition to being able to communicate effectively with others, it’s important for people entering the workforce to be strong critical thinkers who use communication skills to identify problems and come up with solutions.

Asking questions during discussions and listening carefully are two key ways that people develop good critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

10. Writing Well

Whether you’re writing a memo at work or sending an email to your colleagues, being able to communicate well in writing is just as important as speaking with others.

4 Types of Communication Skills & How To Use and Empower Them

The following are the four types of communication that you should keep in mind at all times:

1.) Verbal

This type of communication is tied to how well you can speak. Verbal communication is still considered the more formal method of giving out your message. It can be done through face-to-face conversations, meetings, telephone calls, etc.

The advantage of verbal communication is that it’s instantaneous and easy but it has its limitations. If for example, not everyone wants to listen to what you’re trying to say.

Moreover, when people want to say something at the same time during a meeting, there’s bound to be conflict because no one can get their message across if everyone starts talking at once.

Communication skills – 4 Types of Communication & How to use and Empower Them

2.) Written

While most people prefer speaking directly with another person to communicate better, writing messages can convey complex messages.

All you have to do is try and make each word count because it is sometimes easier to get misinterpreted when compared to sharing a message verbally.

Be mindful of how much text you’re sending out especially in this age where everyone’s busy and has their time limit when it comes to what they read daily.

If the person doesn’t get back to you immediately or replies all that often, re-read whether your message needs more work before following up.

3.) Nonverbal

This type of communication is based on how we say things as opposed to what we say. Body language and voice intonation are both important here.

Body language refers to how you carry yourself when you’re talking with someone – whether you’re standing in a particular way or crossing your arms to show that you are upset about something both convey different messages.

Voice intonation is the tone of voice you use to communicate which can be in any emotion like happy, sad, sarcastic, etc.

Nonverbal communication is a very important factor for building relationships because it helps people feel closer to each other.

4.) Visual

This type of communication helps people understand more than just words. It allows us to express what we’re thinking or feeling when there’s no sound.

Visual communication is also the easiest way for those with a hearing impairment to be able to communicate.

How to Improve Your Communication Skills? 9 Effective Process & Techniques

The following are examples of how you can improve your communication skills.

1. Observe Good Communicators Around you

As cliche as it sounds, a good way to learn how to improve communication skills is by watching the people around you. By just observing them, you can find out what makes them stand out among others.

2. Practice Improving Communication Habits

If you’re serious about improving your communication skills, it’s better to start with the little things first. What this means is that you don’t need to constantly bombard the people around you with new and improved habits all at once.

How to Improve your Communication Skills – List With 9 Process & Techniques

3. Take Classes

If you want some people who are experts in building their communication skills to guide you along, then taking classes might help.

Your local college probably offers free courses for adults who want to pick up a few things during their spare time and if they don’t offer anything yet, there are plenty of online options to choose from these days.

4. Asking Questions

One of the simplest ways to improve communication skills is by simply asking questions and listening intently to what people have to say in response. Instead of interrupting someone right away, let them finish speaking before you start talking.

If they’re trying to tell you something very important, then don’t zone out while they talk because that’s a very good way for misunderstandings to occur.

5. Active Listening

Sometimes, we might miss out on what others are saying if we don’t pay attention well enough. We also tend to lose focus easily when it comes to deep conversations so try putting your phone away and avoid doing other things at the same time.

Not only will this help improve your concentration but it’ll also show that you’re interested in what they’re saying which is the first step to good communication.

6. Non-verbal Communication

Just like written communication, you also have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to your non-verbal cues. Greet people with a smile on your face whenever you see them and try standing closer during conversations. This will show that you’re interested in what they have to say and happy to be around them too.

7. Avoid Disagreeing

Not everyone knows how to disagree correctly so avoid doing so if you want a peaceful conversation. Instead of arguing back right away, just let it go for now and save it for another time when both of you can discuss things calmly.

Arguing all the time is very counterproductive and you’ll just end up losing a lot of friends with this kind of attitude.

How to Improve your Communication Skill – List With 9 Process & Techniques

8. Be Empathetic

If someone is talking to you about something very personal, don’t ignore their feelings. Try being empathetic by showing that you understand what they’re going through and make sure they know that you’re there for them.

This will go a long way since it’ll give them the motivation they need to talk about things in the future.

9. Practice

The final way to improve your communication skills is by simply practicing what you’ve learned. If you know that a particular approach works best for you then stick with it until it becomes part of who you are.

List with 20 Benefits of Using & Applying Communication Skills

The benefits of having good communication skills are endless. Here is a list of just 20 examples:

  1. You can reach your goals faster because you’ll be able to get through any problem with ease.
  2. That promotion will be yours because people will trust you and want to work with you on projects instead of against you.
  3. Making new friends will be simple since everyone naturally gravitates towards those who can express themselves well.
  4. People will see that you care about them which means they’ll also reciprocate in return.
  5. You won’t have time to create enemies because people will always appreciate what you say – whether or not it’s what they want to hear.
  6. People will follow you without a fight because everyone knows that as long as there’s a leader who can express themselves, success is guaranteed.
  7. You’ll be able to deal with difficult situations to get closer to understanding other people and what they need from you.
  8. You’ll be able to put yourself into other people’s shoes so both sides will understand each other and find a solution that works for everyone.
  9. Nobody can blame you for misunderstanding them
  10. If other people’s opinion matters a lot then you’ll always know how to appreciate their input and implement it into your own life to reach the next level.
  11. If there are things that you’ve been wanting but don’t know where to start – well, it’s all going to be easier now since you can express what you need better.
  12. You’re not afraid of new challenges because this is just another opportunity to show off your communication skills by helping others learn more about themselves and what they want.
  13. Everyone gets nervous, but the right communication skills can help ease that stress before it becomes something else.
  14. You’ll be able to express yourself without feeling like you’re interfering with their lives.
  15. When you’re passionate about something then you’ll have no problem sharing that enthusiasm with everyone around you – even if they think your topic of interest is boring.
  16. You won’t feel helpless anymore because now you know how to get through any problem that you might have to keep going.
  17. You won’t waste time wondering how other people are feeling because you’ll know what they want from you and how to give it to them.
  18. Meet new friends and don’t be surprised when they’re just as excited about your new positive attitude towards communicating
  19. If there’s a group project then you’ll always get the opportunity to shine since everyone knows that communication is key for success …
  20. Never again will you feel embarrassed because of miscommunications that were already inevitable with other people.

Communication Skills for Career Success & What Are Ways to Stand Out?

Have you ever wondered why there are people who get ahead in their careers so quickly while others seem to always be stuck in the same place? Well, it all comes down to one simple thing – communication skills.

If you want to get noticed, then you have to stand out somehow and what better way is there than to show your communication abilities off?

Communication Skills on Your Resume

Your resume is an important part of the application process so make sure you’re always updating it with new hard and soft skills that might improve your chances.

Don’t be afraid to list down some things that are unique to you because employers will know that these are the things you can do and will give them a reason to hire you instead.

You don’t necessarily have to list everything on your resume but at the same time, it’s also good to be ready if they ask for examples during interviews.

Communication Skills in Your Job Interview

Your resume is not the only thing that will get you hired because a job interview is a two-way street. If they’re asking you questions, make sure you have enough examples of your communication skills ready.

That doesn’t mean bragging about your abilities and claiming that everything was easy. You also don’t want to come off as arrogant so make sure you give an example of how good your communication skills are, instead of just saying something like ‘I’m a fast learner’ without any proof.

Not everyone has a natural talent when it comes to communicating with other people which means there’s room for improvement during work.

Communication is considered to be one of the most vital skills that you can have as an employee so employers will expect you to be able to communicate properly in business situations.

Communication Skills in the Workplace

In the workplace, communication skills are essential for success. They help manage conflict, boost teamwork and productivity, and keep morale high even in difficult situations.

When communicating effectively with your boss, colleagues, or employees, it’s important to have the right balance of formality and friendliness.

Communication at work should be polite but also natural and appropriate. That way, you can communicate what needs to be done without holding back information.

It’s important for communication to be just like it would when you’re having a conversation over drinks with friends.

Communication Skills in the Classroom

When it comes to classroom communication skills, the teacher is responsible for teaching students how to behave and interact in the classroom.

If you’re a teacher and use ineffective methods of discipline with your students, such as shouting, threatening them, or putting them in a time-out when they misbehave, they may not feel comfortable talking to you later on.

Give clear instructions so that students know what correct behavior looks like. For example, if a student is too loud during group work, let him or her know instead of punishing everyone else involved by sending them out of the room.

Use body language effectively. This will improve your chances of having the kids listen to you and make learning a lot easier. Be open to questions.

As a teacher, you can’t expect to have all the answers, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be willing to find them.

Having an attitude of always being open to questions will encourage students to ask more when they don’t understand something and could even help boost their self-esteem Be patient.

Sometimes listening alone is just as good as giving a student your full attention.

Communication Skills in Relationship

Maintaining healthy relationships in life is extremely important. To do so, you must have good communication skills as well as strong personal connections with others.

If you are a bad communicator it will be very difficult to connect with people and build meaningful relationships.

The more often you communicate with others; the better at it you will become. Communication is essential for both personal and professional relationships.

Communication Skills FAQ

How do I say I have good communication skills in an interview?

Simply saying that you have good communication skills will not convince your interviewer that you truly possess these skills. Instead, you must prove that you have them. Firstly, think of a time when you displayed these skills.

Clearly articulate this moment to the interviewer. Include how this moment demonstrates your communication skills helped the team. This way, the interviewer will get an insight into how you use your fine-tuned communication skills.

What is effective communication in an interview?

You can display effective communication in an interview by having proper body language. Communication begins with the body, not necessarily the mouth.

Look confident, sit up straight, look the interviewer in the eye, and mimic the interviewer’s body language to a degree. When you talk, use an enthusiastic tone and be clear when describing your goals, values, and strengths. You will seem organized, interested, and communicative.

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