Counseling Education

Why Good Communication Skills Matter

Many employers suggest that prospective employees need to have excellent communication skills, but what does really mean? More importantly, why is it something that we should worry about?

Most of us would feel perfectly capable of having a conversation with friends or family members. We can happily discuss what we did at the weekend, or the latest plotlines in a particular television show. This would appear to indicate that we can communicate pretty well, so what’s all the fuss about?

Different types of communicating

The first point to make here is that communicating is not simply about talking. The spoken word can, of course, be of vital importance, but it’s only one weapon within a rather large armoury. Being an effective communicator is all about being able to talk, listen, read, write, understand and think about body language.

As you can see, that’s quite a long list. From an employer perspective, it’s absolutely critical to have great communicators on board because communication is at the very heart of any business.

Whether that involves explaining a delay to a customer, discussing an issue with a supplier, or instructing a team member, there’s no end to the number of ways in which it’s a requirement to communicate properly.

The impact of email

If anything, the way in which we communicate with other people has been complicated by the relatively recent emergence of email and social media applications. You may find that statement surprising, particularly if you are used to thinking about such tools as communication aids.

They certainly make us all appear that much more accessible, allowing for a certain level of immediacy. That is, however, a large part of the problem. When we have that ability to respond to emails and Tweets so regularly, we can easily fall into the trap of discounting the importance of what is being written.

That can be particularly challenging within the workplace, where a few misplaced words can often have considerable consequences for an entire business.

The desire to have better communicators present is heightened as a result. By doing so, the business owner can know that information is being exchanged efficiently and with the clarity that is demanded.

Dealing with peers

Whether you are in a workplace environment, at school, or attending university, you will find that it’s necessary to communicate with peers. This is a critical skill, although it’s one that receives surprisingly little attention.

If you get things wrong, then you’ll soon discover that there’s bountiful scope for you to inadvertently offend other people. You need to think carefully about what you are trying to say and the way in which you will say it.

In part, this may also mean giving consideration to whether you approach a situation with a simple conversation, or whether you make use of the written word. The latter can, on some occasions, have more of an impact.

If you feel that there’s room to improve your communication skills, then there are plenty of opportunities for you to do so. By understanding that a problem exists, you have already taken a really vital first step on the road to improvement.

About the author

Writing for Decisive Mediation online, Keith Barrett discusses a number of issues that are relevant to entrepreneurs, managers and employees.

Image credit: krossbow on Flickr