The Importance of Mastering Professional Communication
The Importance of Mastering Professional Communication
Here are a few reasons why having good professional communication skills can be important
to you, in the workplace:
1. It can ensure you pick the right communication method for your audience
With good professional communication skills, you can ensure you pick the appropriate
communication channel for the specific audience. For example, in some cases, it may be
appropriate to send a quick email, however, by reading the situation you may realise that for
certain messages, it’s more appropriate to arrange a call or even meet face-to-face.
2. It is seen as a desirable skill by employers
Being able to communicate effectively is an extremely desirable skill. This can be beneficial
in your existing role, when being considered for a promotion or when job hunting.
3. It can help avoid misunderstandings
With poor communication, it’s easy for messages to get misunderstood. By mastering
professional communication, the potential for misunderstandings occurring can be
minimised.
4. It will help you work effectively in a group
When you work in a team, you need to be able to regularly communicate with others. You
need to listen to other people’s ideas, whilst being able to clearly and effectively
communicate your own. Good communication can also help to build a positive working
relationship, so your team works more effectively and productively together.
5. It can inspire others
We’re not all born presenters, but public speaking is still an important skill to master. With
poor communication skills, your audience may become bored and disengaged. However, if
you have good communication skills, you have the opportunity to engage and inspire those
around you.
If you want to succeed in your career, you need to know what you want and how to go
after it. And you can’t do that without good communication skills. Being an excellent
communicator can help you land that first job in your new career and ensure a positive
future. It can separate you from other applicants, help you be a more effective employee
and serve as a stepping stone to leadership responsibilities and career advancement.
Land a Job
Good communication skills can help you land an interview and that first job in your new
career. Being able to articulate all you know and can do, whether in spoken or written
form, goes a long way in the application process. Do you have great problem solving
skills and a passion for information technology? Let your future employer know what
you’ve already accomplished in the field and the unique skillset you’ll bring to their
company. And be sure to communicate that you’re always willing to learn more! Once
you have the job and are proving your worth every day, don’t forget to speak up for
career advancement opportunities.
Be Well Understood
Good communicators can explain their ideas to others in ways that make sense and are
easy to understand. You’ll be able to tell your supervisor what you need to do your job
well. You’ll also be able to talk with co-workers to make sure you’re all working together
for the good of the company and its customers. For example, if you work in healthcare,
it’s vital that you communicate well to your patients. If you’re an IT specialist teaching a
user how to work with a new software application, your communication skills can make
the difference between a satisfied customer and a frustrated and angry one.
Hear What People Say
An important component to good communication skills is the ability to listen. People
in business need to understand the mission and goals of their company and what their
responsibilities are. That starts with good listening skills. You need to listen closely to
your supervisors and your clients if you’re going to meet the needs of both. Once you’ve
done some work, you’ll also need to listen to feedback to see what you’ve done right
and what could be done even better.
One of the very best reasons to work on your communications skills is one of the
simplest reasons: it’s what employers want. In employer surveys, communication skills
consistently rank at the top of the list of soft skills hiring managers are looking for in new
hires. They want new employees to be able to listen, act and then explain those actions.
Does that sound like you?
For today’s managers, good communication plays an essential role in their success in the
workplace and in their personal life. Leaders who know how to communicate effectively with
those around them will see better productivity and improved relationships in every aspect of
their lives.
Effective communication involves knowing how to listen attentively. It’s the ability to offer
empathy, open-mindedness, and helpful feedback based on what you hear. Also, a friendly
demeanor, confidence, and quality nonverbal communication will also help you, as a manager,
develop good relationships with the members of your team.
Let’s explore some benefits of effective communication you will see in- and outside your office
when you take the time to nurture these skills.
1. Building trust
Effective communication fosters trust with others. Your ability to listen attentively and embrace
different points of view helps others trust that you are making optimal decisions for everyone in
the group. As you serve as a role model, this trust will extend to your team and they will feel as
though they can trust their teammates to fulfill their duties and responsibilities.
5. Increases engagement
With people feeling more confident in their work and in their understanding of what they need to
do, they become more engaged with their work as a whole. According to a recent
study exploring the psychology of employee engagement, only 15% of adult employees are
engaged with their employers. By prioritizing effective communication, you can increase
engagement, and thus boost satisfaction, among your team members.
6. Improves productivity
When team members understand their roles, the roles of others and your expectations, they can
focus more on their work and less on workplace issues. With effective communication, conflicts
are resolved quickly, employees can better manage their workload and distractions are
minimized. These benefits contribute to greater productivity for you and your team.
Good communication skills can play an important role in nurturing positive work experiences for
your entire team. As people feel listened to and understood by you, you naturally improve your
work environment. If you want to learn more about how to improve your leadership skills,
including your communication strategies,take a look at our Effective Communication workshop
at PCC. This condensed workshop will demonstrate the impact communication skills have on
other people, at work and in life.