Communication is one of the most important skills you can have in your professional life. Therefore, it’s a skill you should improve all the time.
There’s a reason most recruiters say communication skills are among the most important talents you could possibly have when applying for a job.
In almost every job you have, you’re going to have to communicate with your colleagues, clients and managers.
There will be plenty of different types of communication you will have to get your head around and, no matter how experienced you think you are, there is always a learning curve.
There will be difficult meetings with your boss, and discussions about pay and performance. There will also be creative brainstorming sessions with bigger groups of people as well as one-to-one planning chats or just general talks with another colleague about how a project went.
You will also need to communicate with other people outside of your organisation, such as clients, and that will require a different approach again.
While the conversations differ, the skills you need to communicate well remain largely the same. Whether you feel like your communication skills are strong or lacking, everyone can benefit from the tips in the infographic below.
For a start, you should always be prepared for planned conversations. Make sure you know what you’re bringing to the table, be clear on your point, and keep it short and clear. If you’re heading into a creative meeting, make sure you know how to communicate your ideas effectively.
For meetings and conversations that you fear may take a bad turn, always keep your emotions in check.
Another essential part of being able to communicate is listening. This doesn’t mean just waiting for the other person to take a breath so that you can make your point.
Focus on what the other person is trying to say and relay it back at the end. This will help you listen to their points and remember them after the meeting.
For more tips on how to communicate better, check out the infographic below.
Infographic: NetCredit
