Top 10 Communication Skills
Want to stand out from the competition? These are the top 10
communication skills that recruiters and hiring managers want to see in your
resume and cover letter. Highlight these skills and demonstrate them during job
interviews, and you’ll make a solid first impression. Continue to develop these
skills once you’re hired, and you’ll impress your boss, teammates, and clients.
1. Listening
Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good
communicator. No one likes communicating with someone who cares only about putting
in her two cents and does not take the time to listen to the other person. If
you're not a good listener, it's going to be hard to comprehend what you're
being asked to do.
Take the time to practice active listening. Active listening
involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking
clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure
understanding ("So, what you're saying is…"). Through active
listening, you can better understand what the other person is trying to say,
and can respond appropriately.
2. Nonverbal Communication
Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice
all color the message you are trying to convey. A relaxed, open stance (arms
open, legs relaxed), and a friendly tone will make you appear approachable and
will encourage others to speak openly with you.
Eye contact is also important; you want to look the person in the
eye to demonstrate that you are focused on them and the conversation (however,
be sure not to stare at the person, which can make him or her uncomfortable).
Also, pay attention to other people's nonverbal signals while you
are talking. Often, nonverbal signals convey how a person is really feeling.
For example, if the person is not looking you in the eye, he or she might be
uncomfortable or hiding the truth.
3. Clarity and Concision
Good verbal communication means saying just enough – don’t talk
too much or too little. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible.
Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you're speaking to someone in
person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either
tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want.
4. Friendliness
Through a friendly tone, a personal question, or simply a smile,
you will encourage your coworkers to engage in open and honest communication
with you. It's important to be nice and polite in all your workplace
communications. This is important in both face-to-face and written
communication. When you can, personalize your emails to coworkers and/or
employees – a quick "I hope you all had a good weekend" at the start
of an email can personalize a message and make the recipient feel more
appreciated.
5. Confidence
It is important to be confident in your interactions with others.
Confidence shows your coworkers that you believe in what you’re saying and will
follow through. Exuding confidence can be as simple as making eye contact or
using a firm but friendly tone. Avoid making statements sound like questions.
Of course, be careful not to sound arrogant or aggressive. Be sure you are
always listening to and empathizing with the other person.
6. Empathy
Using phrases as simple as "I understand where you are coming
from" demonstrate that you have been listening to the other person and
respect their opinions.
7. Open-Mindedness
A good communicator should enter into any conversation with a
flexible, open mind. Be open to listening to and understanding the other
person's point of view, rather than simply getting your message across. By
being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with people with whom you disagree,
you will be able to have more honest, productive conversations.
8. Respect
People will be more open to communicating with you if you convey
respect for them and their ideas. Simple actions like using a person's name,
making eye contact, and actively listening when a person speaks will make the
person feel appreciated. On the phone, avoid distractions and stay focused on
the conversation.
Convey respect through email by taking the time to edit your
message. If you send a sloppily written, confusing email, the recipient will
think that you do not respect her enough to think through your communication
with her.
9. Feedback
Being able to appropriately give and receive feedback is an
important communication skill. Managers and supervisors should continuously
look for ways to provide employees with constructive feedback, be it through
email, phone calls, or weekly status updates.
10. Picking the Right Medium
An important communication skill is to simply know what form of
communication to use. For example, some serious conversations (layoffs,
resignation, changes in salary, etc.) are almost always best done in person.
You should also think about the person with whom you wish to
speak, if they are a very busy person (such as your boss, perhaps), you might
want to convey your message through email. People will appreciate your
thoughtful means of communication and will be more likely to respond positively
to you.
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