About Communication SkillsLearn More

Communication skills refer to how you relay and receive information to and from others. These skills are essential for everyday conversation as well as for professional advancement. Someone with good communication skills is, first and foremost, a great listener. Being able to listen actively lets the other person know you care about what they’re saying. Communication skills also include knowing which type of communication to choose and maintain good eye contact during conversation. Many communication skills are also simple life skills like respect, empathy, and friendliness. These skills will not only help you gain and maintain meaningful friendships, but they can also give you a competitive advantage during job searches. Having good communication skills is an important skill to highlight in a resume for this reason.

"Verbal communication can occur face-to-face or over digital media like phone calls and video chats. It can range from informal to formal. And it involves not just word choice but also the subtleties of voice like pitch, cadence, and more. Non-verbal communication usually accompanies verbal communication and includes body language and facial expressions. Sometimes these two communication types can indicate different things, which is important to recognize. Written communication involves using the written word to relay information, whether it be through text, email, or some other medium. Listening is another type of communication and is extremely important — when someone listens to you, you appreciate their conversation more. Finally, visual communication includes pictures, photos, and any other images used to communicate a message. "

If you have strong communication skills, you are qualified to work in a wide variety of different fields. For example, sales professionals across all industries must draw on excellent communication skills to drum up new business. They need to communicate the benefits of buying a particular product or service while also building a rapport with potential customers. In fact, any position where you're interacting with customers requires strong communications skills since you need to adeptly manage complaints, handle customer concerns, and troubleshoot any issues. But the professional career choices available are essentially limitless when you can communicate well.

"Verbal communication is the sharing of information using your voice. It's an important part of daily life and indispensable to making yourself understood. Verbal communication skills include knowing how to modulate your pitch and vary your cadence to maintain interest and engagement from your listener(s). Non-verbal communication is just as important and includes your facial expressions, body language, and gestures. If your non-verbal communication unintentionally contradicts or distracts from your words, it can diminish the value of what you’re saying. Written communication is the use of written words to convey information and is often a standalone means of communication when sending emails, texts, etc. Visual communication involves the use of images to make points clearer or to add meaning. Knowing how to incorporate images and imagery into your communication can make events like presentations more compelling. "

"The four most common communication styles are assertive, passive, passive-aggressive, and aggressive. Assertive communication is the healthiest of styles and tends to produce the best results. It involves being confident in your opinions and requests but also empathetic and understanding of others. Passive communicators often struggle to make their wants or needs known and tend to be people-pleasers who avoid conflict. Those with this style of communication often let those with more assertive communication styles lead the way. Passive-aggressive communicators tend to show being easy-going and friendly, but flickers of aggression and anger often appear throughout their communications. Aggressive communication is often hostile, selfish, threatening, and boastful and can lead to others feeling talked over or belittled. "

"A company that communicates effectively is a company that can weather storms better, bring new ideas to fruition faster, and better avoid potential problems. Communication training lets individuals within a business have better interpersonal connections, which benefits all stakeholders in many ways. The business can spot issues on the horizon more clearly. They enjoy better workflows and increased productivity. Their business partnerships and relationships grow stronger and more productive. Their advertising better aligns with their goals and gets points across more clearly. Employee turnover is lower due to greater workforce satisfaction. Finally, businesses enjoy better finances and can report better investor returns. Effective communication affects all parts of a business. "

"A good communicator is always honest; even when they need to present criticism or initiate a conflict, they do so in a way that is positive, helpful, and well-intentioned. Good communicators are also proactive and do not procrastinate on having difficult conversations. They recognize that letting resentments fester over time is unhealthy and unhelpful, and they understand the value of providing clear expectations ahead of time. Knowing how to ask good, thoughtful, and useful questions is also a hallmark of a good communicator. It's not just about how communicators convey their thoughts and ideas. A good communicator is also a good listener. They actively listen to understand what the speaker is saying and tune in to the speaker's mood by picking up changes in tone and demeanor. Good communicators say what they need to say in as few words as possible. They are also reliable and understand that if they do not make good on their word, it will mean less in the future. "