Often considered a “Soft Skill” communication repeatedly appears in surveys of employers as a desired skill. Excellent communication skills are frequently rated as an important factor in making an individual promotable or employable and are essential elements to becoming professionally suited.
What does it mean when a job announcement states, “Strong communication skills desired?”
Communication requires a sender, a message, and a recipient. Effective communication happens when the interpretation of the message received is the same as intended by the sender. When the message you send is interpreted incorrectly by the recipient, the results can be embarrassing or may negatively impact on your career.
Communication is often broken down into as few as two and as many as ten subcategories. Most common are verbal and nonverbal. These may be further divided to focus on specific areas of importance. Verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills are almost always critical. With more individuals connected via digital platforms, visual communication skills have increased in importance. Let's take a brief look at these most common four categories, Verbal, Written, Nonverbal, and Visual.
Verbal Communication
Verbal communication usually refers to spoken words or sign language. The sender uses words to send a message in the form of speeches, phone calls, presentations, and face-to-face conversations either in person or via video teleconferencing. Research shows that verbal communication accounts for as little as 7% of all communication. What we find is that verbal communication alone is not the most effective way to communicate. It is the tone and gestures that accompany the spoken words that help the receiver to interpret the message with the intended meaning.
An advantage to verbal communication, is that you can usually receive immediate feedback from the recipient. If the receiver does not immediately respond, you can ask questions to seek feedback. Feedback is great because it enables you to know whether your message was understood correctly.
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication is broad and refers to how people communicate without using spoken language. Studies have shown nonverbal communication combined may carry as much as 93% more impact than the actual words spoken.
The gestures you use when speaking, the tone and inflections of your voice, facial expressions like smiling or eye contact are all examples of nonverbal communication. Your body language can signal if you are open to communication or defensive. Even what you wear is speaks volumes. Your appearance demonstrated by your clothes, hairstyle, and jewelry can affect how you are perceived.
Written Communication
Written Communication includes documents, reports, memos, contracts, job descriptions, handbooks, email, texting, and social media, to name a few. With the increased use of digital technology we spend more time writing our thoughts and ideas.
All forms of communication have both advantages and disadvantages. A good thing about written communication is you can write your correspondence at your convenience. You are less dependent on someone else’s schedule and availability.
Though items like text messaging and email can seem instantaneous, written communication is slower than verbal communication. Feedback may or may not occur and the certainty of the intended message being received is not as reliable.
One thing to remember about the written word. It can be used as proof in a legal case or dispute. Also, with written communication there is the risk of it being read by someone other than the intended recipient.
Visual Communication
The adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” points to the impact of visual aids in communication. Pictures, graphics and videos are forms of visual communication frequently used to enhance and give clarity to a presentation, advertisement, or document.
Advertising often uses bold pictures to stir emotions from clients and customers. Companies regularly include both print and video mediums in their advertising campaigns. People learn and communicate in different ways. Therefore, the use of visual aids can help us better connect with our audience.
Communication Styles
Lucidchart partnered with the Economist Intelligence Unit to conduct a research study about breakdowns in workplace communication. The result showed 42% of those surveyed cited different communication styles as a leading cause of miscommunication at work.
Further research conducted by Mark Murphy, Leadership IQ, showed that your communication style affects how you send and receive information. Mark's team identified four communication styles (Analytical, Intuitive, Functional and Personal). No one style is better than the others, but understanding which style your coworkers and staff prefer, can make workplace communication more efficient and effective.
“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” Anthony Robbins
More to Come
All aspects of our work involves some form of communication. Employers value strong communication skills among employees at all levels. Becoming skilled at effective communication should be high on your list of skills to develop. Developing excellent communication skills early can aid your career growth and success.
This article is a brief introduction to communication and the first in a upcoming series. Over the next several weeks, our posts will dive deeper into specific elements of communication to provide you with tips that can help you boost your career with effective communication.
Comentários