Effective Communication Skills

Communication skills are often ranked as the most important professional skills by several CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. The reason for that is all the other skills on that list like teamwork, ability to influence others, etc. are dependent on an individual’s ability to communicate. Developing communication skills can help all as-pects of a person’s life. From your professional life to social gatherings and everything in between. The ability to communicate information accurately, clearly and as intended, is a vital life skill and something that should not be overlooked.

The reason why we refer to ‘communication skills’ in plural form is because there are several skills that we use to communicate. Consider this – there are three forms of communication: verbal, non-verbal, and written. Each of these can be further broken down further and further until you have micro skills. The ability to persuade a listen-er, for instance, is also a ‘communication’ skill. Having said that, it is never too late to enhance communication skills. This program is strategically designed to encompass all aspects of communication and how they can be used in tandem to get the best possible results from any given situation. Some qualities of an excellent communicator are:

  • Ability to express thoughts in a desired manner
  • Sensitivity towards the receiver
  • Storytelling ability to enhance communication effectiveness and comprehension
  • Understanding of all the three forms of communication
  • Response mechanism to suit a proactive style of communication as opposed to a reactive style
  • Situational communication skills – what to use and when

Excellent communicators are better able to….

  • Guide the communication process through survey and investigation of events
  • Keep communication simple and effective
  • Evaluate their own communication style and use it effectively
  • Put their thoughts across accurately in personal or professional conversations
  • Communicate in a formal environment
  • Use all the three forms of communication i.e. Verbal, non-verbal, and written, judiciously
  • Adopt a simple story-telling approach to communicate powerful and easily comprehensible messages
  • Create lasting impressions