Are you looking to advance in your career? You may want to reevaluate your communication skills.
Communication is not just important for work but is also crucial for everyday functioning as well.
We can’t escape it, communicating with our peers, colleagues and family is a must. And if you can do so effectively in all areas then your life will no doubt be easier than for most of us. The issue is everyone can communicate, but not all are effective communicators. As it relates to our work and our desire to advance in our careers, there is no better soft skill to have than effective communication.
What is effective communication?
Communication is a two-way process and this means to be an effective communicator you must be a good listener and equally good speaker. Physician communication expert Kenneth H. Cohn, MD, MBA, FACS states that to be an effective communicator you must start with active listening, “Active listening is listening with all of one’s senses,”. He adds “It’s listening with one’s eyes as well as one’s ears. Only 8% of communication is related to content — the rest pertains to body language and tone of voice.”
Communication, however, should not be thought of as a one-time occurrence but instead a process. It is a process that you should pay attention to, and improve upon for it to be effective. Therefore, it takes revamping our skills and learning new ideas to keep communicating effectively. Communication comes naturally, but effective communication only comes with practice.
How you can improve your communication skills at all levels. Here are some key takeaways on an effective communication from the EdApp:
Optimize your clarity in conversations:- Optimizing your piece ensures that you can get your point across in spite of attention spans being the lowest they’ve ever been.
1. Do not waste time getting your point across
Suspend your ego’ and focus on the information you’re trying to give the other person. Avoid using jargon and use simple words that the other person is sure to understand.
For example, instead of saying “paradigm shift”, say fundamental change. Fundamental change is easier to comprehend and can be used in different industries and contexts.
Tip: Keep it simple and avoid business jargon whenever possible.
2. Know what you’re talking about.
With knowledge, comes confidence. Effective communication is not only about sounding clear, it’s also about being accurate. Make sure you know what you’re talking about, and be honest if you don’t know the answer to a question. If people can tell that you’re just making answers up, they may lose interest in continuing the conversation which may cost you opportunities to connect in the future. Knowing what you’re talking about can save you from the embarrassment of being found out. Admitting that you don’t know the answer will also garner respect.
3. Mind your tone
How you say what you say matters. Subtly adjust your tone and energy to mirror your conversational partner. This lets them know that you’re paying attention to what they’re saying, which encourages them to be a more active participant in the conversation. If your conversational partner is speaking enthusiastically about a topic, and you reply in low, hushed tones, they are likely to interpret that as a sign of disinterest. Match the tone and energy of your conversational partner. Matching the tone and energy of your conversational partner lets them know that you are listening which compels them to be more active and engaged.
Tip: People can tell if you’re not paying attention to what they’re saying and they’ll be less likely to enjoy, let alone continue the conversation. Subtly mirror the tone and energy of your conversational partner to ensure engagement in your conversation.
3. Keep your reputation intact
No matter how well you speak, no one will trust a word you say if you have a bad reputation. If you do as you say, avoid scandals, and practice integrity. People will respect your word, allowing you to communicate with them effectively. Keeping your reputation intact gives people reason to listen to what you have to say.
Yosef is a co-founder and advisor/consultant for Azolex LLC, a global legal technology and cybersecurity firm specializing in infosec, data management compliance, training, and awareness. He is a dynamic business entrepreneur who understands enterprise business requirements and has built and provided services that help both businesses and individuals.
In his LinkedIn newsletter Leadership By Design and other platforms such as medium.com, he shares his views on the threat landscape, the difference leadership can make in securing data, how individuals can develop their leadership skills, and the importance of a proactive security framework.
He has worked in leadership positions for several IT companies in the EMEA region.
