Most employers agree that good communication skills are paramount when hiring new employees. Job recruiters continue to list communication and interpersonal skills among their top requirements for new employees. Because of its impact on workplace culture, productivity and morale, a lack in communication skills can be a real deficit to job seekers. But with proper education and training through a communication degree online, anyone can overcome these shortcomings.
- Be a Good Listener
The first step in developing strong communication skills is to be a good listener. Deep listening helps reduce misunderstandings and shows that you respect those you are in conversation with. Listening also helps cultivate empathy, which is essential for creating good work relationships and will help you understand how to focus the content and delivery of your message. Without good listening skills, it will be difficult to gain the trust of those you need to collaborate with and easier to encounter the kind of disruption and conflict that can create a toxic workplace.
- Connect
Strong communicators are engaging, ask for feedback and drive the conversation into interesting territory. People will not listen if they feel disconnected from the speaker, and the speaker will not effectively communicate his or her intended message. Once the audience or partner in conversation has been identified, a great speaker or writer may utilize anecdotes, statistics or some other common perspective to make an emotional connection. Whether communication is happening between two people or a crowd in a stadium, no one wants to listen to a speaker who isn’t engaging. Read the audience and act accordingly.
- Have a Singular Focus
Very often, people do not remember the majority of what they hear during talks or lectures. Effective, prepared communicators avoid rambling, which challenges the audience’s attention. Know the topic; know your research; avoid contradictions; maintain focus. Shape your speech, lecture or paper around these directives to minimize message loss, and reinforce key points with stories, context and repetition.
- Keep It Simple
Speakers with strong communication skills assume the audience knows very little about their topics. As such, speakers should not overwhelm their audiences with assumptions or advanced information without first laying a logical foundation. Deliver the message simply and clearly, without condescension. Asking for feedback offers speakers opportunities to ensure everyone understands their messages.
- Practice Communicating
Practice makes perfect. Individuals looking to improve their communication skills should study speakers and writers they find engaging. They should also ask others for feedback regarding their strengths and weaknesses as well as take classes that hone their abilities and fine tune their skills.
A communication degree online offers many benefits for individuals looking to build strong communication skills to build a career around. Online programs make school convenient for working adults by offering flexible schedules. Communication degrees can overlap with several fields, including management, marketing, media studies, business, government, communication, education and others.
The ability to communicate in an interesting, engaging, simple and focused way will serve graduates well in their future career endeavors.
Learn more about Arkansas State University’s online B.A. in Communication Studies program.