Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Improve Your Communication Skills

Why Communications Skills Are So Important:

The purpose of communication is to get your message across to others. This is a process that involves both the sender of the message and the receiver. This process leaves room for error, with messages often misinterpreted by one or more of the parties involved. This causes unnecessary confusion and counter productivity.

In fact, a message is successful only when both the sender and the receiver perceive it in the same way.

By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you convey do not necessarily reflect your own, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of your goals – both personally and professionally.

In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees, communication skills were cited as the single more important decisive factor in choosing managers. The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Business School, points out that communication skills, including written and oral presentations, as well as an ability to work with others, are the main factor contributing to job success.

In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle with this, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively – whether in verbal or written format. This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to compete effectively in the workplace, and stands in the way of career progression.

Getting your message across is paramount to progressing. To do this, you must understand what your message is, what audience you are sending it to, and how it will be perceived. You must also weigh-in the circumstances surrounding your communications, such as situational and cultural context.
Regardless of what size business you are in – a large corporation, a small company, or even a home-based business – effective communication skills are essential for success.

The articles in this section of Mind Tools help you to understand effective communication, and then show you how to communicate your message in the best possible way. After completing this section, you should have a better understanding of how to communicate effectively – to individuals and groups, via spoken communications, written communications, and even electronic communications.
These include other important sections that help you be the best you can be, courses, book reviews and more. Take a look around this Communications Skills section of the Mind Tools web site, and then take the time to view other sections, all researched and written by the Mind Tools staff, who share a strong commitment to helping you achieve lifelong success and happiness.
Find out what you need to know about Communication Skills in the articles below.

Introduction to Communication Skills - Why You Must Get Your Message Across

Making a Great First Impression

The Johari Window - Helping People Understand One-Another

Better Public Speaking - Ensure Your Words Are Always Understood

Writing Skills - Before You Write It Down, Know This

Effective Email - Communicate Clearly in the Technology Age

Ice Breakers - Setting the Scene for Productive Meetings

Running Productive Meetings

Win-Win Negotiation

Speaking to an Audience - Communicate Complex Ideas Successfully

Active Listening - Hear What People Are Really Saying

Presentation Planning Checklist

Guest Article: Ten Tips for Effective Email

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