The Importance of Communication Skills

Have you ever been misquoted, leading to a huge misunderstanding because a friend heard "dyeing" as "dying", rushing to the supposed scene of the crime only to find the person in question getting new blond locks? Or have you ever been threatened or sworn at after making an innocent "peace" sign while taking a photograph next to those tall bushy hat waring British guards along the streets of London? Yeah I know it is a bit of an exaggerated scenario, but think about this: If only we knew and rectified the mistakes we made in communicating our thoughts, be it with words or non-verbally, we can not only avoid such confusion, but also develop stronger relationships in places like the office. That's the beauty of effective communication, and why it's important to develop proper communcation skills.

Effective communication starts with a strong command of language. With the right use of words, crisp pronounciation and correct interpretation, one can accurately transmit his thoughts, feelings or information effectively. This way, people interacting with each other can understand one another well and carry out relavant tasks more efficiently. This is especially important in the workplace because everyone knows that time is money, and if the proper channels of communications are used, much can be accomplised to achieve the optimum results that mangement requires.

Of course, verbal communication is but a mere 7% of effective communication. A major aspect of developing effective communcation skills is to also learn the art of body language. A simple slouch of the body or that intense frown on your boss' face can tell you much more than what's coming out of his mouth. Learning to read and interpret these non-verbal gestures will ultimately improve a person's EQ and his sensitivity towards the hidden meanings between the lines of someone else's speech. This is not a skill that can be taught but something that one has to learn throughout his life through constant face to face interactions. This helps in scenarios such as when meeting with clients or day to day activities with fellow colleagues. Sometimes when words just don't say everything, we can use this communication skill to further comprehend what the other party is trying to say and hence, either cater to a client's needs more readily, or forge stronger bonds with your family at work.

Developing effective communcation skills is an asset when dealing with our daily routines, such as at the workplace or even at home with our loved ones. It goes a long way in ensuring we maintain good relationships as well as a high level of professionalism at work. This is what we should aim for... because that's what life is all about isn't it?