Skills Employers Want – #1 Communication

Communication is a critical skill in the workplace. It is not surprising that it is number one on the list of skills that employers want. It is a complex skill that is just as important in our personal relationships as it is at work. The best communicators are curious and courageous, authentic, respectful, and excellent listeners. They are present, observant, and provide feedback to verify understanding. They notice body language, emotional responses revealed by facial expressions, reflect feelings, and express empathy. They contribute interesting ideas and know how to ask good questions to connect with more meaningful conversations that lead to deeper relationships. They capture attention with appealing messages that are special, slightly surprising, helpful, amusing, rare or different, engage emotions, and are entertaining or exciting. It’s time to develop great communication skills!

• Concentrate on being present
• Listen actively
• Observe responses
• Connect with empathy
• Know the communication process and methods

It can help communication when you know your own and others personality types. Improve communication with Myers-Briggs.

Concentrate on being present: Look at the other person, Eliminate distractions, Ask questions to clarify, Phones down! Choose to be clear, concise, complete, and considerate.

Listen actively: Focus your attention on what the other person is saying to you. Active listening is listening for understanding, and it is the power tool of communication.

Observe responses: Notice your own body language and that of those you are communicating with: hand gestures, head motions, expressions, looks, posture, and proximity. Pay attention to responses.

Connect with empathy: Employ emotional intelligence skills to express empathy.

Know the Communication Process and Methods

While communication is simply an exchange of information, there are many things that can interfere with the sending and reception of a message.  A message includes the content, the voice, and non-verbal or body language.

communication models

TRANSMISSION (verbal & nonverbal)
↳ VERBAL: content (spoken words) plus voice (paralanguage)
↳ NONVERBAL (kinesics)
A large part of communication comes from tone of voice and nonverbal components.
MESSAGE [encoding (to transmit) and decoding (to receive) meaning]
⤍ RECEPTION (listen & observe)
⤍ RESPONSE (verbal & nonverbal plus feedback)

VERBAL

↳ The CONTENT of the message is the words that are chosen

↳ VOICE (paralanguage)

• Clarity: speech and meaning
• Rate: fast – slow
• Intonation: emphasis and pitch
• Soft – loud volume
• Pitch: high – low

Watch Julian Treasure TED talk “How To Speak So People Will Want to Listen”

NON VERBAL (Sometimes called kinesics or body language)

• Hand gestures
• Head motions
• Expressions
• Looks – eye contact
• Posture and proximity

TED talks “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” by Amy Cuddy and “The Power of Non Verbal Communication” by Joe Navarro.

CONTEXT

• Cultural
• Relational
• Individual
• Social
• Physical environment

RECEPTION relies on clear channels and good listening skills.

• Concentrate attention
• Look to notice body language
• Evaluate emphasis in voice
• Ask questions to clarify
• Reflect and respond

RESPONSE

VERBAL FEEDBACK + VOICE and BODY LANGUAGE

• Reflect, “how do you feel about that?”
• Ask questions, “can you tell me more about that?”
• Paraphrase, summarize in your own words, “is that right?”

When is it best to communicate in person, or by text or telephone, by email or mail? Choose a method of communication based on the content and who you need to communicate with. Consider:
• Formality and feedback needed
• Response required
• Audience number and preferences
• Message length and urgency
• Emotional or confidential content, documentation

The how to choose Communication Methods Mind Map created with Mindmup:

Daily PlanIt posts about communication:

• Meaningful conversations – Infographic The Art of Conversation
• Listening Skills – Infographic Listening Skills
• Understanding Body Language – Infographic Understanding Body Language
• Simple Way to Create a Compelling Talk – Infographic How to Engage Interest
• 12 Communication Skills

Additional Communication Skills:

• written communication
• telephone skills and etiquette
• how to choose the best method of communication
• create effective presentations that grab interest
• develop a personal brand and elevator speech
• networking
• storytelling

Learn the #1 Skill that Employers want

More from the Daily Planit:

• The Communication Process at the Daily PlanIt Shop.
• Links to more resources at Communicate well, one of the weekly activities during the Year of Personal Development series at the Daily PlanIt.
• The Daily PlanIt Wiki page on communication.
• Communication board at Pinterest
• Communication playlist at Youtube

Books and videos: [Amazon affiliate links provide a small commission that helps support the Daily PlanIt]

• • Charles Duhigg “Supercommunicators” | TED talk
  • Matt Abrahams “Think Faster, Talk Smarter” | TED talk
  • How the Communication Process Works video from Alanis Business Academy
  • TED talk The Art of Effective Communication by Marcus Alexander Velazquez
  • Tim Ferris video on How to Ask Better Questions
  • Phil M Jones “Exactly What to Say“

Articles:

• • Communication Studies at libretexts.org, I.C.A.T. interpersonal communication
  • Communications at Illinoisworknet.com
  • Effective Communication at HelpGuide.org (listening and nonverbal communication)
  • Communication basics from MIT
  • Communication Skills Guide at Simplicable
  • Communication skills at businessballs.com
  • Enhancing Communication Skills at management.org

Courses:

Free

• Improving Communication at Coursera
• The Art and Science of Communication at Skillsoft
• Communication at ABC Skills Hub
• Principles of Human Communication at Saylor.org includes many links to the videos by Professor Martha J. Haun (see below) as well as other videos and written information online.
• Introduction to Communication at Learnerstv.com. This is an extensive video lecture series on Introduction to Communication by Professor Martha J. Haun of the University of Houston.
• Communications 102 at study.com

$

• Effective Communication 101 at Universalclass.com
• Effective Business Communication at staffkit.com
• T.A.L.K. your way to better communication from Marcus Alexander Velazquez

TED Talks to sharpen communication skills, This is your brain on communication

This is one of a series of posts based on the results of a survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers on the top ten skills employers want. Each post provides links to websites for learning the skills.

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.