In today’s ever-evolving workforce, soft skills are fast becoming highly crucial, and communication skill is known to be one of the most required skills by every employer. The reason for this is communication involves how you interact with your colleagues, clients and stakeholders. It is also very crucial in building relationships at every level.
According to Forbes, in 2024, it was written that communication is at the core of every employer’s demanded skill, and this can be interpreted that communication skill is an essential soft/transferable skill required by employers in today’s global workforce.
In this article, we will be detailing 4 ways you can effectively communicate and why they are important in the workplace.
1) Oral Communication-
This involves exchanging information using spoken words. It is a two-way type of communication that requires a speaker and a listener, allowing instant feedback and clarification where necessary. It is a form of communication that allows you to convey your message directly through speech. This form of communication is very important in the workplace as it enhances overall productivity, boosts instant clarification and transparency and fosters relationships.
2) Written Communication- This is the art of communication with written words. It highly involves understanding the need to write the information you are passing across in a clear, concise and engaging manner, such that your reader can fully understand your message, and the emotions behind just by reading your words. It can take various forms like emails, letters, reports etc. Written communication is very important in the workplace for record-keeping purposes and for passing messages across to someone who is not physically present with you.
3) Active Listening- This is the art of being fully present in a conversation, giving your complete focus and attention to the speaker either verbally/non-verbally with the purpose of hearing and understanding the message being passed across and giving the appropriate feedback. It is very important in the workplace because it gives your team members the impression that you value what they say, and it allows effective collaboration.
4) Non-Verbal Communication- This entails passing messages/information across through facial expressions, appearance, kinesics and body language. It is the transmission of signals from one person to another without relying on spoken and written words. It is very important in the workplace because it conveys emotions more effectively, interprets messages and provides better context for your information.
Understanding these four fundamental ways to communicate is essential if you are seeking to make yourself employable for today’s job market. It is not just about speaking, writing or listening; you also need to understand the role each of them play in your overall communication skill.
Ask yourself these questions-
Do I communicate effectively?
Am I an active listener?
Do I have what it takes to communicate clearly, concisely and in a way that my reader/listener will understand?
If your answer to any of these questions is NO, then you need to seek ways to improve your skills. You can read our article on ways to improve soft skills here, and the good news about this is you can now learn anything online.
At I-Train Africa Skilled For Work Academy, a 3-year tested curriculum and learning process ensures you embody these skills.
You can use the link below to get started.