Communication skills are the ability to convey or share ideas and feelings effectively. They are essential for success in both personal and professional life.
There are many different aspects of communication skills, including:
Verbal communication: This is the ability to speak clearly and concisely. It also includes the ability to listen effectively and to ask clarifying questions.
Nonverbal communication: This includes body language, eye contact, and facial expressions. Nonverbal communication can often be just as important as verbal communication.
Written communication: This includes the ability to write clearly and concisely. It also includes the ability to proofread and edit your work.
Interpersonal communication: This is the ability to communicate effectively with others. It includes the ability to build relationships, to resolve conflicts, and to work collaboratively.
Communication skills are essential for success in both personal and professional life. They can help you to:
Build relationships: Communication skills can help you to build relationships with others. When you are able to communicate effectively, you are more likely to be able to connect with others and to build rapport.
Solve problems: Communication skills can help you to solve problems. When you are able to communicate effectively, you are more likely to be able to understand the problem, to gather information, and to come up with a solution.
Be more persuasive: Communication skills can help you to be more persuasive. When you are able to communicate effectively, you are more likely to be able to influence others and to get them to see your point of view.
There are many different ways to improve your communication skills. Some tips include:
Practice: The more you practice communicating, the better you will become at it.
Get feedback: Ask for feedback from others on your communication skills. This can help you to identify areas where you can improve.
Take a class: There are many different classes available that can help you to improve your communication skills.
Read books and articles: There are many books and articles available that can provide tips on how to improve your communication skills.
2. Communications skills pain points
• Lack of clarity: This is when the speaker is not clear about what they
are trying to say. This can be due to a number of factors, such as using
jargon, complex language, or not organizing their thoughts effectively.
• Poor body language: This is when the speaker's body language is
not congruent with their message. For example, if the speaker is saying
that they are confident, but their body language is closed off and
hesitant, the audience will be confused.
3. Communications skills pain points
• Filler words: These are words and phrases that are used to fill up
space, such as "um," "like," and "you know." They can make the speaker
sound unsure of themselves and can be distracting to the audience.
• Interrupting: This is when the speaker interrupts the audience or other
speakers. It can be rude and disrespectful, and it can make it difficult for
the audience to follow the speaker's train of thought.
• Not listening: This is when the speaker is not paying attention to the
audience or other speakers. It can make the speaker seem uninterested
and can be disrespectful to the audience.
4. Effective communication skills are essential for success
in both personal and professional life. They allow you to
clearly and concisely convey your ideas, build
relationships, and resolve conflict.
5. Communication
Communication is the act of sharing and receiving information
•Verbal communication is the use of words to convey meaning. This can be done
through speaking, writing, or signing.
•Nonverbal communication is the use of non-verbal cues to convey meaning.
This can include body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and touch.
Nonverbal communication convey your feelings and can have a positive or negative
impact on your message.
6. Communication Skills Break down
1. The 7 C's
2. Listening
3. Consensus Building
4. Proactive Communication
5. Giving Feedback
6. Receiving Feedback
7. The 7 C's
The 7 C's of communication is a checklist that helps to improve the clarity and
effectiveness of communication.
The 7 C's are:
1. Clear: The message should be clear and easily understandable to the recipient.
2. Concise: The message should be concise and to the point.
3. Concrete: The message should be specific and supported by evidence.
4. Correct: The message should be free from errors in grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
5. Coherent: The message should flow logically and make sense.
6. Complete: The message should include all the necessary information.
7. Courteous: The message should be respectful and considerate of the recipient.
8. The 7 C's
By following the 7 C's of communication, you can improve your chances of getting
your message across clearly and effectively.
1. Be aware of your audience: When you are communicating, be aware of the needs and
expectations of your audience. Tailor your message to their level of understanding and their
interests.
2. Use plain language: Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience may not
understand. Use simple language that is easy to understand.
3. Be specific: When you are communicating, be specific about what you are trying to say. Avoid
using vague or general terms.
4. Use evidence: Support your claims with evidence. This could include statistics, examples, or
expert opinions.
5. Be organized: Organize your message in a logical way. This will make it easier for your
audience to follow your argument.
6. Be respectful: Be respectful of your audience's time and their feelings. Avoid being rude or
offensive.
9. Communication: Listening
It is the process of receiving and interpreting messages. When we listen effectively,
we are able to understand the speaker's point of view, identify their needs, and
build rapport.
1. Do not interrupt when someone is speaking
2. Pay attention. Do not look distracted - make eye contact and nod when appropriate!
3. Try to remember what is being said, and then restate it in simple terms.
You can add "Did I get that right?" Restating and asking for confirmation is a practice is
called active listening and it can be especially valuable when the conversation is complex
and/or tense.
Active listening: It paying attention to the speaker's words, body language, and tone of
voice
10. Communication: Building Consensus
is the process of reaching an agreement that everyone can support. It is a
collaborative process that involves listening to everyone's ideas and concerns, and
then working together to find a solution that everyone can agree on.
steps to building consensus:
1.Start by listening to everyone's ideas and concerns.
2.Once you have listened to everyone's ideas, start to look for common ground.
3.Be willing to compromise.
4.Be respectful of everyone's opinions.
5.Be patient.
11. Communication: Proactive Communication
Proactive communication is the act of communicating in advance to avoid problems
or to inform others of important information.
It is the opposite of reactive communication, which occurs after a problem has
already arisen.
•It can help to prevent problems. By communicating in advance, you can identify
potential problems and take steps to avoid them. For example, if you know that a
deadline is approaching, you can proactively communicate with your team to
ensure that everyone is on track.
•It can build trust and rapport. When you communicate proactively, you show that
you are thinking ahead and that you are committed to keeping others informed. This
can help to build trust and rapport with your colleagues, clients, and other
stakeholders.
•It can improve efficiency. By communicating proactively, you can avoid having to
deal with problems after they have already arisen. This can save time and
resources.
•It can improve customer satisfaction. In customer service, proactive
communication can help to reduce customer frustration and improve satisfaction.
For example, you could proactively communicate with customers about the status
of their order or about any changes to your policies.
12. Communication: Proactive Communication
Proactive communication vs Reactive communication
Feature Proactive Communication Reactive Communication
When does it occur? Before a problem arises After a problem arises
Purpose
To prevent problems or to inform
others of important information
To solve problems or to respond to
feedback
Benefits
Can help to prevent problems, build
trust, improve efficiency, and
improve customer satisfaction
Can help to solve problems, resolve
conflicts, and improve relationships
Drawbacks
Can be time-consuming, can be
difficult to get everyone on the same
page, and can be seen as being too
controlling
Can be seen as being defensive, can
lead to missed opportunities, and
can damage relationships
13. Communication: Giving Feedback
is the process of providing information about someone's performance.
It can be positive or negative, but it should always be constructive.
1.Be specific.
Don't just say "good job" or "you need to improve." Instead, be specific about what the
person did well or what they need to improve on.
2.Be timely.
Don't wait too long to give feedback. The sooner you give feedback, the more likely the
person is to remember what they did and how they can improve.
3.Be respectful.
Even if you have negative feedback, be respectful of the person's feelings. Remember that
they are trying their best, and they deserve to be treated with respect.
4.Be helpful.
The goal of feedback is to help the person improve their performance. So, make sure that
your feedback is helpful and actionable.
14. Communication: Giving Feedback
some tips for giving feedback:
1. Start by praising the person's strengths.
2. Then, be specific about the areas where they can improve, Be clear about what they
need to do to improve their performance.
3. End on a positive note. Let the person know that you believe in them and that you are
confident that they can improve.
1. Choose the right time and place. Don't give feedback in front of other people or when
the person is stressed or busy.
2. Be clear about your expectations. Let the person know what you expect from them
and how their performance can be improved.
3. Be open to feedback yourself. Ask the person for their feedback on your
performance. This will help you to improve your own communication skills.
15. Communication: Receiving Feedback
is the process of listening to and considering information about your performance. It
can be positive or negative, but it is important to be open to feedback in order to
improve your performance.
1. Listen actively. This means paying attention to what the person is saying and trying to
understand their point of view.
2. Don't be defensive. It is natural to feel defensive when you receive negative feedback,
but it is important to try to stay calm and listen to what the person is saying.
3. Ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask the person to clarify.
4. Think about the feedback. Once you have had a chance to think about the feedback,
decide whether it is constructive and helpful.
5. Thank the person for their feedback. Even if you don't agree with the feedback, it is
important to thank the person for taking the time to give it to you.