This document outlines 5 ways to sharpen communication skills. They are: 1) Recognize your flaws by identifying areas for improvement like body language, drafting emails, or articulation. 2) Seek coaches at work who can help with weaknesses. 3) Engage your audience through eye contact, avoiding monologues, and getting their views. 4) Leverage internal opportunities like training programs and projects to improve skills. 5) Use the right words by beginning and ending positively and showing appreciation to build rapport. The document emphasizes the importance of communication skills for work success and earning trust through clear communication.

1. Five Ways to
Sharpen
Communication Skills

2. From handling a sales presentation, to resolving conflicts, to
running an all-hands-on-deck meeting, the ability to
communicate well is paramount for success at work.
Clear communication helps one earn the trust and
respect of peers, seniors and clients.
An employee who recognizes ones inadequacies and has the
willingness to learn has already taken the first steps to
succeed in the process.
Importance

3. Recognize Your
Flaws
Seek Coaches at
Work
Engage Your
Audience
Use the Right
Words
Leverage Internal
Opportunities
5 Ways to sharpen

4. 1. Recognize your flaws
Communication can happen in a variety of ways and could
include verbal, nonverbal or written communication.
To embark on the process of improvement, one has to
recognize ones areas of improvement first.
Body language that is a cause of concern, drafting
emails, or articulation.
Identify the areas where you need to invest time on
learning.

5.  The 70:20:10 approach for improving communication skills.
 While 70 is about on-the-job learning and making use
of all the internal opportunities by reading, improving
vocabulary, practicing during meetings
 20 is about mentors or coaches
 10 is classroom learning through other forums.
 Coach is someone who is good with what you are lacking in
and could help you improve.
2. Seek coaches at work

6. Proper Eye contact between Audience.
Monologue style to avoided.
Through regular practice, work on building eye-contact and
use ways like prompting audience for their views to keep
them engaged.
3. Engage Your Audience

7.  Attend company run internal trainings programs
 Participate in customized community based HR-centric
programs / projects linked to functions which can deal with
improving identified skill gaps.
 Make a peer or a senior as your buddy / coach & mentor.
 We could all do with a good sounding board at work.
4. Leverage Internal Opportunities

8.  Communication and interpersonal skills matter the
most to recruiters according to an opinion poll conducted
by market research firm Harris Interactive in the US.
 Beginning and ending conversations on a positive note,
thanking people for their time, and showing appreciation
can also help one build rapport with people.
5. Use the Right Words

9. Anil Nair
Anilkr.nair@gmail.com
91-85929-64411