Despite good communication being an important skill for everyone and for every place, it can also be very important for career success. Effective professional communication is about conveying important information from one source to another. If that information is communicated clearly and effectively, businesses are more likely to run efficiently.
Effective communication is important for career success because leaders who build a culture of positive communication can help a business reach its goals with greater efficiency, produce satisfied workers and improve brand identity.
Aline Uwase a communications expert, says that effective communication improves relationships and connections in a career.
"While on our career paths, we meet different people with different opportunities, therefore, having great communication or effective communication can attract many opportunities your way through the people you meet and how you interact with them. If you have great interaction with people it will be easy to create good relationships and meaningful connections for your career,” she says.
Emile Uwayo, a web developer, says that effective communication skills also increases chances for leadership roles in the future.
"An employee that has great communication increases their chances of becoming a leader in the future. In the workplace where the employee’s communication is effective it gives the employers and the managers an image of who they can be if they were a leader in the company, promotions can be born from there, and opportunities to work in other companies can come from having an effective communication,” he says.
Uwayo also adds that effective communication gains co-workers and employers’ trust, "getting along with people you work with generates success, and especially when they are different it shows that you are capable of adapting anywhere with no problems, building trust with your teammates will definitely move you up the ladder,” he concludes.
According to the Houston Chronicle a daily newspaper in Houston, effective communication skills develop presentation skills.
"Workers who learn persuasive speaking are more likely to become future leaders themselves within a company, according to an article in "Forbes” magazine. Learning the basics of good communication, such as making appropriate eye contact, will pay off when you’re asked to do a presentation. Your ability to engage others, and influence their opinions, can play a big role in whether you’re entrusted with similar assignments or left on the sidelines,” the article states.
The article also notes that it improves employee relations, "Managers also benefit from mastering effective communication skills. Employees are more likely to respond positively to feedback that’s clear, consistent, and free from emotionally charged comments. Positive reinforcement for work well done is essential for building team members’ self-esteem, which leads to an improvement in employee relations over the long run. A manager who learns and practices good communication skills is more likely to gain trust, instead of being seen as "that boss.”
How to improve communication skills
MasterClass, an American online education subscription platform shares a few tips on how to improve communication skills:
Practice active listening. Mastering nonverbal cues and nonverbal signals can help prevent miscommunication and signal interest to those around you.
Manage your own emotions. For the sake of clear communication and your own personal well-being, it’s important to manage your emotions and express them appropriately in context.
Ask for feedback. There’s no shame in asking for honest feedback on your communication skills from colleagues.
Practice public speaking. Public speaking may sound daunting, but there’s no better way to develop good communication skills than by seeking out public speaking opportunities.
Develop a filter. Effective communicators generally have highly developed social skills and are able to modulate how they express their thoughts and feelings to those around them.