Sunday 27 January 2013

Blog Post #1



Why effective communication skills are important for me:


Effective communication is more than just exchanging information, it is also about understanding the emotion behind the information delivered. While communication is something we cannot do away with in life, effective communication becomes important to me as it allows us to better understand a person or a situation, resolve differences we face in daily interactions, build trust and respect amongst peers and family members, and create an environment where creative ideas and problem solving can flourish. 


As simple as communication may seem, much of what is being communicated in the process gets misunderstood, and this can cause conflicts and frustrations in our personal and professional relationships. Thus, learning about effective communication skills will equip me with a vital set of soft skills in maintaining happy and long-lasting relationships, as well as boosting my self confidence and establishing successful social interactions. These skills include active listening, non-verbal communication, managing stress and emotional awareness. Active listening refers to understanding how the speaker feels about what they are communicating apart from the information communicated. Non-verbal communication refers to our body language that is powerful in conveying to others how we feel than words ever can. Managing stress is essential especially when it gets overwhelming, because it hampers effective communication by disrupting our capacity to think clearly and act appropriately. This will likely cause us to misread others and send back off-putting non-verbal signals, which may eventually lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behavior. Lastly, developing emotional awareness allows us to understand and empathize with the speaker, even if we do not like the message that is being delivered to us.


Finally, I am entering the workforce soon and effective communication skills are very important for me in pursuing my career. First will be the written form of communication that encompasses my resume and application letter writing, which serves as my stepping stone to a successful career. Next will be to perform well at the interviews and secure a job for myself. Last, to do well in the job and advance in my career, effective communication will enhance my opportunities for personal growth in aspects such as leadership abilities and networking skills which are highly sought after in today’s competitive and high-paced job market.