So, what precisely is the usefulness of effective communication? Why the big hoopla over it? What is so difficult about talking to another person? Isn’t it natural? What’s there to be learnt about?
Effective communication skills do not only merely involve speaking etc. It is all inclusive – interpersonal, intergroup, intragroup, intercultural, non verbal, keen listening are some of the main skills. It can be easily seen that effective communication are essential in each and every domain of our life, be it individual or professional.
Very soon I will find myself exiting the academic sphere and stepping into the whirlwind of working society. Having mastery in skills such as interpersonal and intercultural communication will be indispensable to me from the very first moment – landing THE job. In this knowledge based economy where fresh graduates are a dime a dozen, technical or academic qualifications are most likely to be quite similar for all candidates vying for the plum job. Communication skills have henceforth become the determining element in helping fresh graduates gain employment. (Winsor, Curtis and Stephens, 1997) More and more emphasis is placed on speaking skills rather then a graduate’s CAP. Companies are apt to hire candidates who can communicate competently during interviews. This is simple logic. Employees who are good communicators present a healthy image of a company. Who would want a person mediocre at communication to be the face of their company?? It is crucial to be well versed in communication skills as it would give me a slight edge over others and that would be a boost to my future job search.
In addition, I personally feel that these abilities such as being able to relate to co – workers or clients (interpersonal communication), listening critically, designating control, group problem solving (intragroup communication), asking questions appropriately to acquire understanding, to work in teams and with people from diverse cultures (intercultural communication) is a must for myself if I desire a successful and fulfilling corporate career in time to come. Proficiency in communication can also help me to form positive networks for future collaborations and prevent misunderstandings among my work mates.
Hence I hope to be able to grasp at least the basics of these skills before I leap head – on and face the real world.
Effective communication skills do not only merely involve speaking etc. It is all inclusive – interpersonal, intergroup, intragroup, intercultural, non verbal, keen listening are some of the main skills. It can be easily seen that effective communication are essential in each and every domain of our life, be it individual or professional.
Very soon I will find myself exiting the academic sphere and stepping into the whirlwind of working society. Having mastery in skills such as interpersonal and intercultural communication will be indispensable to me from the very first moment – landing THE job. In this knowledge based economy where fresh graduates are a dime a dozen, technical or academic qualifications are most likely to be quite similar for all candidates vying for the plum job. Communication skills have henceforth become the determining element in helping fresh graduates gain employment. (Winsor, Curtis and Stephens, 1997) More and more emphasis is placed on speaking skills rather then a graduate’s CAP. Companies are apt to hire candidates who can communicate competently during interviews. This is simple logic. Employees who are good communicators present a healthy image of a company. Who would want a person mediocre at communication to be the face of their company?? It is crucial to be well versed in communication skills as it would give me a slight edge over others and that would be a boost to my future job search.
In addition, I personally feel that these abilities such as being able to relate to co – workers or clients (interpersonal communication), listening critically, designating control, group problem solving (intragroup communication), asking questions appropriately to acquire understanding, to work in teams and with people from diverse cultures (intercultural communication) is a must for myself if I desire a successful and fulfilling corporate career in time to come. Proficiency in communication can also help me to form positive networks for future collaborations and prevent misunderstandings among my work mates.
Hence I hope to be able to grasp at least the basics of these skills before I leap head – on and face the real world.
Hello Valerie,
ReplyDeleteNice post, but first things first... dots... You quoted a paper in a blog post??? >_<"... Suddenly, this module feels so much more competitive. Just joking =p
I am glad to see that our posts are almost identical. But then again, in light of the current economic situation, I guess all of us graduating students have this preoccupation. The fasicination with employment prospects that some of my peers have seem to even border on the morbid... ...
I agree heartily too with the importance of communication skills in working effectively and succeeding in our careers. I feel it's not just about using effective communication skills to sell your ideas, to clinch a deal or to make a presentation, but also to maintain positive relationships with colleagues. The threats of conflicts arising due to communication break-ups is very real in the modern workplace. This is particularly acute in Singapore where there is a large diversity of cultures in the office. The chances of misunderstandings multiply too when English is the common medium of exchange but not the primary language of use for some. Attaining harmony in the workplace is thus so much more challenging.
Whoops, forgot to sign off. =p
ReplyDelete-Wanliang
*Nods nods. I agree! Even with the best grades but not knowing how to communicate effectively will not get a desired job. It will then be harder to build a relationship with these people (likely to be your colleagues too).
ReplyDeleteBottom line: Communicate well to be understood ;)
Hi Valarie,
ReplyDeleteHaha more often than not people judge others firstly by the way they present themselves, secondly by how they articulate themselves. I agree going thru courses such as this will definitely improve standing among other applicants in the event where we are shortlisted as interview candidates as probably we are able to represent ourselves better. =]
With help from the course i guess we are building a foundation of communication skills which we can develop with experience to be much prominant and noticeable everywhere we go. (hopefully in a good way haha! =])
Cheers,
Woei Perng
Hi Valerie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that communication skills are more important than one's CAP during a job interview. It is understandable that any companies would not want their employees to just have the capabilities to do their work, but also know how to communicate with each other.
Just like how you feel, I also hope that I could have a grasp of better communication skills, not only in the context of finding a job but also in the interaction with my friends.
Let's work hard together to achieve our goals to become proficient communicators in the near future!
You already have an advantage over other prospective job applicants in that you appreciate that how you express yourself is nearly as important as what you express. In this way, presentation skills are the packaging of a product and the message the product itself. However, I think it is misleading to liken people to goods as we should never lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with emotionally complex and sometimes irrational people and that is the communicator's challenge.
ReplyDeleteMrs Richardson