Are Your Communication Skills Holding You Back?

Its not what you say but how you say it that counts. Communication is the root of influence and those who can communicate well can get their needs met within the environment. People who are seeking to advance in their positions are often chosen because they can communicate effectively. Even though communication is vitally important to the workplace peoples knowledge of communication skills is very limited (DeKay, 2012). Changing your communicate with others may just change your opportunities.

To be a manager means that you must learn how to manage and influence other people. Without the ability to communicate properly it is doubtful that you will be able to influence and command the level of respect needed to accomplish your goals. I have seen time and time again managers fail because of the way they communicate.

Most of us are aware of great employees that become terrible managers because they can't manage a team.

Communication takes two different forms that include verbal and non-verbal. Verbal communication is what we are trying to say and is expressly provided for the consumption of the listener(s).  When we are clear and concise people are more willing to accept what we have to say.

There is also non-verbal communication. People move beyond our words to the tone, speed, facial expressions, and our non-verbal patterns to determine the intended meaning of the words being spoken. Many of us don't understand the non-verbal cues we give off and how they impact other people and the intended receipt of our ideas.

Improving communication is one way in which we can get promoted. When we communicate well and align our non-verbal communication skills people understand the message better and are willing to act on that information. Future managers central duties are to influence people and ensuring that we are doing so properly raises our opportunities through increased exposure.

DeKay, S. (2012). Interpersonal communication in the workplace: a largely unexplored region. Business Communication Quarterly, 75 (4).

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