No matter what industry you are in or what your professional goals are, communication skills are vital. You need communication skills to excel in interviews, impress hiring managers, understand instructions and communicate with clients and co-workers.
Whether you’re a natural born talker or are shy about making your voice heard, there are tips and tricks you can use to improve your communication skills. Here are a few of those tips:
- Ask lots of questions: When you talk with others, make sure you fully understand their point and give them a chance to form a bond with you by sharing information they want to impart. Asking questions is an effective way to make a connection and to learn how to move forward with building a successful professional relationship.
- Take the time to listen: Communication is a two-way street. Your goal isn’t just to make your own voice heard, but also to learn from the people you are speaking with. Yet, far too many people will wait for their chance to talk rather than truly listening to what others are saying. When someone is speaking to you, give your full attention to their words rather than thinking about how you’ll respond.
- Watch your body language: Body language is a key part of communication. Make eye contact when speaking to someone, use a power pose if you’re not feeling confident but need to come across that way, and avoid fidgeting or using wild hand gestures that can distract from the points that you are trying to make.
- Avoid filler words: Filler words like “um” or “like” can undermine the effectiveness of your speech. In both professional and personal settings, try to edit these words out of your vocabulary. Ask a friend to tell you when you use a filler word in casual conversation, and make a point of listening for filler words yourself whenever you are talking.
With good communication skills, you should have plenty of great career opportunities to take advantage of. High Profile can help you to find your next job in Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas. Give us a call at 972-991-7900 or contact us online to find out more about how we can assist with your job search.