Good communication skills!

So, possessing good communication skills is vital in order to be heard and succeed!! Some of the most important skills needed in order to succeed include:

Clarity:

Ensuring that people completely understand what you are saying. It is always good to ask "have you understood?" so as to ensure that people "get" what you are saying

Listening:

Communications skills are a two way street. It is equally important to be a good listener as well as a good talker. Lstening to and understanding what others have to say will help you to communicate better with others.

Precision:

Be precise, keep it short and hold the atention of your audience. Don’t ramble on because you like the sound of your own voice. By being precise you are more likely to be listened to!!

Courtesy :

Always be courteous whilst speaking to others, whether they be senior to you, junior to you, or your peers. Don’t be disparaging or condescending to juniors, whilst being over-heaping praise or compliments on seniors. In summary, communiacte with others in the same manner as you would like to be communicated to.

Language :

Be as concise, clear and straightforward as possible. Avoid using slang or colloquialisms at all costs, as these only serve to cheapen the content of what you communicate and may make you appear unprofessional. Also try to avoid the over-use of acronyms or “buzz-words”, as these may give the impression of being a self-defence buffer!!

Body Language :

Your body language can be as important as the content of your delivery. Don't be over-bearing when speaking to people, and respect other people's "personal space" . Always sit upright when people are speaking to you, as being slouched can give the impression of a lack of respect. Also, don’t avoid eye contact, as you may appear insincere or weak if you stare away or stare at the ground whilst speaking to someone.