20 Ways Communication Can Lead To Career Success
20 ways to improve your communication skills for career success . . .
According to a recent LinkedIn™ survey, communication is a top soft skill.
So, here’s a list and specific examples of how to improve:
1. Clear Articulation
“I think we should try this new approach.”
Say: “Implementing this new approach will increase our efficiency by 20%.”
2. Active Listening “I hear you.” Say: “I understand your concerns about the project timeline. Let’s discuss how we can address them.”
3. Persuasion “We should invest in this software.” Say: “Investing in this software will streamline our processes and save us $10,000 annually.”
4. Conflict Resolution “You need to stop arguing.” Say: “Let’s find a solution that works for both of you.”
5. Empathy “That’s not a big deal.” Say: “I can see why you’re upset. Let’s work together to find a solution.”
6. Networking “Can you help me with this?”
√ Say: “I admire your expertise in this area. Could we discuss how we might collaborate?”
7. Professionalism “Hey, can you do this?” Say: “Could you please handle this task by the end of the day? Thank you.”
8. Confidence “I think this might work.” Say: “I’m confident this solution will address our challenges effectively.”
9. Relationship Building “I need your help.” Say: “Your expertise would be invaluable to this project. Can we collaborate?”
10. Instruction Clarity “Do this task.” Say: “Please complete the financial report by Friday and ensure all figures are updated.”
11. Feedback Delivery “Your report was bad.” Say: “Your report had some great insights, but let’s work on making the data presentation clearer.”
12. Public Speaking “I hope this makes sense.” Say: “This strategy will drive our growth by 15% over the next quarter.”
13. Negotiation “I need more time.” Say: “Extending the deadline by one week will ensure we deliver a high-quality product.”
14. Adaptability “This is how I always do it.” Say: “I’m open to trying new methods to improve our results.”
15. Written Communication”Please fix this.” Say: “Could you please revise the budget section to include the latest figures?”
16. Storytelling “We had a good year.” Say: “Our sales increased by 30% this year, thanks to the new marketing strategy we implemented.”
17. Meeting Management “Let’s just get through this.” Say: “Today’s meeting will focus on three key points to ensure we stay on track.”
18. Cultural Sensitivity “That’s not how we do things here.” Say: “I appreciate your perspective. Let’s find a way to integrate your approach with our current practices.”
19. Emotional Intelligence “Calm down.” “I understand this is frustrating. Let’s take a moment to regroup and find a solution.”
20. Body Language Instead of crossing your arms and looking away. Maintain eye contact and use open gestures to show engagement.