Effective communication skills are the foundation of successful team collaboration and achievement, so if you are looking for ways to boost your team’s collaboration to reach long-term success, you should start working on communication today.
Communication is considered the most sought after skill by companies. In this article, you will get to know the different types of communication and 12 important communication skills that can perfected for a team that performs beyond the curve.
What are the types of communication?
Communication is the process of exchanging information between individuals or groups and it involves the transmission and reception of messages in different ways:
- Verbal, what we say orally with the use of language, vocabulary, grammar, tone of voice, pitch, and intonation.
- Non verbal, like facial expressions, body language, gestures, postures and eye contact
- Visual, using resources like images, graphics, symbols and emojis to communicate concepts
- Written, conveying concepts in emails, reports, articles and text messages
At work, communication can be of all kinds, but regardless of the chosen format, there are communication skills that permeate all formats, have the potential to boost productivity and can be significantly improved when they are a part of the learning and development plan.
Why invest in improving communication skills in the team?
Many talents with mastery of their hard skills get to a point in their careers when they begin to feel the need to focus on improving the way they communicate.
This can happen due to several factors:
- To assume leadership positions, giving and receiving feedback, presenting results to stakeholders, selling ideas
- To have a better relationship with the team and be a positive influence
- To improve the quality of personal relationships
A strategic professional development plan that considers communication skills has the power to meet people where they are at in their growth journey, and that can lead to more happiness, meaning and engagement at work.
Besides productivity gains of about 20-25%, honing communication skills in the team ensures a fertile ground for innovation, knowledge sharing and collaboration, essential for a company’s competitiveness and success in the market.
12 communication skills to boost productivity and team engagement
There are many communication skills that are put to test daily to make work happen in organizations.
Some will be more relevant in certain roles, others will make all the difference for entire departments or will be especially needed by certain industries. Let’s see what they are:
#1 Active listening
Isn’t it crazy that a list of communication skills starts with listening and not talking?
One of the greatest world leaders in history, Nelson Mandela, was strongly influenced by the tribal leader who raised him. This leader, according to Mandela’s accounts, spoke only after everyone in the circle had spoken.
The purpose of active listening would not be to tell people what and how to do things, but to build consensus and move forward, and it is necessary to have a clear understanding of everyone’s view to make that happen.
In areas like sales and customer support, developing active listening skills can yield awesome results.
#2 Clearness
Communicate in a clear and understandable way, without excessive use of words, without fancy terms, getting straight to the point without losing cordiality and making it clear what the next steps are.
#3 Empathy
Empathy is one of the most important communication skills for leaders and it’s about trying to see the situation from the other person’s point of view.
To communicate with empathy means to engage in a manner that shows respect, understanding, genuine interest, compassion, consideration and validation of people’s emotions and perspectives.
Another important aspect of communicating with empathy is to make people feel understood and accepted, building a non-judgmental space for open communication, not criticizing or dismissing the other person’s feelings or experiences.
#4 Good grammar
Grammar is like a hard skill within the soft skill that is communication. Impeccable grammar alone does not guarantee good communication skills, but it does contribute to an image of credibility and professionalism.
From a quick review of a text before hitting the send button to adapting the text for the chosen medium, grammar contributes to consistency in communication style, even in an informal Slack conversation.
#5 Emotional management
Leveraging emotional control to improve communication is about the ability to switch from “reacting” to “responding” to situations at work.
Emotional control at work is a soft skill that helps people maintain professionalism and face difficult conversations with an easygoing attitude that rubs off on people.
#6 Business English Fluency
English holds significant importance at work, especially in multinational companies, allowing an effective communication with stakeholders and more career advancement and internal recruitment opportunities for people.
Business travels, sales calls, represent the company in events, make product demonstrations and a building a team open to cultural diversity are some of the many ways mastering business English fluency can improve company results.
#7 Giving and receiving feedback
Giving and receiving feedback involves many of the other communication skills on this list, but it’s such an important part of team success that it’s worth the extra bullet point.
Communicating clearly and asking for clarification when necessary, expressing gratitude, reflecting on areas for improvement, and consistently implementing what makes sense is critical to the team’s professional development.
#8 Collaboration
The fact that someone can communicate very well orally doesn’t mean that the person has the ability to collaborate and to build bridges between people, concepts, ideas and departments.
In Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling book The Tipping Point, he introduces the concept of connectors, individuals who play a role in making ideas go viral.
Connectors are individuals who have an extraordinary ability to connect people from different social circles or groups, with large and diverse networks that span various domains or communities.
Developing collaboration skills is to open up to be a connector and that means much more than having a business network.
#9 Open-mindedness
Open-minded people have a growth mindset, are willing to change their minds when exposed to coherent arguments, are always looking for lifelong learning, and are open to constructive conversations.
Developing the ability to communicate with an open mind makes professionals more flexible and more likely to respond well to changes, reviewing and adjusting plans according to new realities.
#10 Conflict resolution
With human communication comes a fair amount of conflict. That’s why conflict resolution is a communication skill, and means things like having the right timing to step up and schedule a difficult conversation, understanding perspectives, seeking common ground and negotiating to get to a resolution.
#11 Communicating courageously with confidence
“Communicate courageously” is actually one of Voxy’s values and it’s an essential communication skill for business success.
Expressing oneself honestly, authentically, and respectfully with the ability to self-regulate emotions, even in challenging or uncomfortable situations can level up the professional game. It requires the willingness to take risks, speak up, and address issues effectively, promoting positive change within your organization.
Want to avoid being blindsided by problems that could be avoided or mitigated? Encourage everyone on the team to always bring up positions that they deem relevant to the success of the business.
#12 Volume, tone and diction
It’s not what you say, it’s how you say! The tone of voice and diction used at work can significantly impact how messages are received and perceived by team members.
It’s important that people are mindful of the context and adjust the tone to suit the formality, urgency, or sensitivity of the conversation.
EXTRA: Lightness and approachability 🤓
It’s not about telling the funniest jokes at work (although this is certainly good), it’s about how comfortable people feel to approach each other to ask questions and exchange ideas with openness and in a welcoming manner.
In an environment where an increasing part of communication happens virtually, this can mean a smile, eye contact (even if virtually) and using the right emojis at the right time to encourage, agree or congratulate a person on the team.
An interesting movement that has happened that shows the importance of this easygoing communication is the launch of reactions on Google Meet, which contribute to a lighter atmosphere in work meetings.
Final words
Besides payment and benefits, your team also wants connection, meaning and to be part of something great. Investing in good communication skills is key for that magic to happen.
Breaking communication barriers can’t be only about good intentions, effective communication needs to be part of the organization’s strategic training plan.
At Voxy, two worlds merge, with a communication skills training program that is also language training, essential to the success of global teams. Know more and book a quick conversation with our team.
