Communication skills are the ability to send and receive messages effectively and efficiently to and from others respectively. Communication skills are important because they enable people to share their ideas and feelings. The ability to communicate effectively is crucial in any social platform, as it allows individuals to collaborate and solve problems. Additionally, good communication skills help people maintain relationships with friends and family members (Quan-Haase et al., 2017). Concerning the course, I learned a variety of communication skills that I found useful during the trimester for improving my communication, including active listening and effective questioning. Additionally, it was helpful to learn about nonverbal communication cues such as facial expressions and body language. By being aware of these cues, I can now better understand other people’s messages and respond accordingly. Communication skills are essential for success in both personal and professional life; everybody needs to acquire these skills.
Active listening and attending skills are vital for effective communication. Active listening means that someone is actually paying attention to the person speaking and not just waiting for their turn to talk. It involves making eye contact, nodding the head to show that one is following the conversation, and occasionally paraphrasing the said words to ensure one understands the information conveyed (Makhamadalieva & Isamiddinova, 2021). Moreover, attending skills are the same as active listening since they also involve giving the speaker complete attention; they denote maintaining eye contact, not looking at the phone or computer, and not talking or fidgeting.
Furthermore, active listening and attending skills are important because they allow people to build better relationships with the people around them. They also aid people in being more effective communicators since they can better understand the other person’s point of view (Makhamadalieva & Isamiddinova, 2021). I found that these skills are essential for any kind of communication, whether it is in a personal or professional setting. In my experience, the development of these skills has helped me to become a more effective problem solver and has also allowed me to develop better working relationships with my group members and colleagues.
I learned the importance of effective communication in the workplace and the various ways it can be achieved. Clear, concise communication is key to ensuring that people are together and comprehend what is expected of them. It can aid in avoiding misunderstandings and conflict and help to maintain a positive working environment (Dar, 2019). In addition, I equally learned the importance of listening carefully and considering the other person’s perspective. This assists in building trust and mutual respect, which are critical for successful teamwork (Yang et al., 2020). When working with clients or community members, it is important to remember that they are often in difficult situations and may feel vulnerable. It is advised to be sensitive to their needs and respectful of their feelings. I learned that paying attention to their non-verbal cues is crucial in understanding and serving clients correctly.
Non-verbal cues are the unspoken communication methods people use to interact with others. This includes facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, vocal tone, and touch (Deivasigamani, 2019). Non-verbal communication is often more powerful than words since it can express emotions that words cannot (Maloney et al., 2020). There are a few key things that I learned from observing non-verbal cues. First, it is vital to be aware of the different types of non-verbal communication. Second, it is key to be aware of the meanings of each type of non-verbal communication. For example, a smile can indicate happiness or friendliness, while crossed arms can indicate disagreement or unease (Maloney et al., 2020). Finally, I learned that non-verbal communication could be used to influence others subtly. For example, making eye contact and warm smiles can make others feel comfortable and receptive to their ideas.
Additionally, based on my experience, one trap that many service professionals fall into is the assumption that their clients are all the same. This can lead to all sorts of biases and stereotypes, such as making assumptions about someone’s education level, income, or political views based on their appearance. On this matter, I learned that as a communication professional, it is beneficial to know the biases and stereotypes that may unconsciously arise in client interactions. For example, someone may assume that all clients want to be told what to do, which can be wrong. The professionals should always read the customers’ body language before signaling them for help.
I also learned that service providers might stereotype clients based on their appearance. For example, someone may assume that a client dressed casually is a fraudster, thus addressing them with poor communication skills. It is true that people were created differently with unique lifestyles, thus, it should not be addressed based on their dress code. Clearly, it is important to be aware of these biases and stereotypes so that service providers can avoid making assumptions about their clients and instead focus on meeting their individual needs. By avoiding assumptions and stereotypes, service providers can always handle customers correctly and communicate with them effectively to make more profits and build their relationships with customers.
The role-play activities and course materials in communication skills have contributed to an increase and personal development in my communication skills. I learned how to better control my emotions, actively listen, and negotiate with others. The role-play activities have especially aided me in becoming more confident when speaking with others. Overall, these materials have been beneficial, and I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve their communication abilities. In addition, I received positive feedback during this trimester, following my consistent improvement trends. In particular, I seemed more comfortable participating in class discussions; at the beginning of the trimester, I had difficulty expressing myself clearly and concisely.
During the class session, the roles played kept me feeling nervous and uncomfortable. I felt like everyone was watching and judging me, and I did not know what to say or do. I eventually overcame the feeling by reminding myself that everyone was there for the same reason (to learn), and no one was paying attention to me. I also tried focusing on my performance rather than worrying about what the other person was thinking. Lastly, I reminded myself that it was right to make mistakes and that everyone makes errors sometimes. Other than much learning, there are still a few areas for improvement regarding communication skills; I need to polish my speaking and listening skills. I plan on attending more workshops and seminars that focus specifically on communication skills. Additionally, I will continue to read books and articles on the topic and work on developing better listening skills. Finally, I will seek feedback from colleagues and friends to get their perspectives on where I can improve.
In conclusion, I have taken several communication classes in my academic life, but this trimester’s class on communication skills was by far the most beneficial. The sharp, concise communication skills I learned have helped me communicate more effectively personally and professionally. I practiced delivering speeches, participating in group discussions, listening to other group members, and handling difficult conversations. The class was extremely useful, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve their communication skills.
References
Makhamadalieva, N. B., & Isamiddinova, L. I. (2021). Communicative behavior in linguistic tolerance communicative behavior as a basis of linguistic tolerance in a political speech. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 18(4), 3937-3944. Web.
Dar, M. A. (2019). Contribution of effective communication in educational settings: A critical review. International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages, 7 (8), 13-20. Web.
Deivasigamani, T. (2019). Presentation of effective non-verbal communication in a classroom: A new perspective. International Journal of 360 Management Review, 7(03), 1-7. Web.
Maloney, D., Freeman, G., & Wohn, D. Y. (2020). “Talking without a voice” Understanding non-verbal communication in social virtual reality. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 4(CSCW2), 1-25. Web.
Quan-Haase, A., Mo, G. Y., & Wellman, B. (2017). Connected seniors: How older adults in East York exchange social support online and offline. Information, Communication & Society, 20(7), 967-983. Web.
Yang, Y., Kuria, G. N., & Gu, D. X. (2020). Mediating role of trust between leader communication style and subordinate’s work outcomes in project teams. Engineering Management Journal, 32(3), 152-165. Web.