1.

Self-Confidence

The right level of self-confidence in the workplace can open doors and help you to gain
recognition. It can also demonstrate how you approach various situations and deal with them
both positively and effectively.

To be successful, it is important to demonstrate self-confidence at every stage of your career,

whether you are a graduate looking for an entry position or a more experienced member of the
team hoping to secure promotion.

Self-confidence at work will improve the way people see you and your views, ideas and opinions
will be taken more seriously.

Confidence also enables you to deal with challenging situations more effectively and allows you
to set and reach new goals.

2. Work Ethic

Having a strong work ethic is viewed favourably by many recruiters. But what exactly does
work ethic relate to?

Well, it can be split into three distinct strands, the first of which is professionalism. This
incorporates everything from how you present yourself through to your appearance and the way
in which you treat others.

The next strand is respectfulness. All workplaces require you to work under pressure at some
time or another, and exercising grace under stress will earn you more recognition.

No matter how short the deadline or how heated things may get, always retain your diplomacy
and poise.

Whether you are communicating with a difficult customer or trying to collaborate on a complex
project fraught with difficulty, do your best to respect everyone’s opinion and understand the
value that they bring to the project.

The final strand of a strong work ethic is dependability.

Employers need to know they have employees they can count on. If you are always on time, well
prepared and deliver work when you say you will, this demonstrates your strong work ethic and
commitment to the business.

In an uncertain business environment, colleagues, customers and management will certainly

appreciate the stability that you can bring.

3. Relationship Management
Building effective relationships is one thing but managing them is something entirely different.
This is an important skill in many roles, from junior posts through to management.

At every level in a business you will be expected to manage relationships with colleagues,
partners and clients to some extent.

The ability to manage relationships based on respect for each other and mutual trust is very
important within any business environment.

4. Receptiveness to Feedback

Being open to feedback can help you develop both personally and professionally. In order to
take on board feedback, you must first listen to it.

Don’t think about your response; just listen to what is being said. Also take note of the non-
verbal communication and body language being used, which will provide subtle clues as to what
your colleague or manager is not saying as much as what they are.

Take on board what you have been told and use this in a positive way to further enhance your
performance and productivity.

5. Body Language

Non-verbal communication is often overlooked, but when you are at work, think about how your
body language and gestures could be interpreted.

Facial expressions can determine how you are feeling and eye contact, posture, tone of voice and
gestures all reveal your attitude and approach to the situation.

6. Listening

Even the best communicators must listen carefully. Failure to listen properly can have disastrous
consequences, from failing to follow through on a manager’s instructions to not completing a
customer’s request.

If you fail to listen, you cannot interpret what has been said and respond appropriately.

7. Collaboration

Working collaboratively allows teams to work productively and deliver positive outcomes for
clients and the business. Successful collaboration requires the ability to cooperate and respect
each other.

Employers often seek applicants who have a proven track record working successfully within a
team and candidates who are willing to compromise and cooperate to deliver exceptional work.
Being able to collaborate – particularly in challenging situations – is a great selling point when
applying for a job. Present yourself in a positive manner and communicate your enthusiasm for
team working.

8. Showing Appreciation

In the workplace, employers always look for employees who show their appreciation.

This could be something as simple as a thank you when someone has helped with a project, a
difficult customer or a tricky situation.

Showing appreciation is about letting colleagues, clients, partners and managers know that you
value them, their expertise and their assistance.

9. Positive Attitude

Showing positivity, even in difficult situations, is important. Be positive from the moment you
fill out the application form or write a covering letter through to the interview, your first day at
work and beyond.

Never say anything negative about your current or past employer, even if you feel strongly about
it.

Employees with a positive attitude are more likely to treat others positively, which creates a
more harmonious working environment.

10. Workplace Etiquette

The way in which you come across to others can speak volumes.

People often form an impression of you within the first few seconds of meeting, so it’s important
that you present yourself as a professional.

Learning workplace etiquette is a great way to leave a lasting impression on those you meet.

Check your posture, ensure that you stand straight and make eye contact, turn towards people
when they are speaking and smile at them in a genuine way.

Follow the dress code of the company and make sure that your accessories such as ties, bags and
jewellery are suitable for the workplace.

Also ensure that you demonstrate kindness and courtesy, and arrive in good time

 ) Exercising Self-Awareness. ...

 2) Being Cognizant of Nonverbal Communication. ...
 3) Being Respectful of Others. ...
 4) Showing Empathy and Understanding. ...
 5) Being a Clear Communicator. ...
 6) Engaging in Active Listening

Exercising Self-Awareness

In general terms, self-awareness means that a person is able to consciously know what they’re
feeling and why they’re feeling it. Self-awareness falls within the realm of emotional
intelligence, a term coined by author, psychologist, and Big Think expert Daniel Goleman.
Emotional intelligence is comprised of four primary components:

1. Self-awareness,
2. Emotions,
3. Empathy, and
4. Relationship building.

Being aware of your own feelings and emotions can help you be cognizant of the messages you
convey to others whether through your words or non-verbal forms of communication. A lack of
employee self-awareness can be detrimental to the success and productivity of an organization.

2) Being Cognizant of Nonverbal Communication

Are you conscious about the nonverbal messages you are sending throughout the work day?
Nonverbal communication is an often overlooked bridge between yourself and others, including
your colleagues, supervisor, partners, and clients.

However, nonverbal cues can either make relationships stronger or damage them depending on
how they’re used and the context of the situation.

Some forms of nonverbal communication include:

 Eye contact,
 Facial expressions,
 Body language,
 Gestures, and
 Physical contact (such as shaking hands, touching an arm, pushing, etc.).

3) Being Respectful of Others

It’s well known that respect can go a long way in fostering positive relationships and work
environments. In fact, a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) listed
respectful treatment of all employees as the top factor contributing to employee job satisfaction.

However, not all employers establish work environments that encourage respect. In some cases,
managers themselves can be among the biggest offenders in terms of being disrespectful toward
others.
Showing respect in the workplace can be done in any number of ways, including:

 Showing appreciation for employees’ efforts and time;

 Showing gratitude and courtesy;
 Listening to what others have to say rather than listening only to respond;
 Being respectful of others’ ideas and opinions, even when they differ from yours;
 Not disparaging, insulting, or attacking others; and
 Not taking credit for others’ work; even if you build or improve upon someone else’s work, be
sure to acknowledge their initial contributions.

4) Showing Empathy and Understanding

Having empathy for others is a crucial part of relationship building in the workplace because it
helps you take into account the thoughts, feelings, and needs of others. There are different ways
that learning and development professionals can encourage employees to develop and grow these
skills through empathy-building exercises.

Empathy, along with active listening and strong communication skills, also is useful in terms of
negotiation tactics.

5) Being a Clear Communicator

Regardless of where you’re from, communication is an important part of life, as well as a

necessary component of any personal or business relationship. Having effective communication
skills can be the difference between success and failure.

According to a recent article from The Chronicle:

“For a business to thrive, meet deadlines and exceed goals, solid communication systems and
relationships must be in place. When communication breaks down, so does the business. When
stress, unmet expectations, relational breakdown, low morale, dissatisfied clients, family
problems, health concerns and a smaller bottom line become chronic workplace issues, poor
communication could be at the root of the problem.”

When poor communication takes place, it can place businesses at a significant (and costly)
disadvantage. According to data cited by an article from the SHRM, ineffective communication
to and among employees resulted in an average loss of $62.4 million per year, per company, for
the 400 surveyed companies with 100,000 employees.

6) Engaging in Active Listening

Active listening is pretty self-explanatory. It’s all about actively listening to what someone
else has to say rather than passively hearing their message. Approach each conversation
like you have something to learn — because, in reality, you likely will find yourself doing
just that.
Everyone has their own unique insights, experiences, and perspectives on different subjects. By
actively listening to other viewpoints in the workplace (as well as in our personal lives), it helps
us as humans to learn and grow. We’re able to increase our own understanding by having an
open mind and considering new ideas.

7) Behaving Appropriately

Behaving appropriately should go without saying in the workplace. Depending on the culture of
your individual organization, what’s considered appropriate can vary. However, there are some
universally accepted behaviors that should be exercised by employees, including:

 Being punctual;
 Being friendly and respectful of others;
 Showing courtesy;
 Being cooperative and easy to work with;
 Having a positive attitude;
 Dressing appropriately; and
 Taking personal responsibility and being accountable.

Be sure to check out National Public Radio’s (NPR) recent list of inappropriate behaviors that
should be avoided in the workplace.

8) Being Receptive to Feedback

Feedback is necessary for personal and professional growth. However, no one likes to feel like
they’re being criticized. This is why it’s important to recognize the difference between receiving
feedback and criticism. Feedback — whether positive or negative in nature — is like criticism in
that it involves an evaluation of some kind by another person. However, a significant difference
between these two terms is intent.

Feedback, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, is “the transmission of

evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to the original or
controlling source.” The same online dictionary defines “criticize” as “to consider the merits and
demerits of and judge accordingly.” This would suggest that the goal of feedback is to provide
corrective, constructive input based on an evaluation of information, whereas criticism is geared
more toward delivering judgment based on that information.

If you are open and receptive to feedback, it will help you to learn and grow from what others —
your colleagues, supervisors, and clients — have to say. All of the interpersonal skills that have
been addressed in this blog are important not only your employees’ professional futures but also
the success of your organization as a whole

Top 10 Communication Skills

Want to stand out from the competition? These are the top 10 communication skills that
recruiters and hiring managers want to see in your resume and cover letter. Highlight these skills
and demonstrate them during job interviews, and you’ll make a solid first impression. Continue
to develop these skills once you’re hired, and you’ll impress your boss, teammates, and clients.

1. Listening

Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes
communicating with someone who cares only about putting in her two cents and does not take
the time to listen to the other person. If you're not a good listener, it's going to be hard to
comprehend what you're being asked to do.

Take the time to practice active listening. Active listening involves paying close attention to
what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says
to ensure understanding ("So, what you're saying is…"). Through active listening, you can better
understand what the other person is trying to say, and can respond appropriately.

2. Nonverbal Communication

Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice all color the message you are
trying to convey. A relaxed, open stance (arms open, legs relaxed), and a friendly tone will make
you appear approachable and will encourage others to speak openly with you.

Eye contact is also important; you want to look the person in the eye to demonstrate that you are
focused on them and the conversation (however, be sure not to stare at the person, which can
make him or her uncomfortable).

Also, pay attention to other people's nonverbal signals while you are talking. Often, nonverbal
signals convey how a person is really feeling. For example, if the person is not looking you in the
eye, he or she might be uncomfortable or hiding the truth.

3. Clarity and Concision

Good verbal communication means saying just enough – don’t talk too much or too little. Try to
convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly,
whether you're speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your
listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want.

Think about what you want to say before you say it. This will help you to avoid talking
excessively and/or confusing your audience.

4. Friendliness

Through a friendly tone, a personal question, or simply a smile, you will encourage your
coworkers to engage in open and honest communication with you. It's important to be nice and
polite in all your workplace communications. This is important in both face-to-face and written
communication. When you can, personalize your emails to coworkers and/or employees – a
quick "I hope you all had a good weekend" at the start of an email can personalize a message and
make the recipient feel more appreciated.

5. Confidence

It is important to be confident in your interactions with others. Confidence shows your

coworkers that you believe in what you’re saying and will follow through. Exuding confidence
can be as simple as making eye contact or using a firm but friendly tone. Avoid making
statements sound like questions. Of course, be careful not to sound arrogant or aggressive. Be
sure you are always listening to and empathizing with the other person.

6. Empathy

Using phrases as simple as "I understand where you are coming from" demonstrate that you have
been listening to the other person and respect their opinions.

Even when you disagree with an employer, coworker, or employee, it is important for you to
understand and respect their point of view.

7. Open-Mindedness

A good communicator should enter into any conversation with a flexible, open mind. Be open to
listening to and understanding the other person's point of view, rather than simply getting your
message across. By being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with people with whom you
disagree, you will be able to have more honest, productive conversations.

8. Respect

People will be more open to communicating with you if you convey respect for them and their
ideas. Simple actions like using a person's name, making eye contact, and actively listening when
a person speaks will make the person feel appreciated. On the phone, avoid distractions and stay
focused on the conversation.

Convey respect through email by taking the time to edit your message. If you send a sloppily
written, confusing email, the recipient will think that you do not respect her enough to think
through your communication with her.

9. Feedback

Being able to appropriately give and receive feedback is an important communication skill.
Managers and supervisors should continuously look for ways to provide employees with
constructive feedback, be it through email, phone calls, or weekly status updates.

Giving feedback involves giving praise as well – something as simple as saying "good job" or
"thanks for taking care of that" to an employee can greatly increase motivation.
Similarly, you should be able to accept and even encourage, feedback from others. Listen to the
feedback you are given, ask clarifying questions if you are unsure of the issue, and make efforts
to implement the feedback.

10. Picking the Right Medium

An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use. For
example, some serious conversations (layoffs, resignation, changes in salary, etc.) are almost
always best done in person.

You should also think about the person with whom you wish to speak, if they are a very busy
person (such as your boss, perhaps), you might want to convey your message through email.
People will appreciate your thoughtful means of communication and will be more likely to
respond positively to you.

When communication occurs, it typically happens in one of three ways: verbal, nonverbal and
visual. People very often take communication for granted. Communicators constantly exchange
information, meaning people always seem to be either receiving or giving information

The ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently. Business managers with
good verbal, non verbal and written communication skills help facilitate the sharing of
information between people within a company for its commercial benefit.

What are communication skills?

Communication skills are the abilities you use when giving and receiving different kinds of
information. Some examples include communicating new ideas, feelings or even an update on
your project. Communication skills involve listening, speaking, observing and empathising. It is
also helpful to understand the differences in how to communicate through face-to-face
interactions, phone conversations and digital communications like email and social media.

Examples of communication skills

There are different types of communication skills you can learn and practice to help you become
an effective communicator. Many of these skills work together making it important to practice
communication skills in different contexts whenever possible.

Active listening

Active listening means paying close attention to the person who is speaking to you. People who
are active listeners are well-regarded by their co-workers because of the attention and respect
they offer others. While it seems simple, this is a skill that can be hard to develop and improve.
You can be an active listener by focusing on the speaker, avoiding distractions like cell phones,
laptops or other projects and by preparing questions, comments or ideas to thoughtfully respond.

Adapting your communication style to your audience

Different styles of communication are appropriate in different situations. To make the best use of
your communication skills, it’s important to consider your audience and the most effective
format to communicate with them.
For example, if you are communicating with a potential employer, it’s better to send a formal
email or call them on the phone. Depending on the situation, you may even need to send a
formal, typed letter over other forms of communication. In the workplace, you may find it’s
easier to communicate complex information in person or via a video conference than in a long,
dense email.

Friendliness

In friendships, characteristics such as honesty and kindness often foster trust and understanding.
The same characteristics are important in workplace relationships. When you’re working with
others, approach your interactions with a positive attitude, keep an open mind and ask questions
to help you understand where they’re coming from. Small gestures such as asking someone how
they’re doing, smiling as they speak or offering praise for work well done can help you foster
productive relationships with both colleagues and managers.

Confidence

In the workplace, people are more likely to respond to ideas that are presented with confidence.
There are many ways to appear confident such as making eye contact when you’re addressing
someone, sitting up straight with your shoulders open and preparing ahead of time so your
thoughts are polished. You’ll find confident communication comes in handy not just on the job
but during the job interview process as well.

Giving and receiving feedback

Strong communicators can accept critical feedback and provide constructive input to others.
Feedback should answer questions, provide solutions or help strengthen the project or topic at
hand.

Volume and clarity

When you’re speaking, it’s important to be clear and audible. Adjusting your speaking voice so
you can be heard in a variety of settings is a skill and it’s critical to communicating effectively.
Speaking too loudly may be disrespectful or awkward in certain settings. If you’re unsure, read
the room to see how others are communicating.

Related: Soft Skills: Definition and Examples

Empathy

Empathy means that you can understand and share the emotions of others. This communication
skill is important in both team and one-on-one settings. In both cases, you will need to
understand other people’s emotions and select an appropriate response. For example, if someone
is expressing anger or frustration, empathy can help you acknowledge and diffuse their emotion.
At the same time, being able to understand when someone is feeling positive and enthusiastic can
help you get support for your ideas and projects.

Respect

A key aspect of respect is knowing when to initiate communication and respond. In a team or
group setting, allowing others to speak without interruption is seen as a necessary
communication skill. Respectfully communicating also means using your time with someone
else wisely—staying on topic, asking clear questions and responding fully to any questions
you’ve been asked.

Understanding nonverbal cues

A great deal of communication happens through nonverbal cues such as body language, facial
expressions and eye contact. When you’re listening to someone, you should be paying attention
to what they’re saying as well as their nonverbal language. By the same measure, you should be
conscious of your body language when you’re communicating to ensure you’re sending
appropriate cues to others.

Responsiveness

Whether you’re returning a phone call or sending a reply to an email, fast communicators are
viewed as more effective than those who are slow to respond. One method is to consider how
long your response will take. Is this a request or question you can answer in the next five
minutes? If so, it may be a good idea to address it as soon as you see it. If it’s a more complex
request or question, you can still acknowledge that you’ve received the message and let the other
person know you will respond in