Let’s imagine the following situation from everyday life: two people appear for a job interview for an administrative position, for example. Both have similar knowledge regarding the use of tools and development of tasks, but one of them explains their skills and abilities better. This candidate acts and behaves in such a way that the interviewer bets on her for her staff.
He has created a transparent, close, safe, optimistic image of this candidate, in line with what the company demanded, and that has led him to hire her. His ability to express himself has been a differential value compared to the other candidate. This is just one example of the importance of communication in the professional field.
What is the importance of communication?
As social beings that we are, communication has essential importance in people’s lives. And currently it represents one of the most valued skills in the professional field.
As a passionate student of this discipline, I am convinced that communication can achieve everything. Therefore, we must focus on developing good communication management from a double dimension:
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On the one hand, from the organization. Managing communication correctly and optimally, both internally and externally, encourages dialogue and interactions between all stakeholders, avoids rumors and misunderstandings, helps create closeness and trust in the work environment and is very useful for building and consolidating reputation and positive image. This applies to any type of organization, regardless of size and sector of activity: multinationals, SMEs, associations, NGOs, etc.
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On the other hand, from the person. Communicating well brings many advantages to stand out in an increasingly competitive work environment. Our knowledge or skills are of little use if we do not know how to communicate well with our environment. Communication is a very useful tool if we know how to use it optimally. This involves learning skills and applying them appropriately to the corresponding type of communication; Speaking in public is not the same as face to face with clients, holding meetings with the team or doing it online.
Communication is also very important because it forces us to seek information, to respond to problems and challenges not only in the professional field, but also in the family, academic, social, ethical, technological, etc., and in general in all those spaces where they have a place. human relations. It is a necessary and healthy discipline for today’s world.
Are we all communicators?
In the professional field, communicating effectively is necessary for any job, not only, as one might initially think, for those who work in front of the public, participate in meetings or serve clients. It is also a mistake to think that because someone has people skills, is friendly or extroverted, they communicate well.
In any sector, middle managers in most cases do not need to speak in public. However, to work with their teams on a daily basis, they need to know how to communicate well to be understood correctly, transmitting closeness and trust, regardless of the communication channel used.
The following reflection would be very interesting for any professional: assess how much I know about this and how I communicate what I know. In this reflection we would find the solution: developing communication practices to improve, exploiting communication and turning it into an ally of any professional.
From this improvement will come our transformation as a professional who knows how to communicate effectively.
What can we do to improve our communication?
The importance of communication does not only lie in transmitting specific information in a direct and assertive manner. For our communication to be successful, we should take into account the following issues:
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Feedback: when we talk about communication, we cannot stop talking about feedback. It is very important to convey clear messages that are positive and address the negative in a constructive way. It is not only about stating what is incorrect, but also about providing possible solutions, showing attitude and willingness to improve. For example: a department colleague has not developed a process well, and in the team meeting he has been reprimanded and scolded, using us as an example of good work. In such a case, we can offer our process to said colleague and adapt it to his, always asking if he has understood it and making ourselves available to him when he executes it in case he has questions.
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Develop active listening: pay attention to what the other person communicates, and that this really is so.
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Clarify doubts. If any information has not been understood, the point should be asked and clarified. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask. In this sense, trust is essential.
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Be consistent. You must be clear with what you want to communicate, taking care of the coherence between what is said with words and non-verbal language. Hence, the need to take care of verbal and non-verbal language (gestures, look, smile, attitude), and also physical appearance and clothing.
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Promote respect: always. Cordiality is essential to promote effective communication. If something is not being done well, the boss should always indicate it in a respectful manner, and in this sense, one can think that he has it easier because he is the boss and he will be listened to. But from the perspective of an employee, if he does not agree with something, he should also inform his superior in a respectful manner, since it can serve to improve that task in a positive way for both parties: employee and company.
In short, a good professional today must know the importance of communication and have communication skills, since at any time and place they will have to sell their image optimally.
The importance of communication in trust and security
Without a doubt, communication will provide us with skills and abilities that we will feel proud of not only as professionals, but also as people. It will make us feel more confident and secure in our daily lives, and we must maintain them over time by updating ourselves in our work area.
The importance of communication is justified because it is an instrument that can help empower the person in any profession, improving the possibilities of growth and improvement in their work life.
This article is part of a collaboration with Becas Santander, a global initiative that offers free scholarships, programs and content for adults of any age. More information at https://www.becas-santander.com.
