Improve Your Communication Skills

Play to your strongest suit, and brush up on your weakest

Sender and recipient (photo by Photo by Christina Langford-Miller on Unsplash)

Communication is a very varied thing. We all do it, but the manner in which we communicate at our most comfortable depends on many factors. Some people are confident speakers who can hold their own in a debate, while others gain confidence from behind the barrier of a computer keyboard. There are those who have the telephone manner of a Hyacinth Bucket, but who aren’t so confident when speaking face-to-face. Some prefer verbal interaction over the written word, as that way their spelling and grammar shortcomings are not exposed.

Here is a demonstration of how different means of communication present their own plus and minus points. The scenario is a job application that brings into play three different forms of communication.

Written

Fred believes he has the relevant skills for a job he saw advertised in the local paper. The first stage in applying for this particular post is to submit his CV along with a letter of application.

This form of communication offers Fred total control over what he reveals to his prospective employer, and it is a one-way street, with no questions being asked in relation to what appears on his form. He can make a rough copy, and then edit and polish his application until he is satisfied that he…