Are communication skills overrated?

The short answer: no.

Poor communication skills can cost you opportunities and impede advancement in your career

It's not just about being able to express yourself clearly and concisely.

It's about being able to express your ideas and opinions, establish and maintain relationships with colleagues, and influence and persuade higher-ups about ideas that require buy-in from senior management.

It is about verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.

What is effective communication?

"...effective communication requires more than an exchange of information.  When done right, communication fosters understanding, strengthens relationships, improves teamwork, and builds trust." - Liz Papadopoulos

Poor communication can:

1. Create uncertainty and confusion
2. Leave important tasks falling by the wayside
3. Hurt working relationships
4. Cause you to miss out on new opportunities or career advancement at your company or firm

Everyday examples of how poor communication skills can bring career advancement to a screeching halt

1. You may apply for jobs that never lead to follow-up interviews because you have difficulty communicating your ideas clearly and concisely (née effectively) in interviews.
2. You may find yourself at an impasse in your career because you struggle to establish and build relationships with your colleagues or influence decision-makers at your company or firm.
3. You may tarnish your reputation or that of your company or firm because you are unable to communicate effectively with your clients.

These are just a few examples of how untapped communication skills can have an unfortunate impact on your career.

Have you ever found yourself in any of these situations? Do people often tell you that your instructions were ambiguous?  That you came across as rude in an email?

Practice makes perfect

As with most things in life, there is always room for improvement.  You are not born an effective communicator or a poor communicator.

1. Carve out time to work on your communication skills.  Some ways of doing this include public speaking courses, joining your local Toastmasters, or practicing effective communication with your friends or family in a safe space.
2. Learn to love reading.  To become a good writer, even if only a writer of clear and concise emails, one must read.  Are there tips and tricks you can borrow from other writers?  Think about how you can convey what you want to say in the clearest and most concise way – a way that does not leave the reader wondering what you are trying to say or ask of them.
3. Pay close attention to your tone of voice, word choices, and body language.  Non-verbal communication is often more important in conveying your thoughts than what is actually said.
4. The toughest part:  Get feedback.  Ask your mentor, colleagues, or work friends to offer constructive criticism on your communication skills.  Then take action.

The last word

Poor communication skills can cause your career to stagnate.  This is preventable if you take the time to hone your verbal and written communication skills.  An investment in this arena of your life will ensure that you reap the rewards later on.

You may also be interested in:

Writing effective emails: what you need to know about email etiquette

How to deal with difficult clients in a legal practice