Understanding the types of communication skills and competencies is a vital skill both for managers and business owners as well as employees. Interacting with others is a large portion of many industries and having the necessary skills and competencies to interact with others is essential no matter what business you are in.
Verbal communication skills are very important and must be honed, particularly in a job in which employees deal with the public. Clear communication requires straightforward language that is neither too flowery or too simple. It is essential to be able to use the spoken word to get your point across simply. Higher levels of communication competencies deal with persuasive speaking and these skills are necessary for management level employees and those in marketing positions within a company. All employees can benefit from public speaking courses, which help develop these key communication skills.
Nonverbal communication is much more difficult for many people. It consists of body language and the cues that are given off while listening to someone else speak. Those in customer service positions need to have a highly developed competency level in listening. Nodding of the head, inclining towards the speaker and showing an open body (shoulders back, arms uncrossed) let a speaker know that you are listening and hearing what they have to say.
One often overlooked area of communication is the written word. Even the most basic position in a company requires employees to have good written communication skills. Proper spelling, grammar usage and a professional way of imparting information are important competencies that must be mastered. Written communication that is poorly worded, misspelled or full of errors detracts from the overall message that is being imparted. This is even more vital when dealing with the public through written communication. People judge others by the way they write and it is important to make sure that written communication is professional.
Communication Styles and Competencies
Within these three main types of communication lies a subset of styles and individual competencies. One person may be very skilled at verbal communication, but lacking in written communication skills. Time must be taken to develop all three skills equally. The style of communication is also very important. Some communicators are upbeat and inspirational, while others are more quiet and subdued. The style of communication should match the tone of the information that is being imparted.