Top 11 Communication Skills for Career Success

Communication is the lifeline of human interaction. Communication connects us, shapes us, and drives our collective success. 

Mastering communication is no easy task, but improving our communication skills is essential for both our personal and professional lives. Good communication can be the difference between achieving shared goals and stumbling over simple misunderstandings. 

In this guide, we’ll explore communication skills and answer these questions:

• What communication skills are and our top 11 picks,
• What are the types of communication skills you should improve,
• What makes good communication,
• How you can communicate effectively in the workplace,
• How you can improve your communication in the workplace, and
• Why communication skills are important.

We’ve also added examples of successful communication to better illustrate good communication skills.

Let’s dive in.

What are communication skills?  

Communication skills encompass a diverse set of abilities that enable an individual to effectively exchange information, ideas, and emotions with others.

A skilled communicator is able to:

• Convey information without errors or misinterpretation,
• Communicate with people with different backgrounds, views, and experiences,
• Communicate in different ways according to the given situation, and
• Present themselves in the best light.

In the workplace, communication skills are essential to facilitate smooth operations, foster a positive work environment, and drive overall success. 

Being skilled at communicating with team members is vital in the workplace because it: 

• Fosters collaboration,
• Builds relationships,
• Improves productivity and well-being, and
• Increases employee wellness and satisfaction.

Communication skills are one of the most commonly requested skills in job listings. The importance of good communication is evident, and honing our communication skills is beneficial in many ways.

Now, let’s get into specific skills that you need to work on to be a good communicator.

Top 11 communication skills 

Here are the top 11 communication skills that will help you thrive in the workplace and always put your best foot forward.

Communication skill #1: Active listening

Active listening is a vital communication skill that goes beyond just being quiet while the other person is talking. Active listening involves:

• Fully engaging with the other person,
• Paying attention to verbal and nonverbal cues,
• Making an effort to understand their point of view, and
• Formulating appropriate and engaging responses.

Our contributor, Kristie Stocker, a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and success coach, believes that listening is the most important skill we should have:

If you want to be a better listener, here’s what you should do:

• Face the speaker and maintain eye contact,
• Look out for nonverbal cues,
• Listen without jumping to conclusions, and
• Stay focused on the conversation.

On the other hand, here’s what you should avoid if you want to be a good listener:

• Don’t interrupt,
• Don’t think about what you’re going to say next,
• Don’t impose your own opinions or solutions, and
• Don’t give in to distractions.

Our contributor, Chuck Wisner, an author and leadership advisor, agrees that active listening is essential for good communication:

Communication skill #2: Nonverbal communication

Our body language, facial expressions, and gestures often say more than words. With that in mind, understanding and controlling our nonverbal cues should be a skill we are constantly improving. 

Your nonverbal cues should always support your verbal message. If your nonverbal signals are in accordance with your verbal communication, people are more likely to trust you. On the other hand, if your nonverbal cues don’t match up with your words, it can harm your relationships and lead to a lack of trust.

Furthermore, knowing how to read nonverbal cues is just as important as being able to control your own. For example, if you’re talking to a teammate who’s bad at confrontation, their body language can tell you they’re uncomfortable. You can then change your attitude and approach them in a different way.

Nonverbal communication is a big part of communication, and you should pay attention to your own and others’ nonverbal cues to be a better communicator. 

Communication skill #3: Feedback

Feedback and constructive criticism are vital if we want to improve. Being open to feedback and constructive criticism gives us a chance to see our strengths and weaknesses and work on ourselves.

Furthermore, providing feedback to others is also an important skill.

Our contributor, Smita Des Jain, an executive coach, TEDx speaker, and personal empowerment life coach, says that feedback is crucial for growth:

Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback and be prepared to give feedback to others.

Communication skill #4: Confidence

Confidence shows that you are sure about your opinions and actions. Confident people believe in themselves and don’t doubt their decisions. This makes them feel better about themselves and, ultimately, perform better in the workplace.

Confidence is a soft skill that can be improved. The saying “Fake it till you make it” definitely applies to confidence, according to studies. 

Kristie Stocker also believes that it all starts with your mindset:

Communication skill #5: Honesty

You should incorporate honesty into every aspect of your professional life. 

Honest communication fosters a positive work environment. It builds trust among team members and enables them to do their best work. 

To encourage honesty and transparency in your team, you should:

• Make important information — such as company policies, contact information, and office rules — accessible to everyone,
• Inform employees of changes and updates regularly,
• Communicate common goals, and
• Admit mistakes or wrong decisions to encourage responsibility.

At an individual level, make sure to always stay true to your views and opinions and share them in an honest and professional manner. 

Communication skill #6: Clarity

Clarity is a vital component of communication in the workplace. Clarity involves the ability to articulate thoughts, ideas, and instructions in a simple and comprehensible manner. 

When communication lacks clarity, it can lead to misunderstandings and errors. 

You should always strive to present information clearly and directly. 

Communication skill #7: Public speaking

Public speaking is the most commonly feared situation — more common than the fear of death. With so many people struggling with public speaking, it’s a skill worth discussing.

Public speaking allows you to share ideas, influence others, and inspire action. There are many ways in which we engage in public speaking, such as:

• Delivering presentations,
• Leading meetings,
• Holding conferences, and
• Leading office activities.

Although public speaking can be a scary ordeal, there are a couple of ways you can help yourself deliver great speeches:

• Practice in advance,
• Organize your material,
• Take advantage of visual aids,
• Be attentive to the audience and adjust your approach accordingly, and
• Be yourself.

Public speaking can be a debilitating fear, and overcoming it is not easy. However, exposing yourself to public speaking situations and learning as you go can make it much more bearable.

Communication skill #8: Emotional intelligence

Working on your emotional intelligence will result in better communication. 

One of the most important aspects of emotional intelligence is empathy. It plays a significant role in communication. Understanding and acknowledging the feelings and perspectives of others through empathetic communication is crucial for building trust and rapport. This then fosters better communication.

An example of empathy in action is a customer service representative who empathizes with a frustrated customer and works to resolve their issue. 

You can apply this principle to almost any job and situation. Whether you’re talking to a client or a team member, keep in mind that empathy leads to better communication.

Communication skill #9: Conflict resolution

Another important skill for better communication in the workplace is conflict resolution. It’s the ability to discuss and settle disputes politely and productively.

Effectively managing disagreements and resolving conflicts in a positive manner will help maintain productive working relationships.

Strong communication skills enable team members to address conflicts and disagreements more constructively. Being able to bring up issues without attacking or offending the other person can help you resolve disputes quickly and effectively.

Communication skill #10: Friendliness

Friendliness is a valuable communication skill that fosters interpersonal relationships and creates a positive atmosphere in the workplace. Friendly traits such as honesty, kindness, and approachability will make engaging and connecting with team members easier. 

Seemingly small gestures such as asking your team member how their day is going can positively impact the atmosphere in the team.

You can show friendliness by:

• Showing up to team building activities,
• Engaging in small talk,
• Being engaged in conversations, and
• Showing interest in your team’s personal lives.

Friendliness will positively impact the relationships and work environment in your organization, and this will ultimately have a positive impact on their productivity and happiness.

Communication skill #11: Choosing the right mode of communication

In today’s professional world, we aren’t always face-to-face with our team members. We communicate through email, team messaging apps, texts, calls, video conferences, etc. Choosing a suitable method of communication in a given situation can be a tricky skill to master. 

You should always consider your audience and the information you want to share before deciding on the method of communication.

For example, if you want to resign from your job and inform your manager of this, choosing an informal text message may not be the best way to do it. 

On the other hand, you don’t need to schedule an official meeting with your work friend just to catch up after a holiday.

Types of communication skills you need to improve

Communication is usually classified into 4 types:

• Written communication,
• Verbal communication,
• Nonverbal communication, and
• Visual communication.

To be a successful communicator, you should constantly be improving your communication skills in all 4 types of communication. 

Our contributor, Kristie Stocker, adds a couple more types to the list:

Let’s go over the communication types. 

Type #1: Written communication skills

Written communication involves the exchange of information, thoughts, and ideas through written language. You’ll need written communication whenever you want to write an email, text, or message in the team messaging app. Furthermore, any document, report, or any other official written communication needs to be up to the standards of good written communication.

Written communication is one of the most used types of communication in the workplace. It enables us to send and receive messages in the time it takes to simply write or read an email. 

Improving written communication skills is beneficial for the clarity, precision, and effectiveness of our written messages. 

Here are a couple of pointers for good written communication, no matter the medium:

• Organize your thoughts and ideas before writing the message,
• Be concise and precise in your writing,
• Always use polite and professional language,
• Proofread everything before sending it.

Written communication highlights your ability to write clear and effective messages. It is an important aspect of your professional communication and should be improved upon constantly.

Type #2: Verbal communication skills 

Verbal communication is any exchange of information that uses spoken language. It’s a dynamic form of communication that involves speaking and listening skills. Improving verbal communication skills is essential if you want to engage in effective and impactful conversations.

Kristie Stocker believes that verbal communication skills are being neglected:

You can enhance your verbal communication skills by:

• Practicing active listening,
• Using appropriate and clear language,
• Rehearsing your speeches,
• Building confidence, and
• Working on your vocal production.

Verbal communication skills are often regarded as something you were born with. However, if you put in the work and try to improve your skills consistently, you should be able to communicate confidently and eloquently in any given situation.

Type #3: Non-verbal communication skills

Nonverbal communication is the exchange of information without the use of words. It means you convey messages with the help of:

• Eye contact,
• Facial expressions,
• Gestures,
• Posture, and
• The tone of voice.

Nonverbal communication can add different layers of meaning to a conversation, even when it’s subconsciously done. That’s why you should always be mindful of your nonverbal cues and work on controlling your nonverbal communication patterns.

To keep the most important nonverbal cues in control, make sure to:

• Always sit up or stand up straight,
• Maintain an open posture,
• Maintain eye contact,
• Keep a smile on your face,
• Pay attention to the tone and volume of your voice, and
• Respect physical boundaries.

Much of nonverbal communication is subconscious. Therefore, it’s hard to control. However, paying attention to the most obvious nonverbal cues you’re sending can benefit your communication. 

Type #4: Visual communication skills

Next up is visual communication — the process of conveying information through the use of visual elements, such as:

• Pictures and illustrations,
• Charts and graphs,
• Presentations, and
• Signs and symbols.

Visual communication is a practical way to share information that includes statistics, numbers, and other less digestible information. 

In fact, research shows that visual elements are much easier to process than words. One study found that using color in business documents increases recall by 82%. Also, using color increases comprehension by 73%. 

Therefore, make use of visual elements when you can to enhance your communication.

What makes good communication?

Good communication is all about effective and meaningful exchange of information. 

It entails being able to convey your thoughts and ideas clearly, while also being a good listener. Good communication creates a positive and respectful environment for open dialogue.

Successful communication has 3 elements:

• Effective sending of the message,
• Correct receiving of the message, and
• Mutual understanding and achievement of a common goal.

Communication can only be successful if all of these elements are included. Therefore, you should strive to be a good communicator in all 3 elements.

Element #1: Effective sending of the message

Effective sending of a message is the first step toward successful communication. It involves carefully crafting and delivering a message in a way that ensures clarity. 

When sending a message, it’s important to consider the receiver, purpose, and desired outcome of the message. Then, according to that criteria, you can choose the appropriate language, type, and method of communication. 

Effective sending of a message sets the stage for further communication and the achievement of the desired outcome.

Element #2: Correct receiving of the message

The next element of successful communication is the correct receiving of the message. It involves actively listening to the other person, comprehending, and interpreting the message accurately. 

To ensure you’re able to receive the message accurately, you should:

• Be an active listener,
• Focus on the conversation and limit distractions, and
• Clarify uncertainties to avoid errors.

You also need to be open to different perspectives and try to limit your preconceived notions or biases. 

When you receive the intended message, you can respond appropriately and contribute to a productive conversation.

Element #3: Mutual understanding and achievement of a common goal

The end goal of successful communication is mutual understanding. 

If you successfully communicate your message and correctly receive the other person’s message, you should be able to come to a mutual understanding.

In the workplace, successful communication also means achieving a common goal. For example, suppose your manager successfully communicates to you that you need to finish a certain task, and you actively listen and take in the information. In that case, the path is clear for the achievement of the goal.

However, if your manager failed to communicate their expectations or if you were busy doing other things instead of listening to instructions, you could run into problems. 

That’s why communication is incredibly important in the workplace.

How to communicate effectively in the workplace?

Effective communication is essential for a productive and positive work environment. 

The essential elements of effective communication can be summed up in the 7 Cs of Communication, and they are:

• Clarity,
• Coherence,
• Confidence,
• Correctness,
• Conciseness,
• Concreteness, and
• Courtesy.

You can improve your communication skills by understanding the 7 elements of effective communication. We’ll describe them and give you some tips along the way.

Let’s go over the 7 Cs of communication.

Element #1: Clarity

You need to be a clear communicator in order to avoid misunderstandings and mistakes.

This simply means that you should: 

• Focus on the idea and meaning of the message you want to convey — the main idea of your message should always be clear and obvious.
• Avoid jargon or unnecessarily complex language. 
• Use concrete examples and provide clear instructions when necessary.

Expressing your thoughts clearly and succinctly will guarantee that your message will be correctly conveyed and understood.

Element #2: Coherence

Coherent communication is consistent and logical. The conversations flow smoothly and all the points are connected and relevant to the main topic of discussion. 

To ensure you’re coherent in your communication, you should:

• Organize your thoughts and ideas before presenting them,
• Present your thoughts and ideas in a logical order, and
• Listen to the other person and respond accordingly.

When you’re coherent in your communication, your thoughts and ideas are more credible, and the other person can follow your train of thought. This will eliminate confusion, errors, and misunderstandings.

Element #3: Confidence

Confidence plays a major role in being able to communicate effectively. Confidence enhances your ability to express yourself clearly. It also conveys a sense of competence and self-assurance, which gives your ideas more credibility. 

In the workplace, confidence is especially important. According to an Indeed survey, 98% of workers say they perform better when they feel confident. Moreover, 94% of the surveyed employees report feeling happier when they feel confident at work. Therefore, confidence is a skill worth building upon. 

Being confident when communicating can help you appear more:

• Assertive,
• Persuasive, and
• Professional.

Furthermore, being confident can help you break down communication barriers such as:

• Fear and anxiety,
• Self-doubt, and
• Hesitation. 

Without these barriers, you can express yourself and engage with others freely. 

The aforementioned Indeed survey also found that confidence reduces employee turnover. Namely, 96% of the surveyed employees say they are more likely to stay with a company when they feel confident. 

Therefore, confidence is a skill beneficial not only for the individual but for organizations as a whole. 

Element #4: Correctness

Correct communication means that there are no errors in communication. To be a correct communicator, you must always pay attention to:

• Grammar,
• Pronunciation, and
• Vocabulary.

When you use the correct language in your communication, you will appear more knowledgeable and credible. Correct communication also enhances your professionalism.

Furthermore, by being correct in your communication, you avoid misunderstandings and confusion as well as enhance comprehension.

There are a couple of ways you can ensure that your communication is correct, such as:

• Proofread every message before sending it,
• Consult grammar checkers and spell checkers if you have doubts, and
• Think about what you want to say before you say it.

Correct communication not only prevents errors but also shows that you respect your interlocutor. 

Element #5: Conciseness

Conciseness is a valued attribute in the professional world. Everyone appreciates it when you’re concise, as it saves a lot of time. Conciseness means that you communicate your message in the fewest words possible. 

To communicate concisely, you should:

• Leave out redundant words (“really”, “very”, “maybe”, etc.),
• Leave out filler words in oral communication (“umm”, “like”, “I mean”, “well”, etc.),
• Use simple sentences, and
• Stick to one topic at a time. 

In addition to saving time, concise communication also:

• Makes the message clearer for the listener/reader and
• Highlights your main points better.

Element #6: Concreteness

Concrete communication helps the listener understand exactly what you’re trying to say. It enables you to present information in a specific and vivid way.

To uphold concreteness in your communication, you’ll need to:

• Use specific and clear language,
• Avoid generalizations,
• Provide specific instructions,
• Use precise modifiers, and
• Support your views with facts and evidence.

When you’re concrete in your communication, it helps you:

• Avoid misunderstandings,
• Give credibility to your words, and
• Speed up the work in the team.

Element #7: Courtesy

Last but not least, always be courteous in your communication.

Courtesy simply means that you treat the other person with respect. Even in challenging situations, being courteous in your communication goes a long way.

When you show courtesy and treat everyone with respect, you will:

• Create a healthy and productive team,
• Build positive interpersonal relationships, and
• Keep team members feeling appreciated and valued.

Treating everyone with respect is the basis of courtesy, but you should also:

• Be polite and professional,
• Be open to different views and opinions,
• Think about the needs of others, and
• Be honest and open in your communication.

How to improve communication skills in the workplace?

Now that we’ve covered the elements of effective communication, let’s take a look at some practical tips on how you can improve your communication skills in the workplace.

Our contributor Chuck Wisner believes that communication skills need to be practiced:

Here are some tips that will help you improve your communication skills and, if needed, change your previous communication patterns.

Tip #1: Be concise and clear

The pillars of professional communication are efficiency and clarity. Therefore, you should always remember to keep your communication concise and straightforward. 

Kristie Stocker says that you can never be too clear:

Therefore, keep conciseness and clarity in your mind at all times.

Tip #2: Ask for, accept, and give feedback

Feedback is an integral part of professional development, as it gives you the opportunity to improve your skills and thrive in your career.

One survey found that 65% of employees want more feedback from their managers.

Stocker proposes a couple of questions you can ask to prompt feedback:

Therefore, don’t hesitate to ask for feedback, and always remain open to hearing feedback from others.

Tip #3: Be respectful of other people’s time

Whether you’re engaging in small talk in the office or on a video call with your manager, remember that their time is valuable. 

Keep your communication concise and to the point. You can do that by:

• Not hanging around for too long at someone’s desk in the office. 
• In a meeting, make sure to get to the point quickly and stick to the agenda of the meeting. 
• In a team communication app, feel free to chat with team members, but remember to respect their personal time and don’t message them after working hours. 

In any type of communication, take the other person into account and respect their time.

Tip #4: Prepare what you’re going to say

Improving your verbal communication skills can be challenging, especially if you deal with stage fright or meeting anxiety. 

In stressful situations, it’s best to be prepared. If you have a presentation coming up, but you’re anxious to speak in front of others, don’t hesitate to practice. Prepare exactly what you are going to say and rehearse it until you feel comfortable and confident. 

Additionally, many people struggle with anxiety over difficult conversations they need to have with team members. These can include asking for help, giving feedback, or discussing money. In any situation, it’s best to plan ahead and prepare for any potential questions, disagreements, or requests for additional information. By being prepared, you can address these in a calm and constructive manner.

Planning ahead is the best way to decrease stress and anxiety and improve communication.

Tip #5: Be ready for unexpected answers

A key trait of an active listener and a successful communicator is listening without judgment. 

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and think about their perspective. Listen without interrupting, and make sure to keep your preconceived notions and biases in check.

Also, be prepared to hear negative information or feedback, and you will be ready to accept or refute the opposing views.

Tip #6: Eliminate conversation fillers and non-words

Another tip for better verbal communication is to eliminate filler and non-words. 

You can drastically improve your oral communication if you become friends with pauses. Pauses in your speech can help you gather your thoughts and catch your breath. This eliminates the need for conversation fillers and non-words. 

Conversational fillers are also known as vocal disfluencies or hesitations. Words such as “like”, “right” and “so” are the most common fillers. There are also filler phrases, such as:

• “In my opinion”,
• “Needless to say”,
• “You know”, and
• “Well, basically”. 

Non-words are filler sounds that hold no meaning, such as:

• “Um”,
• “Ah”, and
• “Hmm”.

There are a couple of things you should do if you want to eliminate filler words and sounds from your speech:

• Practice your speech and listen to yourself,
• Pause and embrace the silence between thoughts,
• Speak slowly and clearly, and
• Use shorter sentences.

It’s not easy to completely eliminate filler words and sounds from your speech, but with a bit of practice, you can lower the frequency of them occurring.

Tip #7: Practice your presentations

Whether you’re comfortable with public speaking or not, you will benefit from practicing your presentations beforehand. 

Practicing your speeches will give you an opportunity to detect weak points in your presentations and in your delivery. 

For example, many people have subconscious nervous ticks, such as touching their hair or twiddling with their fingers. Observing yourself while talking can help you eliminate this visual clutter of nonverbal communication. This will make you appear more confident and prepared. 

Furthermore, going over your material will help you identify weak points or areas that need to be altered. 

Practicing your presentation skills will help you become a more confident speaker and convey your message more effectively.

Tip #8: Ask questions

To make sure you understand what’s being said, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Asking questions will also show that you’re engaged and actively listening to the other person. 

Make sure to ask open-ended questions to elicit meaningful responses and further the conversation. 

This will make the speaker: 

• Clarify their opinions, 
• Consider other points of view, or 
• Think even deeper about the subject.

Katie Stocker believes in the power of asking yourself questions while listening in order to contribute to the conversation. Here are some of the questions she finds useful:

Asking the right questions is the catalyst for good conversations, so ask away.

Tip #9: Avoid distractions

Avoiding distractions should be a priority whether you’re talking to someone in person or chatting via a business messaging app. 

• Try to be present in the conversation, and limit any possible interruptions, such as your phone or laptop. 
• If you’re in an important meeting, turn off your notifications. 
• In the office, put your phone away when you’re talking to a team member. 

Katie Stocker agrees that distractions are harmful to our communication:

Give your full attention to the other person to showcase your respect and contribute to a meaningful conversation.

Tip #10: Utilize communication tools

Communication tools are software or hardware that allow teams to communicate and collaborate. Communication tools, such as team communication apps, can help teams connect and collaborate faster and easier, especially in a remote work environment.

Our contributor, Smita Des Jain, believes that it’s important to be open and flexible to using new technology:

Tip #11: Self-reflect

To start improving your communication skills, you first need to take a look at the current state of things. Assess your strengths and weaknesses and identify areas that need improvement. 

Winser also agrees that self-reflection is the key to improving your communication skills:

When you’ve identified which skills need improving, you can start implementing our tips and strategies for better communication.

Why are good communication skills important?

Good communication skills are beneficial in many ways. Namely, good communication positively affects:

• Employee happiness and well-being,
• Employee engagement,
• Productivity, 
• Employee retention, and
• Financial health of companies. 

In Chuck Winser’s experience, communication skills are vital for effective and productive teams:

Let’s go over the benefits of good communication in more detail.

Benefit #1: Good communication makes employees happier 

Good communication in the workplace is a strong predictor of employee happiness and well-being. 

According to a literature review on the link between communication and employee happiness, open channels of communication are a major driver of employee happiness. Research has shown that open communication in all directions is important. Namely, downward communication is as crucial as upward and horizontal communication.

Furthermore, according to the Connected Culture Report, employees in teams that value connection cite better physical and emotional well-being. 

Fostering good communication in the workplace creates an environment where employees feel connected and informed, making them happier and healthier.

Benefit #2: Good communication increases productivity

Connected teams also report higher productivity. 

According to a McKinsey survey, organizations that practice clear communication are more likely to see benefits to employee productivity. Namely, employees who feel included and informed are 5 times more likely to report increased productivity.

According to The State of Business Communication report, 72% of business leaders believe that effective communication has increased the productivity of their teams. The same study also found that effective communication positively affects employee confidence, which also positively affects productivity.

Therefore, if you want your business to thrive and your employees to be productive, make good communication a priority. 

Benefit #3: Good communication increases engagement

Disengaged employees cost the world $8.8 trillion dollars in lost productivity, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report.

At the core of the issue is a lack of communication that leads to disengaged employees.

Firstly, companies are failing to communicate their values and strategies to their employees. That’s a missed opportunity for employees to feel connected to the organization at a deeper level. 

Furthermore, with the rise of remote work, remote employees tend to feel even more disengaged. Here, companies are failing to open various channels of communication to ensure their remote employees feel included.

The Gallup report found that only 23% of workers worldwide are engaged. To change this, good communication practices need to be at the forefront of every company’s values.

Benefit #4: Good communication increases employee retention

Employee retention is decreasing, according to Kincentric’s Global Trends in Employee Engagement 2022 report. Organizations are finding it difficult to retain employees, and top talent is now more likely to be among the staff that leaves the organization. 

As we’ve covered, good communication increases employee engagement. Research shows that employee engagement is related to employee retention. Namely, Lattice’s State of People Strategy Report 2021 found that you should focus on increasing engagement to decrease employee turnover. 

To put it simply, good communication leads to employee engagement, and engagement leads to employee retention.

Benefit #5: Good communication saves money

A consequence of poor communication is lost money.

Namely, 38% of business leaders have noticed a financial impact of poor communication, according to the previously mentioned State of Business Communication 2023 report. Furthermore, the report estimates that poor communication costs US companies $1.2 trillion dollars a year. 

A report from Axios HQ, which surveyed 540 business leaders and over one thousand employees, estimates that poor communication costs US companies upwards of $2 trillion dollars a year. 

It’s evident that a lack of communication skills is detrimental to the success of organizations. Developing and nurturing communication skills is an investment that pays off.

Examples of good communication skills

Now that you know everything about communication skills, let’s take a look at a few examples of good communication in the workplace. All of the examples are via a team communication app — Pumble.

Example #1: Clear communication and honesty

In this example, the manager Jenna is reaching out to Hannah to get an update on a project. Hannah has encountered some difficulties on the way:

This conversation showcases good communication skills from both parties. Firstly, as the manager, Jenna has taken on the responsibility of reaching out to Hannah to check in. She gets straight to the point with a clear and concise message asking for an update. 

Hannah responds honestly and admits that she’s having difficulty staying on schedule. 

Jenna then demonstrates emotional intelligence in her next message. She empathizes with Hannah and provides words of support. Jenna also offers a clear solution to fix the situation. She does all this while maintaining a friendly and positive attitude towards Hannah.

Hannah finishes with a polite and professional message that conveys mutual understanding.

Example #2: Open communication and empathy

In the next example, we have a conversation between a manager and a team member. The manager Zoey has noticed a change in Hannah’s performance and wants to know if she’s all right:

Here we have many different communication skills at play. Firstly, Zoey demonstrates an empathetic attitude with genuine questions about Hannah’s well-being. She also approaches the subject in a positive manner by complimenting Hannah’s past work before pointing out the recent changes in her performance. 

Hannah is open and honest with Zoey and concisely lets her know that she’s been struggling. Hannah also demonstrates her immediate willingness to accept feedback.

Zoey then empathizes with Hannah and offers clear solutions.

The conversation flows coherently, and both Zoey and Hannah feel better at the end of it. 

Example #3: Friendliness and concreteness 

In this example, a product design team is discussing the color scheme for a product. Even though multiple team members are communicating, the conversation flows coherently, and they reach a mutual understanding:

Lisa and Noah demonstrate a friendly and positive attitude in this group chat by complimenting the team’s choices. 

James asks a few questions to deepen the conversation and try to approach the subject from different angles. 

Keith responds in a thoughtful way and answers James’s bid for further consideration. He also displays a friendly attitude by acknowledging that James is a new addition to the team.

James then concludes the conversation with a concrete answer — complete with research data. This gives credibility to his words.

Example #4: When communication goes wrong

In this example, three team members are trying to reach a common agreement. However, one team member is frustrated and gives up on trying to come to a compromise:

Leah, Jenna, and John are trying to devise a solution that will work for everyone. They demonstrate professionalism and clarity. Jenna is also confident in her suggestions for a better solution. 

They are all concise, coherent, and engaged in the conversation.

However, Richard becomes frustrated with the process of deciding on the best solution and cuts the conversation short. He imposes his opinions on the team and stops any further discussion. Although he is undoubtedly clear in his communication, the delivery of his message is rude and unprofessional. 

Improve your communication skills with Pumble 

In conclusion, communication skills are of the utmost importance if we want to achieve a productive and successful work environment.

Working on individual communication skills as well as valuing good communication on the organizational level, are going to benefit your team immensely. 

All your efforts and improvements can be skyrocketed by utilizing a user-friendly communication tool like Pumble, a team communication app. This all-in-one platform combines every important method of communication like direct messages, voice, and video calls to accommodate all business communication needs and preferences.

Pumble is the most suitable choice for every team that strives to continually develop and nurture their communication skills, becoming more effective and productive in their everyday work. 

Ready to practice your communication skills in Pumble and reap the benefits? Sign up now!

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