In 2006 the National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted a survey to find out what the most important quality was that was being sought in job candidates.
Traits sought in candidates
Here's a list of the most desirable
traits that are sought in job candidates (on a 1-5 scale, 1=not at all important, 5=extremely important):
- Communication skills (4.7)
- Honesty and Integrity (4.7)
- Teamwork skills (4.6)
- Strong work ethic (4.5)
- Analytical skills (4.4)
- Flexibility and Adaptability
(4.4)
- Interpersonal skills (4.4)
- Motivation and Initiative (4.4)
- Computer skills (4.3)
The Missing Ingredient
Of all the prospective job candidates interviewed - guess which one was cited as the missing ingridient with most of the prospective job
candidates?
That's right, Communication skills!!!
The key Ingredient to any advancement in the job market - or within your own company - will most probably be your ability to
communicate - That will make you stand out the crowd.
Remember that people who do not communicate clearly are prone to becoming misunderstood and so when they communicate and are misunderstood they will become frustrated and respond in anger.
9 Tips for Improving
Your Communication Skills:
- Make communication a
priority.
Read books, magazine articles, take lessons in how to communicate or learn from successful
communicators around you. Find out what inhibits you from communication clearly - You could get help from a coach, that could observe you and help unleash your confidence.
- Keep Communication Simple and Stay focused
Use simple language that is understandable and straight forward. Sir Winston Churchill used very simple text to communicate to Europe during the second world war - That kept them focused - We will fight them on the Beaches. June 1940 The House of Commons.
- Engage your listeners.
Entice the listener to want to hear more and know more - Draw them into the conversation, and ask them to get involved by asking questions. Invite their opinions and solicit their feedback. Don't react to negative criticism. Think about every reaction and reply!
- Take time to respond.
After you've listened and understood take time to "draft" in
your head what you want to say and then communicate your conviction with passion and kindness. Do not react out of anger!
- Make sure you are
understood.
Always have people repeat to you what they understood - Don't blame the other person for not understanding. Instead, Once again do not react in anger, but take time to clarify or rephrase what you are trying to say so that you may be understood.
- Develop your listening
skills, too.
The best communicators are almost always the best listeners. Listen
without judgment and don't be distracted by thinking about what you want
to say next. Think , Then respond in kindness and once again do not react in anger.
- Body language Communicates much louder.
Studies show that 65% of all communication is non-verbal. Watch for visual
signs that your listener understands, agrees or disagrees with your
message. And be aware that your body is sending signals, too.
- Maintain eye contact.
Whether speaking to a crowd or one-on-one, maintaining eye contact builds
credibility and demonstrates you care about your listeners.
- Respect your audience.
Recognize your message is not just about you or what you want. You should
sincerely care about the needs and the unique perspectives of those to
whom you are communicating. One of the best ways to show your respect is
simply by paying attention to what they say.
The Art of Communication
Excellent communication is the ability to transmit a message by the sender to
a receiver and have that message replicated in the receiver's mind. Excellent
communication is the ability to receive a transmitted message by the sender and
have the receiver be able to replicate the form and intent of the message in the
receiver's mind. If the receiver is uncertain about some aspect of a
communication, it is the responsibility of the receiver to clarify the
communication through the artful use of questions.
The transmitting communicator
also accepts the responsibility for the result of a communication. This means
the transmitter must be certain to code a communication so it is received in a
manner that is understandable to the receiver.
To be purposeful you have to be intentional
Contact Ron to begin your "Pathway to Success"
~ (C) 2007 Strategic to the Marketplace, LLC. ~ www.strategictothemarketplace.com ~
