Challenges For Effective Communication Skills
Effective communication is an unavoidable and incredibly important component of both a successful career and happy home-life. The development of effective communication skills has been seriously effected over recent years by the increased prevalence of technological advances, the result of which is a decreased level of direct verbal and non-verbal communication between individuals.
Universities and colleges throughout North America are ensuring that their students recognize and understand the importance of communication skills in their future careers and endeavors. In degree programs where communication skills are particularly important, such as teaching or business, schools are inviting communication experts and specialist into the classroom to discuss the techniques that can be used to enhance the public speaking, body language, and active listening skills of current students. These communication consultants are offering specially-designed communication seminars and exercises that seek to make students think hard about the messages they are communicating, intentionally or not, and focus on conveying well-thought messages.
A recent government report expressed concern that the new generation of post-secondary students were suffering from a diminished grasp of vital communication skills, particular verbal communication abilities, due to new technological changes in the communication sphere. The internet, email, and mobile SMS-texting has significantly, and perhaps irreparably, altered the way many people communicate, and has resulted in a decreased need for direct interpersonal communication. This is especially true, the study says, for formal communication situations where professional and articulate message conveyance is paramount. Both the public and private sector fear that today’s younger generation is increasingly ill-equipped to handle face-to-face interpersonal interaction when the time comes in their future careers. This includes future job interviews, as well as workplace interaction with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders.
The recruitment departments of some international companies, as well as executive hiring services companies, have expressed an increased emphasis on evaluating candidates to ensure they possess an adequate proficiency in interpersonal and workplace communication. These organizations have expressed concerns mirroring those of the government studies, and have said that they have witnessed a deterioration in the communication skills of those individuals who come through their systems.