If you want to experience long-term success in your career, then it’s time to improve your English communication skills.
Many people think that technical skills like programming or management are the most important thing in their resume. However, Stanford Research Institute International’s study discovered that technical skills are only responsible for 25% of your career success, while your mastery of soft skills can propel you by 75%. Soft skills like adaptability, punctuality, and leadership are all very important, but managers reveal that communication skills top the list when it comes to crucial competencies.
English communication skills are becoming more in demand in various fields, and here’s why leaders are willing to invest in professionals who possess this particular competency:
Your English communication skills are essential for grabbing the attention of clients and company leaders. An article on the ‘Significance of Soft Skills in Career Development’ highlights that good communication can foster trust among coworkers. Great English skills in the workplace will enable you to communicate clearly, ensuring that your message isn’t distorted in the process of relaying it. Proper pronunciation and diction are also part and parcel of how professional you look at work, and can actually help supervisors see you as competent and ready for career progress.
It can be hard to get along with co-workers from different cultures. However, you can overcome this bump and become a stronger team through your English communication skills.
Given the importance of communication for professional relationships, a recent poll on soft skills conducted by LHH revealed that 23% of workers want to boost their communication skills this year. Professionals are even trying to learn communication etiquette for e-mails, work tools, and social media platforms so that they can maintain positive and productive work relationships. By learning how to communicate your ideas in a professional manner, you can earn the trust and respect of your co-workers.
Miscommunication is already a common occurrence for local teams, so you can only imagine how frequently it happens for multicultural workplaces.
Unfortunately, miscommunication can set back crucial work projects. So if you want to increase the productivity of your work team, our guide on ‘How to Keep the Conversation Going’ recommends that you actively check if your co-worker can follow your thoughts. Some of them may be too shy to interrupt you, so you can take a pause to ask them if they understand you. This provides them with an opportunity to confirm what they heard, or even to ask about the work task.
It’s important to learn how to properly clarify things with your co-workers, especially since conflict can stem from miscommunication. These conflicts don’t just affect a team’s productivity; they can also destroy your connection with your team members.
Conflict is very common at work, so the Balance Careers points out that professionals need to communicate clearly to avoid any arguments. Improving your verbal and written English skills allows you to express your thoughts accurately and lessen any misunderstandings. You should also practice your listening skills, so that you can clearly understand every word when speaking with your colleagues.
Your English communication skills won’t just help you secure jobs, they can also help you with your career progression. This is one way that you can look more efficient and professional in the eyes of your co-workers, leaders, and clients.
