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3 minute read
Can you craft effective arguments, ace public speaking, or communicate with stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational targets or goals?
Doing just one of these with impact could boost your career to the next level.
Here’s how…
What Are Verbal Communication Skills?
Verbal communication is the way we use speech and words to convey information. But, verbal communication skills are not just focused on how you speak, they also rely on how you deliver and receive messages from others.
Although verbal communication is a big part of workplace communication and interactions, non-verbal communication such as body language also plays a role.
Examples of Effective Verbal Communication in the Workplace
Discover 4 real-life examples of effective communication in the workplace.
Why Verbal Communication Skills Are Important and How Developing Them Can Benefit You
Although technology has made it convenient for us to communicate, verbal communication skills will always be a vital part of workplace communication. Having verbal communication skills allows you to build rapport with other colleagues and managers, provide clarity, motivate others and save a lot of time.
Forget about shying away from public speaking, the inability to create positive client relationships, or unresolved communication misunderstandings in the workplace. Strong and effective verbal communication will resolve all of that!
A lack of Interpersonal skills is usually a common reason for little to no advancement in an organisation, which is understandable. The higher up the career ladder you go, the more advanced and effective your verbal communication skills need to be. For example, you may be required to conduct more public speaking, present business cases in a compelling way to high authority members or share and offer verbal feedback to other employee’s ideas.
It would be tricky to do those successfully with little to no interpersonal experience or verbal communication skills - another reason to learn why developing them can boost you up the career ladder.
5 Ways Developing Your Verbal Communication Skills Can Fast-Track Your Career Progression
1. Demonstrates ability to lead or manage others
Being a manager or leader requires effective verbal communication skills. If you show you can offer constructive feedback, communicate with other employees and actively listen, senior managers will recognise those are essential skills for a leader or emerging manager – placing you in a top position for a promotion.
2. Ability to build important and lasting relationships
As a public sector professional, it’s likely that you don’t just communicate with your colleagues. You may have to effectively communicate with stakeholders over the phone, high authority leaders during meetings, or face-to-face interactions with suppliers. If you’ve spent time and effort to successfully develop your verbal communication skills, this should be a walk in the park.
The ability to communicate and build lasting relationships with people other than your colleagues is a top skill to master. Not only does it demonstrate that you’re dedicated to developing relationships for the organisation, but it will also help the organisation in the long run to minimise uncertainty around projects and speed up any problem solving or decision-making.
Related: 7 Proven Ways to Develop your Communication Skills
3. Shows you’re dedicated to self-improvement
Whether you’re in a junior role or you’re looking to move up to the next level managerial role in your organisation, developing verbal communication skills shows you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and ways you can work on them.
According to self-awareness researcher Dr. Tasha Eurich, 95% of people think they are self-aware when only 15% are. This is a staggering statistic but becoming a manager or moving up the career ladder begins with a level of self-awareness.
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4. Develops the ability to share ideas more effectively
Powerful words can sometimes be more effective than an action.
If you have clear verbal communication skills, you’re putting yourself in the best possible position to share your ideas with clarity, understanding and a level of research. It also gives you the best opportunity to share your opinions, use assertiveness and conduct presentations with ease.
By sharing your ideas with clarity and definition, you’ll impress your colleagues, senior managers and even those in high authority positions. Without those essential skills, your ideas may not be as powerful and engaging as you intend them to be.
5. Creates more impactful employee collaboration and productivity
We’ve discussed how verbal communication is the backbone of any successful organisation, but according to McKinsey & Company, employee productivity increases by 20-25% when employees are well connected. Another reason to develop your skills, right?
Having improved verbal communication skills increases collaboration and productivity due to greater confidence, motivation to share opinions and ideas, and more effective communication with other colleagues who work towards the same goals and visions as you.
If you’re in a managerial role, emphasise verbal communication development into your communication strategy and demonstrate what benefits it can have for individuals, a team and the organisation as a whole.
Related: 6 effective communication goals for your team
Ready to Fast-Track Your Public Sector Career?
Whether you’re looking to speak with impact, effectively communicate in a hybrid environment or improve your negotiation skills, explore our range of Confidence & Resilience courses that can boost your chances of moving up the career ladder. Secure your place today.
