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Importance of Communication Skills - January, 2003
?The number one skill employers are looking for in employees is good
communication skills. No matter what the job, in order for you to be
successful, you need to effectively communicate with your boss, your
co-workers and your customers.?
?And we aren?t just talking about verbal communication. Ninety percent
of all business transactions involve written communication, experts
said.?
?The typical pyramid-hierarchy business model is changing into a more
flattened version where team-based management creates a need for team
communication skills. And most recently, companies that are downsizing
have a need for constant communication between management and
employees.?
Reprinted from the Riverside Business Journal
http://www.howewriteyouare.com/articles/communicationskills_0103.html
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Skills at Work
Although the education and training requirements of all industries are
not the same, the consistent themes emerging from this research are:
?Communication skills are increasingly valued in all occupations due
to the increased complexity of interactions between workers and
suppliers, colleagues and clients.?
Department of Education, Science and Training
http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/eippubs/eip03_14/default.htm
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Communication Skills in the Workplace
By Nancy Martin-Young
?Today business and industry leaders are looking for specific skills
in entry-level employees. The current workplace trend in education
helps to teach those skills, based on the competencies established for
all workers by the U.S. Department of Labor. In particular, today's
workers need communication skills: oral, written, and technological.?
Oral Communication
?We can see that employees still need written communication skills.
Yet interpersonal oral communication skills are the ones most prized
by employers in the new informal workplace atmosphere.?
?Oral presentation skills lead to promotions. At Buehler Products,
those willing to present proposals or recommend strategies are those
who are positioned for advancement.?
CEI - North Carolina Conference of English Instructors
http://www.nccei.org/comskills.html
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Careers Library Survey
A total of 80 employers included in this survey made reference to
skills they expected their new graduates to have in addition to their
degree qualifications.
Note ? The most important skill is communication
Communication (Oral, Written, Interpersonal) 90%
Teamwork (including Leadership skills) 50%
Problem-solving 35%
IT awareness for non-IT graduates 25%
Planning and Organising 25%
Initiative 25%
Flexibility, Adaptability 25%
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/reports/graduate/findings.html#careers
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Anthony Hesketh, researcher in the Department of Education at the
University of Wales, outlined the findings of research he had carried
out into skills required by employers of their graduate recruits.
?Communication skills were highly valued (particularly verbal
communication) and the ability to learn new material and to apply
knowledge to workplace problems. Technical skills were given a low
ranking, as were IT skills and numeracy.?
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/reports/graduate/findings.html#wales
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Communication competence in the workplace
?A study was conducted to determine the communication competencies that
employers? most desired in college graduates and employers? level of
expectation regarding communicative ability entry-level employees.?
?Results indicated collaboration and listening are competencies valued
by employers and used frequently in the workplace. Expectations of
listening, oral communication and written communication ability are
above average, with listening expectations highest of the three.?
Kansas State University: Honors Program
http://www.ag.ksu.edu/honorsprogram/johnson.pdf
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?Many top business thinkers -- including Michael Porter, C. K.
Prahalad and Gary Hamel -- argue that good communications are crucial
for implementing strategy.?
?Senior executives who have invested time and effort in learning
strategic communication approaches clearly have what we call a
communication advantage. This is an organization's ability to use
communications effectively to move from strategic planning to strategy
implementation. The communications need to be aimed at the
organization's key constituencies: employees, shareholders, customers,
business partners and the media. The objective from the start is not
just to share information but to influence opinions and actions.
Executives who insist on the egocentric approach, focusing primarily
on how they envision their own goals in their own terms, rapidly lose
effectiveness.? http://web.archive.org/web/20011007073302/www.strategy-business.com/briefs/98312/
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?Learning how to communicate in a way that enhances corporate
performance?roles and titles notwithstanding?can literally make the
difference between financial success and failure.?
http://www.hp.com/sbso/advice/articles_education2.html
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?Good communication is one of the most valued skills in the workplace.
And effective listening is basic to communicating productively inside
the organization and meeting the competitive challenges outside.?
Westpoint Learning
http://www.westpointlearning.com/Management%20Profiles/Communication_Skills.htm
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?In a survey of technology business leaders conducted by the
University System of Georgia's Intellectual Capital Partnership
Program (ICAPP), employers identified critical thinking skills, the
ability to work in teams and oral communication skills as the
most-valued qualities sought in potential employees.?
?Of six identified skills and qualities, computer skills ranked fourth
in importance among respondents, at 52 percent. Critical thinking
skills, however, ranked 78 percent, and the ability to work in teams
and oral communication both ranked at 60 percent?
?More than 60 percent of responding employers either "agreed" or
"strongly agreed" that their current employees "have adequate
technical skills but need stronger communication skills." Conversely,
57 percent either "disagreed" or "strongly disagreed" that their
employees have adequate communication skills, but need stronger
technical skills.?
University System of Georgia
http://www.usg.edu/news/2000/10.25.00.html
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The Value of Skills
?Personal, management and development skills (soft skills), as opposed
to technical skills, were the most useful to workers in their jobs.?
?Over three-quarters (76%) cited communication skills as most useful
to them, with 65% naming team working and self- motivation. In
comparison, only 38% mentioned basic IT, and only one in five,
advanced IT. Workers also believed that employers valued soft skills
most highly, with 44% stating that communication was the most valued
skill. However, if workers could only mention one skill when applying
for a job, the highest proportion, 26%, would choose self-
motivation.?
KnowledgePool
http://eu.knowledgepool.com/about/press_room/press_releases/britain2002.html
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KnowledgePool Research Results
Which skills do you think are most valued by employers?
?Respondents believed that communication (44%), self motivation (39%),
and team working skills (38%), were the skills most valued by
employers. More women (50%) than men (40%) also believed that
communication is valued.?
KnowledgePool
http://eu.knowledgepool.com/about/research/britain2002/report3.pdf
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NYSIA Summer 2002 Job Survey: Summary of Results
Skills Importance:
?The most valued and desirable skills of candidates entering the
industry are "soft" skills. Communication skills have consistently
ranked #1.?
NYSIA
http://www.nysia.org/memservices/employtrain/it_survey/results/sum2002_summary.cfm
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?Communication skills are among the most valued qualifications for
graduates seeking employment in today?s complex and diversified
business world.?
?Competence in speaking, listening and writing is vital to success in
every field and employers are expressing demand for graduates with
effective communication skills.?
Pikeville Collage
http://admissions.pc.edu/prospective/programs/communication.htm
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The Corporate Council on Education (part of the Conference Board of
Canada) carried out a major survey of employers across the country.
The aim was to find out which skills are the most important for young
people entering the workforce.
?These essential skills for employment can be summarized as follows:
- Effective oral communication
- Effective written communication
- Logical and critical thinking
- Creative, innovative thinking
- The ability to work well with others
- Self-confidence and initiative
- A positive attitude towards work
- A keen sense of responsibility for your actions
- Eagerness to continue to grow and to learn?
The Skills Zone
http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/cyberstation/html/szone_e.htm
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Today?s marketplace requires skills in addition to college degrees and
work experience.
?According to a NACE study of employers, Communication Skills -
Individuals who possess good communication skills who can clearly and
effectively communicate, verbally, non-verbally and in writing are
valued candidates for employment.?
ASU Web: Career Services
http://career.asu.edu/S/LA/Skills/LASkillscritical.htm
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In Healthcare delivery organizations: ?Communication skills are
increasingly recognized as a quality indicator with substantial links
to patient satisfaction, adherence, and positive health outcomes.?
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/projects/HealthComm/objective6.htm
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Skill Most Valued by Employers
Interpersonal Communication
Teamwork
Verbal Communication
Analytical Skills
Computer Skills
Written Communication
Leadership Ability
Top 10 Personal Characteristics Employers Seek in Job Candidates
Communication Skills
Work Experience
Motivation/Initiative
Teamwork Skills
Leadership Abilities
Academic Credentials/GPA
Technical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Analytical Skills
Ethics
Source: Job Outlook '99, National Association of Colleges and Employers
Business & Professional Communication
http://www.hsu.edu/faculty/duncanr/business.htm
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According to the 1998 Graduate Employers Survey, communication and
presentation skills is the number two prioritiy placed on workplace
skills by employer.
Employer Priority Rating of Ideal Graduate Workplace Skills
?Thinking about the ideal graduate, how would you rate the priority
you place on each of the following workplace skills when you make your
recruitment decisions? Respondents were presented with a list of 17
workplace skills and asked to rate their priorities for their ?ideal
graduate? on a five point scale where 1 was ?very low?, 2 was ?low?, 3
was ?moderate?, 4 was ?high? and 5 was ?very high.?
The priorities placed on workplace skills by employer respondents are listed in
descending order in table 1, on page 19 of this publication.
1998 Graduate Employers Survey
http://planning.reg.flinders.edu.au/downloads/surveys/1998GraduateEmployersSurveyReport.pdf
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"Meanwhile, businesses are clear on what skills they are looking for.
Computer skills are not among the top skills most valued in employees,
according to the Georgia survey. More highly rated are oral
communication skills, critical thinking, ability to work in teams and
written communication skills."
Spelman College: Writing Center
http://www.wcenter.spelman.edu/Monday_schedule.html
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"Maupin and May (1993) note, for example, that "the importance of
communications skills to the successful practice of accounting has
long been recognized. As long ago as 1968 the American Accounting
Association (AAA) made this strong statement: `Probably no other
quality is more important--to an accountant--than having the ability
to communicate well both in writing and orally' (AAA, 1968)." Maupin
and May further noted that in 1990 the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA) decided to test for writing skills on the
CPA exam."
College Student Journal: March, 1999
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FCR/1_33/62894056/p1/article.jhtml?term=
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Writing Skills Matter
?Writing skills are becoming increasingly important in the workplace.
More employees are required to write effectively, even if their jobs
never included writing previously.?
?One reason for this change is that nearly every worker is connected
via email--to each other and to your customers. For instance, customer
service agents who used to spend 95 percent of their time on the
telephone are increasingly required to answer customer inquiries via
e-mail.?
?No matter whether the writer is a CEO, a sales manager or a customer
service representative, poor communications can lead to loss of
business.?
Credibility
"If you send out a sales letter that is filled with errors, you're
losing credibility. You send the image that your company is careless,"
says Dawn Josephson, president of Cameo Publications, an editorial and
publishing services firm based in Hilton Head, S.C."
?Effective communication has always been key to business success, but
the tools are evolving.?
HR Magazine: March, 2003
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3495/3_48/98830408/p1/article.jhtml
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?No data will tell you definitively that good manners and good
communication skills will result in X percentage increase in sales,
morale or productivity.?
"People who have some polish will make a better impression, and people
will want to be around them," says Herring. "And people do business
with people they like. It's that simple."
HR Magazine: May, 2001,
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m3495/5_46/74829360/p4/article.jhtml?term=
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Communications in the Professional World
?Strong verbal communications are an essential skill in the business
world. As future technical and business leaders, your success will
depend greatly on how well you communicate.?
http://repo-nt.tcc.virginia.edu/classes/howtopresent/Kohn_Staton.ppt
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?Successful business leaders understand the importance of
communications skills. Whether making a presentation to your staff or
stating your case to upper management, the audience is listening,
watching, and waiting for you to make your point.?
http://www.pacificrimprotocol.com/seminar.htm
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?Communication is key to being a great CIO.?
?The reason for this is simple: CIOs can possess the other nine
leadership qualities but if they cannot communicate well, they will
never be great CIOs.?
?One of the signs of a CIO with excellent communications skills is the
ability to talk technology fluently among peers and yet be an equally
skilled translator among the less technically savvy.?
?In other words, good communication is key to developing good business
relationships.?
Tech Republic
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6300-1060260-3.html
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From the National Communication Association:
?Communication education is fundamental to career success and the
entire business enterprise. People entering the workforce are assisted
by communication skills and employers endorse communication skills as
basic to most jobs. Communicative skill is essential in multiple
professional careers including accounting, auditing, banking,
engineering, industrial hygiene, information science, public
relations, and sales. Upward mobility is more probable as
communication skills increase.?
?Business and customer interactions are more satisfying and productive
with the development of communication skills. Communication skills are
essential to those in human resources development. Both business
executives and entrepreneurs benefit from communication education.?
For a number of excellent references related to communications skills
in the business world, I highly recommend that you read ?Theme IV:
Communication Education is Vital to Career Success and the Business
Enterprise? at the following link:
http://www.natcom.org/Instruction/DiscAdv/Why%20Comm%20is%20Important%20JACA%20Article.htm
.
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I hope the information I provided is helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
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