Employability Skills Communication

Communication How we give and receive information and convey our ideas and opinions with those around us. Verbal (sounds, language, and tone of voice) Aural (listening and hearing) Non-verbal (facial expressions, body language, and posture) Written (journals, emails, text messages, social media) Visual (signs, symbols, and pictures)

Verbal Communication Be friendly and use an appropriate tone & volume. Think before you speak Be clear Don’t talk to much, be concise Be your authentic self Practice humility Speak with confidence Don’t use slang or inappropriate language

Aural Communication Active listening involves: Paying close attention to what the other person is saying Asking clarifying questions Rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding ("So, what you're saying is…"). Through active listening, you can better understand what the other person is trying to say, and can respond appropriately.

Non-Verbal Communication What people SEE is often more memorable than what they read or hear. This is often referred to as body language. Facial expressions, eye behavior, gestures, posture. Body language can express your emotions, feelings and attitudes. It can even contradict what you say verbally

Written and Visual Communication Define your key message (what is the main point of what you are writing) Identify your audience. Does the audience have expertise in the subject matter you are writing about or are they a general audience that may be on a learning curve? Will the audience be confused with the use of buzzwords, slang or acronyms that are not well understood? Get organized sometimes its useful to develop an outline or to capture key bullet points before developing the material. Set a tone. Your tone may be instructional, chatty, or academic. It may be active or passive. It may be thought provoking or it may simply deliver facts and statistics. It may be entertaining or serious. Create a first draft, proof read, and edit. And/or have someone else read your edited work.

Communication at Work Its important to develop a variety of skills for both communicating TO others and learning how to interpret the information received FROM others. To an employer, good communication skills are essential. In fact, employers consistently rank good communication skills at the top of the list for potential employees. Interviews can indicate to am employer how the candidate will interact with supervisors, co-workers, and customers or resolve conflicts when they arise.

Interviews During an interview employers are impressed by a candidate who: Answer questions with more than 1-word answers Demonstrates they are listening Shares information and ideas (by asking questions for clarification and/or follow up) Good nonverbal communication (good eye contact, posture, and “active listening”)

Activity 1: What’s your Point Role Play 1 Questions: How did Jade handle Mr. Z’s comments? What did she do right? Was there anything she could have done differently? Was there anything that Mr. Z did right and what could have done differently? Role Play 2 Questions: How do you think Ms. T handled the situation with Will’s lateness? How did will handle Ms. T’s disapproval? What might have Will or Ms. T have done differently?

Activity 2: Flipping the switch Explain how you would communicate verbally and non-verbally with each group of people (friends, family, and professionals)

Activity 3: Oh, Puh-leeeeeeze! List on your paper 1-15 for emotion charades Create a list of atleast 3 do’s and don’ts for avoiding common body language mistakes on the job. Facial expressions Body movements and posture Gestures Eye Contact Touch