6 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills at Work

Whether you want to be in business, human services, healthcare or any other field, good communication skills can help you succeed.

How you interact with others matters, whether that interaction occurs in person, on the phone, via email or through other channels. And it isn't only leaders and human resource managers who need to be confident communicators. Communication matters in IT, too, along with any other field that involves service or collaboration.

In fact, Fast Company noted that soft skills like communication can help to "future proof" your career in an increasingly automated world.

The good news is that business communication skills are not innate; they can be learned. Whether you need to hone your presentation skills or beef up your written communications, there are steps you can take to immediately strengthen these skills to stand out in the workplace, said Dr. Karen Wilkinson, an associate dean of communication programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with over three decades of experience in communication, marketing and training.

1. Learn How to Listen

Most people underestimate the role of nonverbal communication, or body language. According to one study, body language is responsible for 55% of how listeners perceive a speaker. Likewise, active listening plays a huge role in how well we understand and absorb what a person is saying, Wilkinson said.

It’s important not only to listen to the words someone is saying, but to listen for tone as well, and what makes the speaker passionate about the subject.

“So often we listen to respond,” she said. “If we take a more active role we will be much better listeners.”

For example, when you engage in active listening, you are able to paraphrase or summarize the message, develop thoughtful questions to seek clarification, and wait before you offer an opinion.

She also urges listeners to spend a few minutes absorbing a message before offering suggestions or asking questions. “It’s okay to say, 'let me think about it for a minute and get back to you.'” she said.

2. Practice Public Speaking

In a world of email, texts and instant messages, it’s easy to ignore your speaking skills until you are in front of a podium. However, employees need to know how to speak well person-to-person and in front of small or large groups.

Part of improving that skill is practice, Wilkinson said, and knowing what you are going to say, preparing how you’ll say it and eliminating things that distract the listener from the main points. When presenting, Wilkinson said it’s best to tell a story and take the audience on the journey with you.

“People are able to remember a short story much more quickly than bullet points on a slide,” she said. “If you can make them an active participant it helps captivate the audience and draws them in.”

While visuals complement a good presentation, Wilkinson urges presenters not to rely on slides. Practicing in front of a trusted peer is a great way to get feedback, she said. “One person can’t always think of everything and we need to be more open to receiving suggestions,” said Wilkinson.

3. Write More Effective Emails

According to Statista, people in the United States send a total of 9.7 billion emails per day. Poorly written, unclear, misleading or ineffective emails reduce productivity and can leave a poor impression on the reader.

Remember:

• Think before you hit send.
• Understand that spellcheck doesn’t always pick up mistakes.
• Learn how to proofread what you write.

Wilkinson said all these rules are important to think about each time you send an email. Oftentimes, employees are in a hurry to respond and neglect professionalism. Other tips: Less is more. Edit for clarity and understanding. Know what you want to say and what information you are looking for.

“Share information with clarity but also include a level of diplomacy in all written internal communications,” Wilkinson said.

Equally important is understanding the situations that require you to speak to someone in person rather than relying on email.

“As a culture, we’ve learned to tweak before we send, and we’ve lost the art of face-to-face conversation,” she said.

4. Make Phone Calls With Confidence

Although a great deal of communication now happens online, being confident while speaking on the phone is still a vital professional skill.

The person on the other end of the telephone can’t see your expression or read an emoji, which is why it’s so important to pay attention to your tone of voice, Wilkinson said. Whether you are speaking with a customer or a colleague, you should show respect and courtesy in the tone of your voice, she said.

“A lot of (telephone) coaching can come through an organization, but you really need to know how to handle an impromptu call when someone is calling you about a less-than-positive situation,” she said. “You need to know how to remain calm and let the caller know you are listening and that you care.”

Wilkinson said callers especially want to be able to tell their story to those working in customer service or public relations roles, and it is up to listeners on the receiving end to understand their plight and take appropriate action.

“This is where conflict management skills shine through — having a strategy in place to respond when someone is upset is a huge part of communication brand protection in a world in which customers can broadcast unpleasant customer service experiences through social media,” Wilkinson said.

5. Collaborate Well With Remote Teams

Chances are, not everyone on your team sits in cubicles adjacent to you. According to Forbes, 58% of the workforce was working remote as of 2022, with workers spending an average of 20 hours per week using tools for digital communication. That means employees must develop communication skills that can help them bridge the gap between on-site and remote workers. Wilkinson said the ability to work in teams is one skill that can’t be overemphasized, as it is rare for individuals to work in a vacuum.

“When you work with someone remotely, there can be a disconnect. That is where compassion and empathy come in," she said. "If you can engage with people at all levels, that’s a strong asset.”

6. Master the Right Applications

Most employees are expected to come to work with, at minimum, a proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, Wilkinson said. Understanding how to create presentations, documents and infographics is critical to successfully creating, editing and displaying messages, she said. It’s also important for employees to be able to share and manage files with their teammates.

“In our classes, we prepare students and teach them how to use these tools, so once they hit the job market, they are really able to soar,” she said.

It's not uncommon for employees in today's communication jobs to wear many hats — from writer to social media strategist to designer, for example.

“A communicator has his or her fingers in every pot. You are going to need to know how to create a graphic, respond to a crisis, write a blog, or create a web page,” she said. “Communication is tied to technology and technology is ever-evolving.”

No matter what field you work in, mastering these critical communication skills and becoming confident with new media of all types will help you stand out in the office.

Krysten Godfrey Maddocks ’11G is a writer who covers K-12 and higher education topics, including policy and the role of digital technology in education. She spent almost a decade working in various marketing roles at an educational assessment company before launching a strategic marketing company. Maddocks earned a master's degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor's degree in English/ journalism from the University of New Hampshire. Connect with her on LinkedIn.