Oral Communication in Your Future Career
A key skill in any career is having good oral communication. Having well developed communication skills are beneficial to both the speaker and the listener. In any job, it is essential to understand how to effectively express yourself and listen to others’ point of view. Here are some tips on how to use your oral communication skills in your future career:
Expressing Your Ideas
- Be Clear: Speak in a clear, concise manner. Use short, clear sentences and take your time to articulate each point.
- Be Prepared: Before speaking, take the time to gather your thoughts and develop an organized argument.
- Focus on Your Audience: Make sure to adjust your argument according to who you are speaking with and maintain a level of professionalism.
- Eliminate Filler Words: Filler words like ‘umm’, ‘ahh’, and ‘like’ can make your speech seem unconfident. Whenever possible, avoid using them.
Listening to Others
- Listen: The best way to show that you respect someone’s ideas is to actually listen to them. Pay attention and let the person speaking finish their thoughts before adding your perspective.
- Be Engaged: Keeping eye contact and using nonverbal cues like nodding can show that you are interested in what the person is saying.
- Clarify: If the speaker is unclear or you don’t understand something, take the time to ask the speaker for clarification.
By taking the time to refine your oral communication skills now, you will be better prepared for future job opportunities. Remember to express yourself clearly, pay attention to the other person, and always be prepared. With practice, you will be able to use your oral communication skills to your advantage in your future career.
