Communication Skills and Building Relationships

Many schools, starting as early as kindergartens all the way to tertiary institutions, are beginning to place more emphasis on group projects within their curriculum.

Are you a people person? It may surprise you, but there is only one answer: Yes you are!

I'm a big believer in lifelong learning, and I feel something that we must never stop continuously improving is our communication skills. The way we communicate can often mean the difference between success and failure in getting a job done, building or busting a relationship, making or breaking a friendship, or indeed getting that promotion!

We live in a fast-paced and pressurised world. Being able to communicate well with those around you is often critical. The more proficient your communication skills, the more successful you are likely to be within your chosen career.

Communicating effectively may seem easy for some. They have a natural aptitude for saying the right thing, they rarely falter over their words, and their tone is engaging. For others, it’s an uphill battle to communicate efficiently.

We've all been there at that awkward moment. We're standing waiting for the conference room door to be unlocked for the meeting, and Lisa asks Joan if she missed work yesterday because she was ill.

Developing good listening skills is vital. When you truly listen and engage in a conversation, there is the chance to create respect, credibility and trust. Few people listen properly, however.

We've all seen those people coming in for an interview with a stain on his shirt or a run in her pantyhose. Gross, right? You would never do that, would you? Of course not.

Well, Elton John certainly got that right. "Sorry" seems to be the hardest word for many people. In fact, it seems more difficult in some parts of the world than others.

It's been an amazing year at work and you've just been promoted to be the head of your team. You've held leadership roles in school before, but this time it's a big step ahead in your career. As you revel in your success, you start to think, "Can I truly lead this team?"