Good business communication skills important

Effective communication is important to employers as they build a 21st century work force.

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Business in the 21st century is more complex than ever, especially in companies that conduct operations at several locations, or even worldwide. In this environment, communication skills have become paramount and employers are increasingly looking for those who can communicate well so they can function in complex business environments.

Communication Skills Defined

Communication skills are the ability to absorb and transmit ideas orally and in writing. A subset of communication skills is interpersonal skills or the ability to relate well with peers, management, company stakeholders, clients and suppliers. Employees who know how to inspire others and help mediate conflict are in high demand. A company's most valuable employees are those who are great communicators and have personal traits, such as reliability and integrity. Those employees will be the company leaders.

Effective Communication Skills

Employers are putting increased emphasis on a candidate's communications skills for a host of reasons. Salespeople function more often in a competitive environment where the speed and accuracy of their communication to customers can mean the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Those who work in product design may be communicating with people in studios located around the world. Employers are looking for people who can communicate effectively both orally and in writing. The employee who can make a compelling sales presentation, who can communicate succinctly via email, sound persuasive on the phone, write a complex business plan that the audience understands or can motivate a team to action is the one who will succeed in the 21st century workplace.

Related Reading: Keys to Effective Business Communication

Effective Communication And Other Skills

The ability to communicate affects the degree of proficiency in other skills that an employee might have. This interaction is of prime concern to human resource managers who worry how a new employee might fare on the job. For example, a potential employee might understand a computer system inside and out, but would have a difficult time explaining the overall system, how to use it and what to do if a problem occurs. The hiring manager may decide to hire someone less proficient in the actual system in favor of someone with more communications savvy.