Making a name for yourself in the workplace isn’t always about how much you know or whom you rub elbows with. It’s being able to put forth a professional attitude at all times and showing the people who matter what you’re truly capable of. Since excelling in the corporate setting will often require mastering the art of communication, you need to develop the right skills that will work for you when you communicate with someone in person, over the phone, and through email. At the end of the day, it’s the following skills that will help you land that promotion.
Listening
Most of us think that communication is about expressing your own ideas, when in reality, it also requires listening to what the other person is saying. Whatever your current position is, you need to learn how to cue in on what other people are saying in order to understand them better. Develop your listening skills by repeating statements back to the person you’re talking to so that you can confirm that you’re both on the same train of thought. If you’re not quite sure about something, don’t hesitate to ask for more details to set you on the right track.
Grammar and Writing
Everyone is prone to making the usual typos, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t improve on your grammar and writing skills. Whether you’re sending an email to a prospective client or preparing important interoffice documents, you should always set aside enough time to review your writing. Try not to waste the recipient’s time with runaround sentences and common grammatical errors. Always run your written work through a spelling and grammar checker for mistakes you might have missed. Or better yet, take classes that will improve your business writing skills. Here at American English Skills Development Center, Inc., we offer the perfect approach.
Presentation Skills
Moving up the ranks will definitely require you to take on more responsibilities like heading a team or doing the occasional presentation so make sure you’re prepared for new challenges. From one-on-one idea presentations to large scale product launches, you need to be able to stand in front of a crowd and present your ideas in a clear, concise manner. It can seem nerve wracking in the beginning, but once you focus on the important things, like getting the right message across, you’ll realize that presenting is a valuable skill set that will take you far in your career.
Business Etiquette
Since actions will always speak louder than words, you need to show your colleagues that you understand and have high regard for common business etiquette. Business etiquette can include a wide range of topics, from what you choose to wear in the office to manners you should bring with you to the boardroom. You also need to learn how to properly deal with your superiors and subordinates professionally. And since most businesses these days have interests overseas, you might also want to learn about the business cultures of other countries. It doesn’t matter what kind of business you’re in, business etiquette is a skill-set that will help you stand out from the rest.
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