Let’s face it; communication is the most common activity at the work place. Good communication skills are a must these days as professionals have to deal with either their customers or their co-workers. The quality of these dealings are enhanced or diminished by the professional’s ability to communicate effectively. In would not be an exaggeration to say that good communication skills are at the heart of every good workplace.
Studies have shown that communication is the most common activity of management. Managers typically spend 60-80% of their time in operational communication. In large part is communication is their work – mainly face-to-face in meetings, or by telephone or email. English is the language of business in India. Speaking English fluently is an important skill for doing well at the workplace. Unfortunately, most managers are poor communicators.
In a 2002 survey of 1,104 employees in organizations around the United States, 86% said their bosses thought they were good communicators, but only 17% said their bosses actually communicated effectively. If you have managed people, you will realize that it does not take a survey to tell us that a lot of our co-workers are not good communicators. Employees constantly talk about bosses not giving unclear or contradictory instructions and guidelines about work.
In India the problem gets aggravated because most employees have learnt English rather late in life. Not many of us have studied in ‘English medium’ schools. Contrary to popular understanding it is possible to learn to communicate well in English at any stage of one’s life. The benefits are many: Customers understand you better. Good communication skills particularly in English will impress customers and pave the way to gaining their business.
English is a language that is widely used all around the world. This is evident from the fact that around 1 billion people in the world use English as the first or a second language. In a country like India, where English is not just one of the official languages but also a status symbol, fluently conversing in English can open up doors to a lot of opportunities.
To speak English fluently is considered a necessity for moving up in the organization. You get considered for more responsible roles. More responsibility means dealing with more important customers and a larger number of co-workers. Seniors always consider employees with good communication skills, particularly ones who are fluent in English language for promotions. If you write and speak English fluently you gain the confidence to put across your point of view well. Look at any strong leader & you will find a person with strong communication skills.
In business world, this means good English language skills. Good English Language skills enhance your social network. Be it work–related or personal, good communicators have larger number of friends and work contacts. English is the most used language in social networks. Be it twitter or Face book you will find that people who write English well tend to get more popular. Fortunately you can improve your communication skills just like any other skills.
It’s never too late to learn anything. Although it is widely assumed that it is easy to learn anything when you are younger, the reality is much different. With the right attitude and perseverance, you can learn any language at any age. A perfect example for this is famous polyglot Steve Kaufmann, who learnt his ninth language at the age of 60. So, if you think that you are too old to learn English just because you are in your late twenties or fifties, don’t get disheartened.
All you need to find a good English teaching institute with experienced instructors. It is important to choose a good English Language school that does not believe in the traditional ‘instruction’ style of teaching. Inlingua New Delhi is one such option. Here you learn as you speak in the company of like- -minded learners in a friendly & comfortable environment.
Ayesha Christina, 25 July, 2017 (5:20 AM)
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