Seeing my classmates share their wonderful ideas extemporaneously in our professional development class earlier today was the motivation behind my decision to finally publish this blog. It certainly felt good being somewhat a part of their journey from struggling to communicate their ideas to an audience even when they have it written down, to being able to speak naturally and without notes. I am sure that for many, the ability to communicate effectively will be a major take away from this Masters of Geomatics for Environmental Program. There are two main parts to effective communication namely; listening/reading and writing/speaking. Although I might not be considered an authority on this subject because I have not gone through a degree program to exclusively study these two or four skills as the case may be. However, in my twenty plus years of studying all the way from elementary to graduate school, I have been exposed to these core parts of effective communication and I think I might have some ideas worth sharing. There are two main parts to effective communication namely; listening/reading and writing/speaking. Although I might not be considered an authority on this subject because I have not gone through a degree program to exclusively study these two or four skills as the case may be. However, in my twenty plus years of studying all the way from elementary to graduate school, I have been exposed to these core parts of effective communication and I think I might have some ideas worth sharing.
First, I will like to talk about listening. I personally think that this is a very important communication skill to have, if not the most important. Communication is a two-way thing, a back and forth process I'll call it. It is important to be able to take in the ideas, messages and instructions coming from others by listening attentively to them when they speak. This is just as through when they speak to you in writing. Ever wondered why on the first page of every examination paper there is always the bold heading, sometimes in italics "Read the following instructions carefully"? This is because the importance of grasping what the examiner requires of you "exactly" cannot be over emphasized. Many students who have spent months studying for an examination sometimes fail simply because they were terrible at reading or listening to instructions. Imagine, months of hard work gone down the drain in a twinkle of an eye! Also, when you pay attention and listen to people when they speak, you do not just earn their respect, you make them want to express themselves to you further. This is especially important for leaders because nobody wants to follow or learn from someone who hardly pay attention to them when they speak. It is also important for people who are just starting out their careers because employers or those on job panels are interested in individuals who can internalize instructions and ideas passed across to them and then go on to apply it. However, how would you internalize when you weren't even listening in the first place. To be a good listener, it is important that you're attentive, maintain eye contact and do not interrupt while the person speaks. A good way to show that you were listening is by asking genuine questions reflective of the discussion at hand. This is not a skill to perfect in a day, but one that requires constant, deliberate effort at improving. If you're a good listener, you certainly would want to be able to communicate your ideas with others in speech or writing. For many, the former feels like a herculean task and they would rather shy away from speaking to people. While there are some schools of thought who postulate that public speaking is a science, creating many rules and guidelines for people to follow. I like to think of public speaking as an art because it allows individuals to express themselves freely but in a clear and concise way. I see it as a verbal form of writing, because oftentimes, if a person can speak effectively, they can also write beautifully. For many, they'd rather starve than stand before an audience to speak. However, time and again experiences have shown that being able to address a group of people whilst communicating your ideas to them clearly is not just a useful skill set to have, but a very necessary one. One key to getting better at speaking that have proven true in my case is to constantly take every opportunity I have to speak. Being a debater and a trainer during my undergraduate days definitely proved helpful as well. There is an adage in the part of the world where I come from that says "if someone promises to adorn you with a beautiful garment, you have to first check if the person is wearing something beautiful himself". Suffice to say that I knew if I was going to teach others how to debate or speak effectively, then I have to train myself to be a better speaker. Next, I'll address writing. I like to think of myself as a good writer but if there is one thing I have learnt from my Master's program, it will be the fact that you are never too good and there is always room for improvement. This couldn't have been truer than seeing my first project submission critiqued and shredded into pieces as it were by my supervisor's corrections. At that point, I just told myself "boy, you have not arrived stop thinking that you have". Eight months down the line and I can tell that the corrections even though they still come, are a lot lesser, which is a testament to the vast improvement I have made within this period. Just like it is with reading, listening and speaking, the only way to improve your writing skills is to write! write! and write again! The more consistent you are, the better you'll definitely get. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is a skill you cannot run away from because it is required in almost every facet of an individual's life. When applying for scholarships or to get into graduate school, you'll be required to write essays and personal statements and the depth of your essays is what will single you out in the midst of many equally qualified candidates. When applying for jobs you'll be required to write cover letters, and this is what will speak to the employers that you are more suitable than the other candidates who are just as technically qualified as you are. Finally, effective communication isn't just one of those things you have to learn, it is a crucial part of almost every step you take in your academic and professional life. As such, it is worth investing your time and paying closer attention to.
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AuthorAn urban planner and Geomatics analyst in training who loves to write and take pictures of beautiful scenery in his spare time. Archives
May 2019
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