Mastering communication skills within the workplace may be an obvious prerequisite for professional success. But in cleared environments, communication can feel like an afterthought. Technical skills, mission execution, and strict adherence to deadlines often take precedence over soft skills like communication or collaboration.
Whatever you rate your communication abilities, there’s likely room for improvement and self-assessment. Here are a few ways to begin sharpening your communication skills.
Practice Conciseness
Effective communication doesn’t mean over-explaining or diving into every detail. Instead, leading with your most important point and trimming the fluff is highly effective. Speaking with a sense of brevity isn’t rude—it’s considerate of others’ time and can help prevent mixed signals.
Ask for Feedback on Your Delivery
Speaking with the wrong tone or body language can distract from the message you’re delivering. You can be both warm and sincere while getting to the point, so be open to adjusting your mannerisms depending on your audience. Seek advice from a mentor or supervisor who can help you fine-tune your presentation.
Conform Your Message to Your Audience
Are you talking to a peer or a senior manager? Are you in a group meeting or having a one-on-one conversation? Try practicing how you’d deliver your message to several different people in your environment and notice how it impacts the delivery and outcome.
Strong communication is the backbone of every successful team, relationship, and career. Take time to reflect, practice, and grow—because how you say something can be just as important as what you say.
