Sunday, 16 July 2017

VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS: VERBAL + LISTENING


Source: https://www.thebalance.com/verbal-communication-skills-list-2059698

Verbal Communication Skills List

List of Verbal Communication Skills for Resumes and Interviews



Almost every job requires workers to use verbal communication skills.  That’s why verbal skills are highly ranked on the candidate evaluation checklists used by many job interviewers.
The stronger your communication skills, the better your chances of getting hired regardless of the job for which you’re applying. You’ll do better during the interview, as well as on the job.

What Are Verbal Communication Skills?

Effective verbal communication skills include more than just talking.
Verbal communication encompasses both how you deliver messages and how you receive them. Communication is a soft skill, and it’s one that is important to every employer. 
Workers who can convey information clearly and effectively are highly valued by employers.  Employees who can interpret messages and act appropriately on the information that they receive have a better chance of excelling on the job. 

Verbal Communication Skills in the Workplace

What constitutes effective verbal communication on the job depends on the relationships between communication partners and the work context. Verbal communication in a work setting takes place between many different individuals and groups such as co-workers, bosses and subordinates, employees, customers, clients, teachers and students, and speakers and their audiences.  
Verbal communication occurs in many different contexts including training sessions, presentations, group meetings, performance appraisals, one-on-one discussions, interviews, disciplinary sessions, sales pitches and consulting engagements.

Examples of Verbal Communication Skills

Review examples of effective workplace verbal communication skills.
A - F
  • Advising others regarding an appropriate course of action
  • Annunciating clearly
  • Anticipating the concerns of others
  • Asking for clarification 
  • Asking open-ended questions to stimulate dialogue
  • Assertiveness
  • Calming an agitated customer by recognizing and responding to their complaints
  • Conveying feedback in a constructive manner emphasizing specific, changeable behaviors
  • Conveying messages concisely
  • Disciplining employees in a direct and respectful manner
  • Emphasizing benefits of a product, service or proposal to persuade an individual or group
  • Encouraging reluctant group members to share input
  • Enunciating each word you speak
  • Explaining a difficult situation without getting angry
  • Explaining that you need assistance
G - R
  • Giving credit to others
  • Introducing the focus of a topic at the beginning of a presentation or interaction
  • Noticing non-verbal cues and responding verbally to verify confusion, defuse anger, etc. 
  • Paraphrasing to show understanding
  • Planning communications prior to delivery
  • Posing probing questions to elicit more detail about specific issues
  • Projecting your voice to fill the room
  • Providing concrete examples to illustrate points
  • Receiving criticism without defensiveness
  • Recognizing and countering objections
  • Refraining from speaking too often or interrupting others
  • Requesting feedback
  • Restating important points towards the end of a talk
S - Z
  • Selecting language appropriate to the audience
  • Showing an interest in others, asking about and recognizing their feelings
  • Speaking calmly even when you're stressed
  • Speaking at a moderate pace, not too fast or too slowly
  • Speaking confidently but with modesty
  • Stating your needs, wants or feelings without criticizing or blaming
  • Summarizing key points made by other speakers
  • Supporting statements with facts and evidence
  • Tailoring messages to different audiences
  • Telling stories to capture an audience
  • Terminating staff
  • Training others to carry out a task or role
  • Using affirmative sounds and words like uh-huh, got you, I understand, for sure, I see, and yes to demonstrate understanding 
  • Using humor to engage an audience
  • Utilizing self-disclosure to encourage sharing
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Source: https://www.thebalance.com/active-listening-skills-with-examples-2059684

Active Listening Definition, Skills, and Examples

Two men in meeting
Mint Images - Tim Robbins / Getty Images
Active listening is the process by which an individual secures information from another individual or group.  The “active” element involves taking steps to draw out information that might not otherwise be shared. Even if you yourself are the person being interviewed for a job, think of “active” listening as being your golden opportunity to “interview” and build rapport with your interviewer(s).   

What is Active Listening?

Like critical thinking and problem-solving, active listening is a soft skill that is held in high regard by employers. When interviewing for jobs, use active listening techniques to show the interviewer the interpersonal skills you have in drawing people out.
Active listening can also significantly reduce the nervousness you might be feeling during an interview because it redirects your focus from what is going on inside of your head to what the needs of your perspective employer are. By placing your focus, through active listening, squarely upon the interviewer, you prove that you: a) are interested in the organization’s challenges and successes; b) are ready to help them problem-solve work issues; and c) are a team player as opposed to being a self-absorbed job candidate.
Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions, ask for clarification if necessary, and wait until the interviewer has finished talking to respond.

Examples of Active Listening Techniques

Active listening techniques include:
  • Building trust and establishing rapport.
  • Demonstrating concern.
  • Paraphrasing to show understanding.
  • Nonverbal cues which show understanding such as nodding, eye contact and leaning forward.
  • Brief verbal affirmations like “I see,” “I know,” “Sure,” “Thank you,” or “I understand.”
  • Asking open-ended questions.
  • Asking specific questions to seek clarification.
  • Waiting to disclose your opinion.
  • Disclosing similar experiences to show understanding.

Examples of Active Listening

Here are some examples of statements and questions employed with active listening:
  • Building Trust and Establishing Rapport: “Tell me what I can do to help.” “I was really impressed to read on your website how you donate 5% of each sale to charity.”
  • Demonstrating Concern: “I am eager to help you; I know you are going through some tough challenges.” “I know how hard a corporate restructuring can be – how is staff morale at this point?” 
  • Paraphrasing: “So, you are saying that the uncertainty about who will be your new supervisor is creating stress for you.” “So, you think that we need to build up our social media marketing efforts.”  
  • Brief Verbal Affirmation: “I understand that you would like more frequent feedback about your performance.” “Thank you. I appreciate your time in speaking to me.”
  • Asking Open-Ended Questions: “I can see that John's criticism was very upsetting to you. Which aspect of his critique was most disturbing?” “It’s clear that the current situation is intolerable for you. What changes would you like to see?”
  • Asking Specific Questions: “How long do you expect your hiring process to last?” “What is your average rate of staff turnover?”
  • Waiting To Disclose Your Opinion: “Tell me more about your proposal to reorganize the department.” “Can you please provide some history for me regarding your relationship with your former business partner?” 
  • Disclosing Similar Situations: “I was also very conflicted about returning to work after the birth of my son.” “I had the responsibility of terminating four of my personnel, due to downsizing, over the last two years. Even if it’s necessary, it never gets easier.”  
By employing these active listening techniques, you will impress your interviewer as a thoughtful, analytical, highly desirable candidate for the position.
Never underestimate the power of “soft skills” (also known as “people skills”) like active listening, problem-solvingflexibility, self-motivation, leadership, and teamwork.
Especially for young, first-time job candidates with limited work experience, these skills often are the deciding factor in whether an employer will be willing to take the risk in hiring them over others who may have more experience (but possibly weaker interpersonal communications talents). 
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