Blog 2-Importance of Developing Good Communication Skills

Question: Why is it important for business and professional students to develop good communication skills, and why are writing skills especially essential?

Good written and oral communication skills are essential in being successful in the business and professional environment.  Today’s job market is ever changing and very challenging. If you want to advance in your career, land the job you’ve been dreaming about, and succeed in the business/professional world, good communication skills are important.  In order to be a good communicator, we must understand the process of communication-listening, nonverbal communication, and culture.  We send messages through letters, emails, instant messages, text messages, memos, verbally, and body language.  We receive and decode messages from what we hear, read, and observe.  It is important to understand the message by providing feedback by asking questions for clarification. Understanding the barriers to effective listening is also essential so we can become better listeners. Listening is part of good communication skills.

Business and professional writing skills are essentially important for stating the purpose (problem solving and/or expression information), being persuasive in writing by presenting ideas clearly, and targeting the appropriate audience. 

Hard Work is Rewarding

My major is in Administrative Assisting.  I am taking this course to satisfy the requirement for the associate’s degree and to improve my written, oral and communication skills in the business work environment.  I am a hard working student and employee.  I am back at Skyline College as an adult and notice the difference going to school from when first attended Skyline College at 18 years old.  Back then I was undecided and indecisive of a major at that time.  Now, at almost 28 with more responsibilities, school is taking more seriously.  I also noticed the privileges and more resources are available to students.  Everything now is done electronically.  We have student email accounts, smartphones, updated state of the art classrooms, electronic books, and many more.  I am also a hardworking employee.  I have been a temporary employee at my workplace for almost 2 years now.  I started as an office temp scanning and filing paper files.  I am now an administrative assistant doing admin reviews for protocols.  I was recently sent to a conference to enhance my knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Hard work can be measured through personal developmental growth.  What I like about this course is what I will learn in school can be directly applied to work.