Effective Communication and Soft Skills

8

Communication Skills

After reading this chapter, you will be familiar with:

• Barriers to effective communication
• Skills for overcoming the barriers to communication
• Effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills
• Dos and don’ts of good listening and active listening

INTRODUCTION

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.

 

—Abraham Lincoln.

In communication, sharpening your axe is learning about and developing yourself. This shines through in all your communication.

Communication is a central part of our lives. Verbal or written, symbolic, nonverbal, intentional or unintentional, active or passive, communication is essential to almost everything we do. Communication is critical to our success. We can accomplish ...