Week 1's Activity

Task 3: The Importance of communication skills for engineers

"Employers identify communication as one of the basic competencies every graduate should have, asserting that the ability to communicate is valuable for obtaining employment and maintaining successful job performance." 

                                 - Sherwyn Morreale, Michael Osborn & Judy Pearson, Professors of Communication (2000)

 

We learned in class that communicating well is an art, and art is abstract. There is no right and wrong but assessed by how well expressed it is. Having multiple skillsets and vast knowledge can be downplayed by poor communication skills. Eg. A person can have brilliant ideas but unable to get it across, whereas mediocre ideas presented well can be viewed in a better light. 

Having great communication skills is not as easy as it sounds and personally I associate intelligence with communication skills. The ability to clearly express oneself, to respond with right words/action at right timings is admirable. To be able to converse fluently definitely leaves a lasting impression. In my perspective, extroverts are exactly that, street smart with high EQ(maybe not all though) that ultimately leads to a better employability rate. 

Employers benefit from someone who is capable of socializing, who can form connections, both inside and outside of the company. It also allows the individual to thrive in any industry. Like it or not, great communication skills is what people need to survive workplace politics. At the end of the day, its not just for the employers, its for you, yourself to pull through with a positive mentality to maintain that successful job performance.

So yes, I strongly agree with the above statement.