Effective Communication

One of the most important skills to possess as a professional is the ability to communicate effectively. 0:00 You have to know what to say, how to say it, when and where to say it, and perhaps when it's best to say nothing at all. 0:06 All communication is not the same, especially in a digital world. 0:15 Speaking in person with someone is not the same as speaking to them over the phone or video chat, 0:19 just as those are different from Emails and text messages. 0:24 Deciding which medium to use depends upon the importance and scope of the message 0:28 as well as the expectations and availability of everyone involved. 0:34 You may be communicating with an internal client like colleagues or a manager or external contacts like clients and partners, 0:39 but what you might say to a fellow designer or developer is not what you'd say to your client. 0:48 So, be careful about what you include in a message or what you forward from an Email chain. 0:54 Relationships with any external contact including contractors, sponsors, corporate partners, and more can be very fragile, 1:01 so they should be handled with care. 1:10 At some point, you might be asked to provide detail and explain your work or strategy, 1:14 and what you provide could be the difference between getting a job or losing an opportunity, 1:19 so it's got to be good. 1:25 If you're relying on the written word, you must check for mistakes. 1:27 Nothing can sink the impact of your message like an embarrassing typo. 1:32 Effectively communicating also means translating what you know 1:38 or what you're doing into a language that others can understand. 1:41 Realize that not everyone has been trained as a designer or a developer 1:46 and you've got expertise many of your clients and colleagues may never have. 1:49 Keep in mind that when it comes to projects and proposals, people want to know that you understand what they want, 1:53 that you can speak their language, and as a result, you'll be able to work together. 2:01 Don't try to impress people with important sounding buzz words or concepts 2:07 that are just too difficult for them to wrap their head around. 2:10 Get to the point and help them understand how you can help them. 2:13 Being professional also means projecting a serious tone. 2:20 Everyone is different and has their own personality, and you want to let that shine through. 2:24 There's no problem injecting some humor if it makes sense, but if you're pitching a potential client 2:29 or introducing yourself to a higher up at your company, you want to make sure that you come off us a professional 2:35 and someone that they'd be willing to talk to in the future. 2:41 Positive or negative, 2:45 their first impression of you might also affect their impression of your group, your boss, or your company as well, 2:47 so while it might not be your intention, be a great representative for whatever group or company you're with. 2:54 In addition, you can never be sure of who will ultimately see or read any messages you sent. 3:03 Project proposals and messages may get forwarded along. Anything you post online could get seen by anyone. 3:09 You can't guarantee that decisions like hiring you will be in the hands of the person that you expect. 3:17 So, ensure that whatever you do send is professional, focused, and relevant, and ready to be seen by anyone. 3:23 So, how does effective communication benefit you? 3:33 Well, people will communicate with you if you know how to communicate with them. 3:37 If you're seeking a job, asking for help, or pitching clients, 3:42 you have less of a chance of hearing back unless you know what to say and how to say it. 3:46