One of the most important skills to possess as a professional is the ability to communicate effectively.

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.

All communication is not the same, especially in a digital world.

Speaking in person with someone is not the same as speaking to them over the phone or video chat,

just as those are different from Emails and text messages.

Deciding which medium to use depends upon the importance and scope of the message

as well as the expectations and availability of everyone involved.

You may be communicating with an internal client like colleagues or a manager or external contacts like clients and partners,

but what you might say to a fellow designer or developer is not what you'd say to your client.

So, be careful about what you include in a message or what you forward from an Email chain.

Relationships with any external contact including contractors, sponsors, corporate partners, and more can be very fragile,

so they should be handled with care.

At some point, you might be asked to provide detail and explain your work or strategy,

and what you provide could be the difference between getting a job or losing an opportunity,

so it's got to be good.

If you're relying on the written word, you must check for mistakes.

Nothing can sink the impact of your message like an embarrassing typo.

Effectively communicating also means translating what you know

or what you're doing into a language that others can understand.

Realize that not everyone has been trained as a designer or a developer

and you've got expertise many of your clients and colleagues may never have.

Keep in mind that when it comes to projects and proposals, people want to know that you understand what they want,

that you can speak their language, and as a result, you'll be able to work together.

Don't try to impress people with important sounding buzz words or concepts

that are just too difficult for them to wrap their head around.

Get to the point and help them understand how you can help them.

Being professional also means projecting a serious tone.

Everyone is different and has their own personality, and you want to let that shine through.

There's no problem injecting some humor if it makes sense, but if you're pitching a potential client

or introducing yourself to a higher up at your company, you want to make sure that you come off us a professional

and someone that they'd be willing to talk to in the future.

Positive or negative,

their first impression of you might also affect their impression of your group, your boss, or your company as well,

so while it might not be your intention, be a great representative for whatever group or company you're with.

In addition, you can never be sure of who will ultimately see or read any messages you sent.

Project proposals and messages may get forwarded along. Anything you post online could get seen by anyone.

You can't guarantee that decisions like hiring you will be in the hands of the person that you expect.

So, ensure that whatever you do send is professional, focused, and relevant, and ready to be seen by anyone.

So, how does effective communication benefit you?

Well, people will communicate with you if you know how to communicate with them.

If you're seeking a job, asking for help, or pitching clients,

you have less of a chance of hearing back unless you know what to say and how to say it.