Richard Ghilarducci on Effective Communication Skills

Employers generally include communication skills as one of the commonly requested skills in job postings, says Richard Ghilarducci. Improving and demonstrating your communication skills can help you advance in your career and be competitive in today’s job market. Learning about these key skills can help you focus on specific areas of your communication.

Active listening

Active listening, sometimes called mindful listening or appreciative listening, means paying close attention to the individual you’re communicating with by asking questions, engaging with them, and rephrasing. Practicing active listening can help build respect with your colleagues and increase understanding in the workplace, notes Richard Ghilarducci. As you actively listen, focus on the speaker and avoid distractions like smartphones and laptops.

You can significantly improve your active listening skills by paying attention to other people’s body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Instead of thinking about what to say next, focus on what the other person is saying and how they’re speaking. If something isn’t clear, ask questions or rephrase what they’ve just said to confirm that you understood them correctly, adds Richard Ghilarducci.

Empathy

Having empathy means you understand and share in the emotions of others, explains Richard Ghilarducci. This communication skill is important in both one-on-one and team settings. In both cases, you attempt to effectively read and translate other people’s emotions and choose an appropriate response.

For instance, if someone is expressing frustration or anger, empathy can help them identify, acknowledge, and diffuse their emotion. At the same time, being able to know when a person is feeling positive and enthusiastic can help you get support for your projects and proposals.

Confidence

In the workplace, many people are likely to listen and respond to ideas that are presented with confidence, says Richard Ghilarducci. There are several ways to appear confident, including sitting up straight with your shoulders relaxed, making eye contact when you’re addressing someone, and preparing ahead of time. Hence, your thoughts are clear, and you’re able to answer questions. In addition, to display confidence, avoid adding filler words.

Volume and tone

When you’re speaking, be clear and audible. Adjusting your speaking voice so others can hear you in different settings is a skill, and it’s crucial to communicating effectively. Speaking too loudly may be awkward or disrespectful in certain settings. If you’re unsure, always read the room to see how others are communicating.

Another aspect of verbal communication is tonality. It involves how your tone moves up and down, your pitch, and the pauses you place between phrases and sentences.

During his career that spanned over three decades, Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including as Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following this page.