What if I told you that there was a secret skill that, should you master it, you would have a competitive edge over nearly anyone you’ll ever work beside in your life? What if I told you that honing this one skill could mean the difference between a successful career and an average to low-wage position for the rest of your life?
The truth is, there probably is a skill a lot like this: it’s called communication.
The difference between a person that can communicate clearly and efficiently and a person who struggles with these skills is probably much larger than you know.
While it’s nothing you’ll likely be taught in high school, and you’ll only learn it in college if you end up in the right circles, communication might be the best-kept secret of success in the world. The difference between a person that can communicate clearly and efficiently and a person who struggles with these skills is probably much larger than you know. Think about it – if you’re a person that can communicate efficiently with others, you can have a much stronger effect on a team’s productivity. You’ll be a manager rather than a worker, a team-builder rather than a follower.
Good people skills make you stand out
When you have an exceptional way with people, other people notice. If you always seem to know what to say, if you know how to keep the peace, if you’re funny and charming, you’re the kind of people others gravitate towards and admire. It won’t just be your co-workers taking notice of this – so will your employers, clients, or anyone else you work with. With good people skills, you’ll be the type of person who always runs into the next big opportunity, likely because someone else felt you were ready for it.
Impressions are everything
Having good communication skills means you make an impression where ever you go. You’re the person that clients want to hire, you’re the person others want to be introduced to, you’re a person that comes easily to mind in many different situations. It’s easy to underestimate what having a good impression on people does…
It’s a snowball effect!
This is the key: standing out and making a good impression creates an insane snowball effect. There are opportunities happening around the circles of your life all the time, no matter what you do. Whether you’re a work-at-home, be-your-own-boss freelancer or an employee at a firm, new things are always emerging in your network.
Be the kind of person who stands out and makes a good impression, and you’ll be the one who gets first dibs on opportunities in life in general. That’s it, folks, that’s why communication is make-or-break for success. The advantage is HUGE.
And don’t worry, if you think you’re the worst communicator you know, this is a skill that can be practiced! Use resources online and professional clubs such as Toastmasters to develop your communication skills.