How to further your career with effective communication skills

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

Albert Einstein

It goes without saying that if you want to succeed in business or further your career, excellent communication skills are vital. Being an outstanding communicator sets you apart from others and helps you become a more effective employee, which is a stepping-stone to promotion and career advancement. 

But even when you have great communication skills, it’s not always easy to know how and when to apply those skills. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re looking for the recognition you deserve. 

1. When you start a new job or work on a new project, identify the key people who can potentially have an impact on your position. Establish a relationship with them, collaborate, interact and set your goals and expectations of one another. 
2. Put together a schedule for regular meetings with your manager so you can discuss your workload, priorities, progress, gain feedback and set goals. Taking a proactive approach to your role and achievements shows your enthusiasm and dedication to the company. 
3. Make contact with others in the organisation that you don’t work with directly (informal networking events are a great way to do this). This will give you a broader perspective of your position within the company and can help you become aware of new opportunities that may arise. 
4. Don’t stop networking just because you have a job. The best time to network is when you’re employed! Be sure to network inside and outside of your organisation, as this allows you to make new contacts and develop new skills. Don’t be worried that networking outside of your organisation could be perceived as disloyalty. You could in fact bring new opportunities to the company as a whole. 
5. Be proactive in asking for a performance review. Most managers hate this task and avoid it at all costs, even when regular reviews are scheduled. Without these reviews, you’re likely to feel unsure about your position, your performance and your job security, so take the initiative and make sure these regular discussions happen. 

The more people you can expose yourself to, the greater your chance of moving up the corporate ladder. As you enhance and demonstrate your communication skills, you will increase your reputation and recognition as a valuable employee within your company. This is the fastest way for a chance to furthering your career.  

If you or your team need some further training on business networking, contact us to arrange a lunch and learn at your office. 

Julia Palmer, a respected Networking Strategist and Chief Executive of the Business Networking Academy, presenting and training on how to create and manage networks that work. To learn more visit www.juliapalmer.com & www.BusinessNetworkingAcademy.com.au