Effective Communication Skills

Hey hi! I’m Leonard, a year 3 civil engineering undergraduate from NUS.

Being able to communicate effectively is crucial for me primarily because of the work I am considering after graduation, namely; structural engineer, teacher or social worker. How I see myself now is perhaps one that has ideas on how to do things, but never daring to share with others confidently because I may be incoherent in presenting my views, and end up coming across as unrefined or without conviction.

 

Within verbal communication, some subsets include knowing what things to ask, clarifying what has been said, being sensitive to how a message is delivered, and speaking about something that can be easily understood. These are all very applicable skills that the work I am considering will require. An engineer has to ask and clarify statements made by the contractor to ensure they understand the structure on a same level, otherwise by allowing construction to continue, the safety of the building may be compromised.

 

A social worker has to be mindful that many of their clients are emotionally vulnerable, and what they say will have an impact on them. I have to realize then that I am responsible to others through how I relate to them, and at the same time be sensitive to the non-verbal cues these clients may be communicating to me.

 

A teacher also requires good communication skills, conveying information one has a good grasp of for people who will be learning it for the first time. Some of the skills and knowledge I have learnt may come easy to me, but others may need a longer time to understand. It is essential that I be aware of this difference in learning pace, and how to present a concept that is understood universally.