1. The Benefits of Being an Effective Communicator

Perhaps the most apparent benefit of effective communication is that you can convey your ideas clearly and make them understood to the listener. This, in turn, results in a better ability to understand others as well. The ramifications of fruitful dialogue are many and profound. Some of the more obvious are:

1. Communication isn’t a one-way street. As you express yourself more clearly, you become a better listener as well, enhancing your interpersonal interactions and relationships. Face it; everybody wants to be heard. Communicating and connecting with those around you will go far in improving your quality of life.

2. The clarity in expressing yourself minimizes the chance that you will be misunderstood, and thereby avoid so many of the problems that evolve from misunderstanding. Saving time, avoiding frustration, and eliminating the negative feelings that result from misunderstandings will make you more productive.

3. Effective communication is a boon for empathy. Lacking the ability to communicate effectively will essentially block your understanding of what the other person is going through, thus rendering empathy practically irrelevant. Increased empathy means increased connection to the other person.

4. The ability to communicate well both orally and through the written word is a significant component in the development of critical thinking skills. Excellent thinking skills open the doorway to academic and employment opportunities reserved for those who are so endowed. It’s the gift that doesn’t stop giving.

5. You will become the “go to” person in both stressful times and times of crisis as you will develop a reputation for clarity and reliability.

2. Effective Communication Is Key To College Success

It is essential to understand that the importance of effective communication begins when a child is still very young. It is part in parcel of early social development and critical to laying the foundation for academic success. As the child advances from one level of education to the next, the need for effective communication remains constant.

If a child is unable to develop strong communication skills, that child is at risk of lagging behind peers and is vulnerable to becoming overwhelmed by the experience of being in school with all the problematic repercussions.

It all begins in kindergarten. Making eye contact, speaking with clarity, and listening attentively without interrupting are all hallmarks of a child who is on the road to becoming an effective communicator. When interacting within the group with other children, she is already learning the keys to both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Oral Language Skills

It is essential that the child learn the art of clear oral communication early on in his school career.  When the child is called upon in the classroom to answer questions, whether they require a simple answer or a more thought-out response, clarity is imperative. If the child cannot adequately communicate, how will the teacher be able to gauge the child’s understanding and knowledge?

Pragmatic and Social Language Skills

There is another dimension of oral communication that is known as pragmatic and social language. Children, like the rest of us, navigate their social lives and the world around them through language. Being successful in the social realm is an essential ingredient for healthy adjustment, positive self-esteem, and happiness.

Written Communication Skills

However, effective communication is not limited to speaking. A child must become adept at being able to communicate through the written word as well. The demand for effective writing increases as the student progresses in his academic career. Knowing how to express ideas, argue points, and synthesize and summarize information becomes a barometer of academic success, not to mention its importance in crafting an important email to a friend, employer, or college admissions officer.