Communication is Key – Especially in Human Resourcing

4 easy ways on how to perfect your communication skills (and why you probably should).

It says it in your job description – “human”, and what do humans do? We talk. Over the phone, face to face – even to ourselves when no ones around. So, when your job orbits solely around the planet human, it’s imperative that you have perfected the gift of the gab, and here’s just how you can do it!

1. Keep it simple. Really simple.

When trying to maintain a person’s excitement and engagement about a prospective job, try not to waffle. As Anne Spencer; the 18th century poet said, “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard”, so don’t be too disheartened if you catch yourself rambling a little too much during an interview because it’s more difficult than it sounds. But as the 500 year old proverb rightly says “practice makes perfect”.  

2. Don’t just open your eyes, open your ears too!

Communicating isn’t just about talking, it’s about listening too. One thing everyone has in common is that we want to be heard. To reassure your candidates that they are in safe and genuine hands, make sure they know that they are being heard. You can practice this technique by repeating phrases they’ve said, referring to comments they’ve made in the past and by using backchanneling methods such as “mm” and “yes” whilst they are speaking so they know there and then that you are hanging on to every word. This will earn and maintain their trust; helping build a sturdy relationship between employer and potential employee. 

3. Animation

Mandarin is said to be the most commonly spoken language in the world; but really, the language used by everyone is body language, so it’s important to become fluent. Body language is one of the ways that humans (and other species) communicate information through both conscious or subconscious body movements. Some studies even suggest that as much as 65% of all communication is done non-verbally. One body movement that has been found to indicate an honesty and person is worthy of trust is through the showing of the palms of one’s hands. “It’s one of the reasons we shake hands, to show the open palm, it’s so tied to survival instincts … If we don’t see open palm gestures, it puts us on our guard.” So, don’t be afraid to give your client a little wave- see it as an old school trust exercise.

4. Don’t Stress

Some social situations are by nature very stressful, and stress itself can cause our communication skills to crumble. We may be engulfed in a fog of confusion, lack of clarity and meandering sentences, and not being able to articulate yourself fluidly will add to the frustration and stress you may already be experiencing. If you find yourself panicking during an interview, try to control your breathing. Deep breaths will help calm any nerves or anxiety. Also, thorough preparation before the interview, such as writing a list covering all the topics you need to discuss will help a lot. This will ensure that during the interview, you won’t become distracted or lose your train of thought while trying to remember all the questions you need to ask the candidate.

These skills certainly do not come naturally to everyone; but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be attained through vigorous practice and training. Try developing each skill once at a time whenever you can and soon enough, they will all become second nature.

“What you practice, is what you’ll do.”- Benny Urquidez.