IT isn’t only about fixing computers or resolving issues. Nowadays, IT professionals will benefit from having a diverse skillset to be successful with communication as well.
To better understand the communication skills needed by IT professionals, we spoke with a faculty member in the Purdue Global School of Business and Information Technology. Explore why communication is crucial and what can help in a successful career in this IT field.
What Are the Skills of Communication?
The skills of communication provide you with the ability to effectively and efficiently communicate information to other people. These skills aren’t only useful in an office setting, however, they can also be crucial interpersonal abilities that can be utilized to communicate with family members, friends, and in everyday interactions.
There are four major kinds that communicate:
Communicating verbally: This common type of communication is comprised of signing and speaking. This is the type of communication employed in meetings and in presentations. Communication via words is usually supported through nonverbal messages.
Nonverbal communication: This is the ability to convey information via movements, expressions of the face, or body movements. According to it is explained by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) states the importance of nonverbal communication, such as smiles or head nods, or eye contact, can allow others to feel at ease and comfortable in a conversation.
Written communication: The term is used to describe communication through various media, such as email and text. Writing is usually a challenge since it’s not easy to convey personality and tone, just as in the case of verbal communication.
Visual Communication: This encompasses the use of illustrations as well as other visual aids to communicate important information.
Communication Skills Are Essential for IT
Effective communication is among the many soft skills that employers look at in prospective employees. Soft skills refer to the characteristics of a person’s good work practices and the social or emotional behaviors that allow someone to be successful in their work.
According to a survey conducted by NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), communication is a trait that is valued by employers and new graduates alike. In fact, over 95% of employers agreed that communication is their top professional skill or ability — for recent graduates planning to join the workforce.
If you’re a computer system analyst or computer support specialist, you’ll discover that communication is a crucial capability in the workplace.
Communication’s Advantages in IT
Nowadays, IT professionals have more responsibilities than security. They may also be involved in business strategies and lead transformation throughout a company. This is why IT professionals have to be in a position to effectively communicate with all employees of the company, from the smallest of employees to the C-suite, as well as with other departments.
In the workplace, efficient communication skills are essential to IT professionals:
Advocate for the project and ensure financing: A skilled communicator can better explain the reasons for the importance of certain initiatives and help them get approval from decision-makers. Furthermore, clear communication can aid IT professionals in convincing people in charge of the business about the advantages of a particular project. This will ensure that businesses are in sync throughout the process of planning and implementation to ensure that the projects run efficiently.
Avoid jargon: According to Edwards, it’s not difficult to encounter difficulties or delays when you assume everyone is at the same level. In IT technical terms, technical jargon can be an extremely common barrier to communication. “You have to know how to translate it into [plain language],” she declares. Although one of your colleagues might be tech-savvy enough to comprehend what you’re saying, others may not have that understanding.
Encourage the acceptance of new procedures: As TechNative explains, communication skills aid IT employees “in articulating the benefits of implementing new technologies and highlighting the risks associated with not addressing technological issues.” If people are aware of the need for new processes, it facilitates an easier transition and increases acceptance.
Discuss security threats: Communications regarding cybersecurity can be easily understood by even the most technologically adept employees. Soft skills are a great way to assist IT professionals in breaking down complicated issues into simple steps, making sure that everyone is aware of their duties. According to TechNative, it can be visually-based aids, hands-on learning, or interactive sessions.
To improve collaboration, IT departments are becoming needed to work with other departments in order to integrate technology strategies into overall business goals. Communication skills that are effective can help teams work across functional lines. According to Indeed, they build trust and make sure everyone knows how to behave as a group and keep the entire team in harmony.
Control interpersonal relations: Strong workplace communication helps professionals to manage conflicts with other employees. As Indeed states, miscommunications can cause tension, however, an effective communicator can reduce confusion, clear up specifics, and avoid conflicts from beginning in the beginning.
A skilled communicator: Can help individuals get through job interviews and also contribute to the company’s culture by creating an open and positive workplace.
Important Communication Skills for IT Workers
Based on NACE, AMA, and Edwards, there are a variety of abilities and habits that you can learn to be an efficient communicator. Here are some of the most essential communication capabilities:
1. Listening Actively
Active listening is an active method of listening that shows that you are actively involved in your conversation. It can be demonstrated through questions or verbal or vocal acknowledgment by non-verbal gestures like shaking your head. Active listening is an arduous skill to master however, it can aid in gathering greater information from the speakers and avoiding misconceptions about what they’re trying to convey.
2. Intelligence in Emotions
Mental Health America defines emotional intelligence as “the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.” It consists of five aspects:
Awareness of yourself: Awareness of emotions is essential in preventing them from letting them influencing you, and allowing you to take action.
Self-regulation: People who control their feelings are usually in a position to avoid making uninformed choices.
Motivation: Understanding the reasons you feel a particular way can aid you in dealing with your emotions.
Empathy: The concept of empathy is examining the feelings of others and how they influence behavior.
Skills for social interaction: Emotional intelligence often is found to go along in the same way as interpersonal skills, allowing individuals to handle interpersonal conflicts in the workplace and build relationships.
The emotional intelligence of people is heavily correlated with other skills of communication, notably active listening.
“When talking about emotional intelligence, you have to be a good and responsive listener; you have to hear what the person is saying,” Edwards states.
She says this is a particular issue if you’re talking to someone whose technical skills might not be on an equal level with other people.
“They might not want others to think they don’t understand something, so they’re not [likely] to raise their hand or ask questions,” she says. “Sometimes you need to be attentive to what’s being stated. If you’re not listening and aren’t able to see that someone has been ignored, that team member could hinder the progress of your project.”
3. Communicating Nonverbally
Body language is a crucial element of non-verbal communication. If you’re presenting to a crowd or working with colleagues, subtle signals can greatly influence how your message will be received.
Some examples include:
Face Expressions: Smiles can aid in building relationships with your audience and give them a warm feeling of warmth. As per the American Management Association (AMA), relaxing your face can be beneficial, particularly since tight facial expressions can cause you to look uncomfortable or anxious. A simple smile can signal understanding, agreement, or a sense of excitement.
Eye contact: Maintaining eye contact for a short period of time at a time can also create an impression, demonstrating that you’re engaged and present. AMA suggests being mindful about making eye contact in order to highlight crucial aspects of messages or communicate emotions.
gestures: A successful communicator is one who moves with intention and effectiveness when they speak. AMA recommends that they keep a posture of a balanced, poised position and utilize their hands and arms to provide clarity, focus, and vitality.
4. Written Words
According to Edwards, there was an era when IT professionals believed that they didn’t require any writing abilities however, that’s no longer the case.
“IT professionals need to be able to write clearly and concisely to get the message across,” she adds. Nowadays, both stakeholders from both sides collaborate in numerous ways. These vary from email to text messages, and even beyond. Skills in writing are useful for IT professionals accountable for technical writing and expressing their ideas.
Edwards employs cybersecurity as an illustration. IT professionals may have to draft guidelines for employees to follow whenever new threats are discovered. They might also be required to email executives with regard to problems that are occurring in their company. “If these communications contain grammatical errors or misspellings, they will reflect poorly on the sender and potentially impact their career,” Edwards says.
“In today’s world, [correct grammar] is important,” she states. “We’re in a global environment, and your writing speaks for you.”
5. Public Speaking
Speaking skills for public speaking are becoming an increasingly crucial aspect of an IT career, according to Edwards.
“At times, you may be called to speak to a group of people as an expert,” she clarifies. “If you don’t have good presentation skills, you’re going to look as though you don’t know your craft.”
Edwards suggests IT professionals learn to customize their message to the target people they are speaking to. For instance, it is important to avoid using the language of executives when speaking to them, the same way they should not use jargon when talking to someone who isn’t a techie.
Develop Your Capabilities at Purdue Global
Are you looking to get involved in the field of information technology? Purdue Global offers several online IT degrees and certificates. If you’re just beginning your journey or wish to expand your knowledge base, we’re here to help.
