literature review about communication in the workplace i'm studying Department of Health and Human Services

10 n May/June 2015 IEEE PotEntIals The importance of communication in the workplace Alexander Choren Dollars Versus Diplomas C ommunication skills are consistently one of the most valued skill sets sought by employers.

Unfortunately, due to the technical nature in - herent to the engineering disci - pline, and often the hobbies that accompany individuals within the profession, the development of communication skills is often over - looked. The ability of an engineer to effectively communicate in the workplace manifests itself in nu -merous ways. This may be in com - municating research progress or objectives, effectively supporting your company’s product or ser vice to a client, or in client and peer training. With developed communi - cation skills, engineers will see in - creased career opportunities and foster personal growth. A variety of means to improve your communi - cation skills can be reached through a number of exciting op - portunities that will pay dividends to both you and your employer. In my first ten years as an engi - neer, I have noticed how the ability to communicate effectively is valued in the workplace. Competent communi - cation skills have made the difference between my own and others’ promo - tions, my company gaining new work, and my being assigned to new and exciting opportunities. In some un - fortunate cases, too, it has been part of the reason some employees are no longer with the company. It’s time we face the fact that most engineers are not great communicators. Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPOT.2014.2331793 Date of publication: 6 May 2015 DrA gons—© C An stoCk Photo/D vArg.

DollArs—imA ge liCenseD by grAPhiC stoCk. imA ge liCenseD by grAPhiC stoCk 10 n May/June 2015 IEEE PotEntIals 0278-6648/15©2015ieee 0278-6648/15 2015IEEE IEEE PotEntIals May/June 2015 n 11 This realization shouldn’t be news to us. So much of our job responsibili - ties and often our personal interests are technical in nature; so why the emphasis on being a good commu - nicator? Studies such as Manpow - erGroup’s annual Talent Shortage Sur vey report that “nearly one in five employers worldwide can’t fill posi - tions because they can’t find people with soft skills” and it has “a high impact on their organization’s abil - ity to meet client needs.” According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the ability to verbally communicate inside and outside the organization is the most-valued employee skill set for employers. But why? Because effective com- munication facilitates personal growth and professional development. Your employer doesn’t question your tech - nical aptitude. They know engineering is not an easy curriculum, and they’re aware you’ve worked (or are working) hard to earn your diploma. You can be the best engineer in the world, but if you can’t clearly explain your work, share your development process, and communicate your reasoning, you’re of little value to your employer. In the real world, this work is your com - pany’s ser vice or product, and your ability to communicate takes place at a sales meeting, a conference call, or in training a client or new staff. Do it well, and you’ve earned your paycheck and the attention of your super visor.

Do it poorly, and your professional standing as well as your employer’s reputation suffer. Currently, engineering schools and universities struggle to main - tain a balance between guarantee - ing gradation within a certain time frame and offering a sufficiently broad range of courses to their future graduates. Curricula that are A BET accredited are required to ensure that program graduates acquire the ability to communicate effectively.

However, courses directly pertaining to communication, w riting, or pre - sentation skill development may only be available as electives outside of the core curriculum. This means that the development of communication skills is ancillar y to core class concerns and is tested only in the culminat - ing senior-year final project. Though the opportunities to sharpen your communication skills while in school should be seized when presented, you still have plenty of avenues to further your personal development once out in the workplace. Move outside your comfort zone The first step in becoming a better communicator is realizing that you can personally benefit greatly by im - proving your communication skills.

The second step is to do something to develop those skills. I consider myself an above-average communi - cator when compared to many of my engineering peers. But where I feel lacking is in communication situ - ations where I get ner vous, such as being put on the spot at meetings. I don’t question the validity of the in - put I’m about to provide, but there’s just something about that moment that can somehow be ner ve-racking.

So I decided to join my local Toast - masters chapter. This group meets twice monthly and practices speak - ing skills and speech-giving. Do I give speeches as a part of my da ily engineer ing duties? Absolutely not. But becoming comfortable with speaking on my feet and handling be - ing put on the spot certainly is. One thing I was truly ner vous about when first joining was how I was going to look in front of the other members who were so much better at giving speech - es. This was an inherently ridiculous mind-set—nobody joins a group like this to “show off ” their communica - tion skills. Sure, there are some who are quite good at delivering a rousing speech. But most are just like me who joined knowing this was one of many tools that can be used to help develop their personal skills. I especially encourage the young engineers out there to seek addition - al opportunities outside of your com - fort zone that can enhance your com - munication skills. Join a local hobby group or theater organization or par - ticipate in professional conferences in your area. Perhaps find a subject matter of interest that you’ve always been curious about but never taken the time to explore and dig deep into learning ever ything you can about it. Then attempt to educate others about it or engage and discuss with those who also share your interests.

The possibilities are endless. The value gained in your pursuit to better your communication skills outside of the engineering workplace will make you more valuable to your current employer, lead to résumé-enhancing opportunities, and ser ve as a critical tool for personal growth. Read more about it • H. Zeng. Manpower Group.

(2013). 2013 Talent shortage survey research results. [Online]. Available:

http://www.manpowergroup.us/ campaigns/talent-shortage-2013/pdf/ 2013_Talent_Shortage_Survey_Results_ US_lo_0510.pdf •National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2013, April). Top 10 skills for job candidates. [Online].

Available: https://www.naceweb.org/ s04032013/top-10-job-skills.aspx •ABET. (2012). Criteria for accred- iting engineering programs. [Online].

Available: http://www.abet.org/ uploadedFiles/Accreditation/Accredita- tion_Step_by_Step/Accreditation_ Documents/Current/2013_-_2014/ eac-criteria-2013-2014.pdf about the author Alexander Choren (achoren@gmail.

com) earned his B.S. degree in elec- trical engineering from Wisconsin’s Milwaukee School of Engineering, his Dipl-Ing degree in communications engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Lübeck, Germa- ny, and his M.B.A. degree in opera- tions management and international business from the Kellstadt Gradu- ate School of Business at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He has served as a project engineer and program management lead on national and international projects focusing on critical infrastructure, private- and government-developed energy projects, as well as nuclear and other high-risk mitigation and safety initiatives.