The Hindu Business Line : Communication skills: Are we well equipped?

Yes, there is a large talent pool available in India - more than three million graduates pass out of colleges across the country each year. And, yes, job opportunities in the IT and ITeS sector alone are projected in the region of 1.6 million by the end of the year.

So, are these people coming out of colleges finding the right jobs? Are employers finding the right people? The answer to both these questions unfortunately is a big `no'.

While there could be many reasons for this mismatch, there is one thing that aspiring job applicants can do to ensure an offer letter in their mailboxes, namely, narrow a growing gap in communication skills.

Working in a global environment means interacting with and managing people who are separated not only by time and distance but also by cultural, social, and language differences.

Communicating effectively in such a landscape involves training and practice; it involves breaking old habits to mould oneself to fit in with today's business needs. This is a challenge, but it is important to be successful.

A mastery of soft skills combined with technical and subject matter expertise is expected of any professional in today's business scenario.

Once you develop a flair for communicating, one would have the confidence to work in any setting and be able to capitalise on the multifarious opportunities in today's marketplace.

Process of communication

Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages and employs both verbal and non-verbal tools.

It is a two-way process and effective communication means that both the sender and the recipient are synchronised in the way they understand the message.

That is, each person is successful in getting his message across to the other without any gaps in understanding.

This is vital in a corporate environment since shared understanding encourages healthy discussion, relevant analysis and accurate dissemination of facts, robust planning, and effective action targeted at achieving the company's objectives.

Communication is influenced by one's cultural markers, by friends and peers, by teachers, by family, by the books and magazines one reads, the movies and television shows that one watches - in short, by the language one hears and reads.

The way forward

Engaging in a few value-add hobbies can, therefore, go a long way in enhancing one's communication skills.

For example, joining a book club is a great way to start - especially if you are just starting the reading habit and are not sure about where to begin or which best seller to buy.

Build confidence on the stage by utilising every opportunity that presents itself - if asked to introduce someone, accept immediately and prepare the introduction by talking to the person before the event.

With a little hard work and some practice, employers will find it hard to say `no' to you.

(The author is Head of Corporate Affairs, Scope International Pvt Ltd.)