Why Communication is the Most Important Skill You’ll Ever Have

We all know the importance of hard work and skill. Honestly, communication is more vital than either. It’s THE key to success, both in business and in life.

When I was younger, my parents would drill me on the importance of hard work. Through determination and perseverance, they told me, I could accomplish just about anything, provided I had the talent for it. I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences.

What’s all too often left out of such lessons is that hard work will only get you so far, and raw talent is only useful if everyone can stand having you around. What’s all too often left out of such lessons is that communication is more important than any talent. It’s more central to success than any skill, and can take you farther than hard work ever will.

But just what is it that makes communication so important? Why is it that effective communicators always seem to go farther than people who can’t properly express themselves? There are a number of reasons, all interrelated to one another.

It’s At the Core of Everything Human

Without communication, human relationships would be impossible. Without language, human society itself would not exist. Human beings are innately social animals, and how we connect with one another is at the core of everything that defines us, from our development as children to our relationships as adults to our very social structure.

“Social systems can be viewed as networks of communicative actions; personality systems can be regarded under the aspect of the ability to speak and act,” writes German sociologist and philosopher Jürgen Habermas. “If one examines social institutions and the action competence of socialized individuals, one encounters the same structures of consciousness.”

It Has a Direct Impact on Learning

Think back to your university days. Can you remember the worst professor you ever had? What was so bad about them?

Some of you are likely thinking of an ornery curmudgeon notorious for playing favorites. Others of you recalled a teacher who somehow didn’t know any of what they were trying to teach. But the majority of you probably remember a professional who, in spite of whatever other merits they might have, is incapable of effective communication.

See, true learning isn’t simply a matter of sitting in front of a book and absorbing the information it contains.

Instead, it’s a dialogue between teacher and student, directly influenced by the communication skills of each individual. If the student cannot effectively communicate, then they cannot express whether or not their needs are being met. If the teacher cannot effectively communicate, then they cannot properly convey what they’ve been hired to teach.

“When you were an infant, you learned to talk over a period of many months,” reads an excerpt from Scott McLean’s Business Communication For Success.  “When you got older, you didn’t learn to ride a bike, drive a car, or even text a message on your cell phone in one brief moment. You need to begin the process of improving your speaking and writing with the frame of mind that it will require effort, persistence, and self-correction.”

Related Article: How to Foster Productivity Through Communication and Transparency

“You learn to speak in public by first having conversations, then by answering questions and expressing your opinions in class, and finally by preparing and delivering a “stand-up” speech,” McLean continues. “Similarly, you learn to write by first learning to read, then by writing and learning to think critically. Your speaking and writing are reflections of your thoughts, experience, and education.”

It Changes How You Are Perceived by Everyone, Including Yourself

Have you ever met someone and immediately perceived them as awkward? There’s a good chance that they aren’t the best communicators in the world—and a better chance that they’re well aware of it. How we communicate is central to how we portray ourselves in public; central to how we are perceived by others.

But it’s also core to how we perceive ourselves. People who are more effective communicators are also better at engaging in positive self-talk and recognizing negative thought patterns. This, in turn, influences both physical and mental well-being.

“Along with human nature, communication is the key factor that creates and develops personalities and meanings,” explains Manoela Popescu in ‘Psychology of Communication – Between Myth and Reality.’ “The psychology of communication is a reality that must be taken into account in all areas of life, especially because interpersonal relations are relations of influence and people influence others by personality, behavior, attitudes, skills, and experience; through persuasion or manipulation.”

It’s Essential for Teamwork

In a 2012 study carried out by MIT’s Human Dynamics Lab, it was discovered that the members of the most successful teams all share one defining characteristic: they’re effective communicators. Believe it or not, little else matters. If teammates cannot communicate with one another, then their team is doomed to failure.

“Individual reasoning and talent contribute far less to team success than one might expect,” writes Alex “Sandy” Pentland, who led the study. “The best way to build a great team is not to select individuals for smarts or accomplishments, but to learn how they communicate and to shape and guide the team so it follows successful communication patterns.”

…And Teamwork is Essential for Everything Else

We’re living in what many have termed the communication age; an era where instant contact with anyone, anywhere in the world is as simple as a few keystrokes. Collaboration is thus one of the highest imperatives in the modern world. This is especially true in the case of business success.

“The most important activities in organizations—and the success of those endeavors—require that people work together and effectively collaborate,” reads an article on Harvard Business Review. “When done right, collaboration is conscious and planned. It builds excitement and processes what Kellogg professor Leigh Thompson calls ‘a creative conspiracy.’”

Closing Thoughts

Communication is core to everything about the human experience. It impacts how we work with others, how well our teams function, and how we perceive ourselves. By learning to convey your thoughts, emotions, and opinions more effectively, you’ll enjoy greater success in every area of your life.

Author: Brad Wayland is the VP of Business Development at Blue Cotton.