Ideas without actions will only be dreams. Effective communication is the key to translating these great ideas into reality. However, this is easier said than done. In fact, communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication. More often than not, these ideas are misinterpreted as a result of poor communication skills, causing confusion and most importantly, wasted effort and opportunities.
Imagine this scenario: You are an entry-level analyst in a high profile company and you have a brilliant idea that could potentially bring huge savings to the firm, paving your way up the ranks in the process. The senior management has allocated you 10 minutes to pitch the idea to them.
Without effective communication, what you receive at the end of the presentation could be blank faces suggesting that they did not understand anything from the past 10 minutes. They leave the room, dashing your hopes of promotion and a great opportunity is lost, for both the company and YOU.
What I have described earlier is a fictious scenario based on my experiences during my 10 weeks summer internship, which I was given several opportunities to deliver project presentations to the senior managers. However, the time allocated was limited; therefore I had to capture all the information in a complete, concise manner, while ensuring it was presented with clarity and coherence. Condensing 10 weeks of work into an impressive 10 minute presentation was a challenging task. That made me realized the importance of effective communication in my career. Opportunities do not come in numbers and when they do, I want to make the best out of them. Transforming communication from a barrier to an asset is the first step.
Edited: 26/08/11
Added pictures!
Edited: 26/08/11
Added pictures!
