Communication Skills For Students

Importance Cf Commun|cat|on Sk|||s Ior Students

CommunlcaLlon skllls are essenLlal for Lhe successful fuLure career of a sLudenL ln
Lodays compeLlLlve world communlcaLlon skllls ln buslness are Lhe mosL soughL
afLer quallLy of an educaLed person 8eadlng wrlLlng and llsLenlng carefully are Lhe
Lhree mosL lmporLanL communlcaLlon skllls for sLudenLs 1hese skllls llke mosL of Lhe
communlcaLlon skllls sounds Loo famlllar as a resulL of whlch we Lake Lhem for
granLed
As regards readlng and wrlLlng Lhe only Lhlng LhaL we need Lo Lackle ls Lo adapL
wlLh our growlng age and concenLraLlon WlLh Lhese Lwo quallLles lL ls posslble Lo
develop readlng oral communlcaLlon skllls and wrlLlng skllls
AparL from readlng and wrlLlng presenLaLlons reporLs and speeches are a parL of
school currlculum 1hls has been lnLroduced ln schools and colleges for Lhe overall
developmenL of sLudenLs 1hls makes expresslve skllls and managlng skllls also
lmporLanL for a sLudenL lL ls also lmporLanL Lo develop communlcaLlon skllls ln
relaLlonshlps
WhaL deserves more aLLenLlon ls LhaL mosL of Lhe sLudenLs do noL feel confldenL Lo
make presenLaLlons and speeches 8uL reallzlng Lhe lmporLance of Lhese skllls ln
modern day llfe mosL good schools have made lL a regular parL of Lhelr currlculum
Pere comes Lhe role of expresslve skllls and managlng skllls
Lxpresslve skllls are Lhose whlch are used Lo express our feellngs LhoughLs and
expresslons and Lhus geL across our polnL successfully Lo Lhe llsLener 1o develop
expresslve skllls sLudenLs need Lo learn ls how Lo communlcaLe effecLlvely and geL
Lhe full aLLenLlon of Lhe llsLeners
AfLer Lhls managemenL ls an lmporLanL parL of a sLudenLs llfe so developmenL of
managemenL skllls ls also lmporLanL for Lhe success of Lhe sLudenL

lsLenlng skllls are also an lmporLanL sklll LhaL should be LaughL Lo a sLudenL
lsLenlng skllls should noL only be llmlLed Lo Lhe classroom buL also ln a normal
conversaLlon SLudenLs should be LaughL as how Lo glve undlvlded aLLenLlon Lo a
person wlLh whom a conversaLlon ls Laklng place
Also sLudenLs should be LaughL as Lo how Lo show Lhe oLher person respecL when
Lhe oLher person ls speaklng Such eLlqueLLe ls a parL of conversaLlon ln every
sphere of llfe be lL professlonal or personal
now LhaL we have learned as Lo whaL speclflc communlcaLlon sklll a sLudenL musL
have lL ls lmporLanL Lo learn how Lo develop communlcaLlon skllls ln a sLudenL
1he flrsL acLlvlLy Lo develop communlcaLlon sklll ln sLudenLs ls group acLlvlLles
1eachers should llmlL group acLlvlLles noL only ln Lhe classroom buL also ask sLudenLs
Lo compleLe asslgnmenLs ln equally dlvlded groups Also Lhe Leacher should
conLlnuously change Lhe groups 1hls ls so LhaL Lhere ls more lnLeracLlon among Lhe
sLudenLs 1hls process helps a loL ln Lhe long run
1he nexL acLlvlLy ls Lo develop communlcaLlon skllls for sLudenLs 1hls ls Lo puL ln Lhe
hablL of acLlve llsLenlng lor Lhls Lhe Leacher should conLlnuously read ouL
someLhlng from newspapers magazlnes and oLher sources ln order Lo ask quesLlons
from LhaL Also Lhe Leachers should make lL a polnL Lo encourage acLlve parLlclpaLlon
of Lhe sLudenLs
8y lnfuslng a healLhy feellng of compeLlLlon and curloslLy ln sLudenLs lL would
become posslble Lo develop communlcaLlon skllls for sLudenLs WlLh Lhese Llps


Communication is an important Iacet oI liIe. Communication skills are
essential in all spheres oI liIe. Be it an interview or dealing with the project
leader or working out a solution with a team or writing a report, getting across
the point eIIectively is what matters.
%he success oI an endeavour hinges on the ability to communicate eIIectively
in today's Iast paced liIe, everyone is asked to do more with less. In such a
scenario eIIective communication holds the key.
EIIectively communication centers round the usage oI words, speed oI
delivery oI words, pitch modulation and body language. Using the right tools
to communicate the right messages at the right time can salvage a crises and
motivate people to work towards success. %ruly said, communication works
but Ior those who work at it. In the existing globalization scenario, most oI the
InIormation %echnology, I.% Enabled Services, management institutes, public
and private sector, multi-national Companies, Union Public Service
Commission, and State Public Service Commission are search Ior a right and
suitable Iresher Ior executive posts.
Whatever be the recruiting criteria that I.%, I%ES, industry giants had in their
agenda, once this was clear a Iirst class degree would not serve the purpose,
the candidate have to satisIy the skill sets that the companies were looking Ior.
And unanimously, the skills set that they were looking Ior communication
skills.
People in organisations usually spends 75 percent oI their daily time on
communication through writing, reading, listening, speaking, inter-debate etc.
EIIective communication is an essential component Ior organisation success,
whether it is the interpersonal intra group organisation or external levels. A
recent newspaper report said that our oI very hundred interviews, only Iive
qualiIied Ior the employability. It is not that were technically not sound but
they lacked in communication skills. Communication skills are as important
as technical qualiIications Ior youngsters aiming at a bright career.
Communications hold the key. Poor communication skills, low conIidence
levels and improper body language have resulted out in the job race. %he
person recruited will have to deal with the global clients directly. %he
command over the language and accent neutralization also plays a vital role in
the recruitment process.
I had an opportunity to visit the Engineering colleges, Agricultural College,
Fishery Science College, P.G Institutes etc, during the last seven years and
trained large number oI students. While interacting with them, I Iound that
majority oI them are Irom rural areas and they need a brieI notes and detailed
training programmes to equip their skills, techniques and competence in
communication. I also observed during the course oI discussion, that even
urban and city youth too require motivation Ior upgrading and sharpening liIe
skills.
mportance of Communication
In the present day inIormation revolution and Iormation oI knowledge
societies, centers etc, the importance oI communication has increased
maniIold. %he importance oI communication management and in day to day
liIe oI people can be judge Irom the Iollowing points.
Communication Raises aspirations:
O 9ro[ecL Lhe fuLure ln Lhe presenL
O 8alse awareness MeeL lnformaLlon needs
O MoLlvaLes Lhe people for a purpose
O CommunlcaLlon ls for developmenL of Lhe lndlvldual organlsaLlon
socleLy naLlon counLry
O CommunlcaLlons helps Lhe admlnlsLraLlon ln arrlvlng qulck declslon and
lmplemenLaLlon
O ood communlcaLlon ls essenLlal for proper plannlng and coordlnaLlon
O LffecLlve communlcaLlon has a speclal role play parLlcularly ln an under
developed counLry llke lndla where mosL of Lhe workers are llllLeraLe
O A Managers/ LxecuLlves success ls condlLloned by hls ablllLy Lo
undersLand Lhe needs and requlremenLs of boLh employees and
cusLomers
O 8eLLer communlcaLlon helps beLLer [ob performance
O LffecLlve and Llmely communlcaLlon promoLes cordlal relaLlons and
work culLure among Lhe employees for lncreaslng producLlon and
creaLes healLhy and happy envlronmenL wlLhln and ouLslde Lhe
organlsaLlon
O CommunlcaLlon ls a key lnsLrumenL Lo creaLe relaLlons Lo sLrengLhen
relaLlons beLween Lhe Lwo people or a group of people WlLhouL
communlcaLlon meLhods Lhere ls no human relaLlons and human
relaLlons rehlres effecLlve communlcaLlon meLhods Lools poslLlve
words skllls eLc
Students Problems in Communication (ndividual):
I have diagnosed a number oI problems which acts as hurdles Ior eIIective
communication. Individual problems oI students are given below:
O Some sLudenLs wrlLe well buL Lhey are noL able Lo express Lhemselves
orally
O Some speak fluenLly buL cannoL wrlLe wlLhouL grammaLlcal errors
O Some are comforLable speaklng among Lhemselves ln a small group buL
are noL comforLable faclng Lhe audlence
O Some havlng problems wlLh Lhelr body language and use lnapproprlaLe
wlLh oLhers some flnd lL dlfflculL Lo malnLaln eye conLacL
O Some are always mlsundersLood
Students' problem in Communication (n Group Communication):
O lmlLed vocabulary
O lnaccuraLe grammar
O ack of fluency
O lmperfecL pronunclaLlon
O ack of acLlve llsLenlng
O lear of speaklng ln publlc
O lear of expresslng cerLaln vlews
O ack of confldence
O ack of group skllls
O lear of maklng mlsLakes
O ack of exposure and pracLlce
Communication Skills:
%o be successIul, a person requires an integrated ser oI communication skills.
%hese skills comprise, writing skills, speech skills, listening skills, non verbal
skills. One should have communication skills, while reading, writing,
listening, speaking, conversation with various groups oI people, government
oIIicials, bankers, Iamily members etc.
Writing Skills
Writing in other words, is above all Ior communication Ior conveying ideas
and Ieelings Irom one minds to another mind. %he hall marks oI good writing
are the hall marks oI good communication.
O Accuracy approprlaLeness aLLenLlveness Lo your audlence avoldlng of
amblgulLy
O 8revlLy or conclseness brlghLness or buoyancy
O CorrecLness clarlLy conslsLency concreLeness
O Larly mornlng works well for many
O 9lan Lo wrlLe Lhree Lo flve noLes mlnlmum dally
O ShorLer senLence pack more power 1hey are also easler Lo read and
undersLand
O Should be clear brlef conLenL conLexLuallLy lmporLanL polnLs Lo be
covered
O Dse sweeL words slmple language be leglble be clear and be conclse
and readable
O WrlLe and rewrlLe unLll you are able Lo capLure Lhe ldea ln one senLence
Reading Skills:
Reading is skill by itselI, which requires aspirants to make simple changes in
their approach to master the talent. For a better grip over communication and
languages skills, a student should give suIIicient time to reading every day.
%his should be done on a daily basis so that the memory gets reIreshed with
the knowledge. %his is why reading occupies a prime place in the skills set oI
a person. %he youth are advised to bear the Iollowing tips while reading.
O 8ead lnsplraLlonal or moLlvaLlonal books
O Subscrlbe Lo newspaper newsleLLers perlodlcals [ournals of your
lnLeresL Lo updaLe your knowledge
O 8ead Lhe llfe hlsLory of greaL leaders sclenLlsLs academlclans
LechnocraLs eLc
O Dnderllne Lhe lmporLanL polnLs noLe down Lhe dlfflculL words consulL
Lhe dlcLlonary
O PablLuaLe concenLraLlon lmprove vocabulary
O 8y readlng book one can lmprove hls way of expresslon
O 8ooks are Lemples of knowledge
O 8ooks moLlvaLe Lhe young mlnd and acLlvaLe Lo read Lhe sub[ecL
language and also enhance readlng hablLs
O 8ooks play a vlLal role ln Lhe menLal developmenL of youLh
O 1he greaL ldeas wlll deflnlLely help Lhe readers ln laLer llfe So read
mark learn and lnwardly dlgesL whaL ls Lhelr ln Lhe books
Speaking Skills :
%he importance oI art oI the speaking is now more kneel Ielt than ever beIore.
Whether one is an executive, an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, SoItware
proIessional, a public relations practitioner, a journalist, an accountant or a
politician, he cannot be successIul without knowing how to speak. A good
speaker is a good listener too. Knowledge, conIidence and delivery are the
basic elements oI an eIIective speech and that requires training. One has to
develop selI-conIidence and try to remove Iear oI psychosis slowly. %he
Iollowing points to be know in mind beIore you speak.
O 1hlnk before you speak
O now your message
O now someLhlng abouL Lhe audlence
O eL Lhe polnLs qulckly 1hen lL ls easler for Lhe llsLener Lo remember
whaL you sald
O 9lan and prepare ln advance whaL you wanL Lo day and whaL you wanL
Lo approach
O Dse easy language and use slmple words
O lve lmporLance Lo Lhe sub[ecL and volce should be sweeL
O ModulaLe your Lones as per Lhe Loplc
O lllusLraLe wlLh examples
O SLlck Lo Lhe Llme schedule
O Pave Lhe facLs and respond well Lo quesLlons
istening Skills:
Listening skills are one oI the important part oI communication processes.
Here are some oI the characteristics oI a good listener.
O ou musL have paLlence
O penness and deslre Lo undersLand
O ConcenLraLlon lnLelllgence and malnLaln eye conLacL
O 8eslsL dlsLracLlons and encourage speaker
O Summarlze Lo clarlfy
O Pave empaLhy
O 1ake Llme Lo llsLen
O ook aLLenLlve
O onL lnLerrupL
O Show lnLeresL
O lsLenlng and expresslon ls glven paramounL lmporLance ln Leam work
and bulldlng beLLer lnLerpersonal relaLlons aL Lhe work place
O 1eam asplraLlons can be meL only by proper llsLenlng 1hls glves a
chance Lo Lhlnk of beLLer ldeas boLh aL lndlvldual and Leam levels
%here are several ways oI listening which come into play in diIIerent
situations and serve diIIerent roles at the work place. %hese are: Passive,
InIormative, Evaluative, Appreciative, Emphatic and %herapeutic.
Factors that hamper listening:
O eLesL Lhe speaker
O ack of lnLeresL ln Lhe sub[ecL
O LxLernal dlsLracLlons
O presumpLlons
O lnapproprlaLe lnferences
O lneffecLlve communlcaLlon skllls (of Lhe speaker)
O Self lnduced dlsLracLlon
ow to improve listening:
One should improve listening by concentration, patience and interest in teh
subject. maintain eye contact and do not allow anything to distract you. Also
pay attention to the body language, Iacial expressions, tone oI voice, and
gestures oI the speaker. It will give right perspective oI the message. %ry to
make discussion interactive and lively. Do not ignore an important point.
Listening is an art that can be mastered by practice. So practice listening and
improve your communication skills and in turn your team relations. II we
listen to others, we can also learn so may new things in a short span oI time. A
good listener is a real learner. By listening to others, one can get to know a
wide variety oI views, ideas and thoughts.
Conversation skills
"Conversation" is deIined as 'an inIormal talk involving a small group oI
people or only two on a particular subject or selected topics'. %he aim oI this
skill is to help you to become a good conversationalist.
Conversation should be like a %ennis match, each person having his turn to
give and receive. %he true art oI conversation is talking and listening. Good
conversation requires delicacy and tact, give and take.
O Allow your conversaLlon parLner Lo speak
O 8especL Lhe oLher persons polnL of vlew
O concenLraLe on Lhe conversaLlon nly hearlng raLher Lhan llsLenlng wlll
cause you Lo mlss vlLal lnformaLlon
O llnd ouL whaL your llsLener wanLs 1o galn Lhe mosL from any
conversaLlon focus on your llsLener Ask quesLlons and llsLen Lo Lhe
responses
O eflne Lermlnology so Lhere ls less chance of mlsundersLandlng
O Speaker and llsLener should malnLaln cordlal and frlendly aLmosphere
O Clarlfy each oLher any mlsundersLandlngs and solve Lhe problems by
accepLlng amlcable soluLlon
%RVWS - RO OF COMMUCA%O
%he interview is a two way process oI communication where you need to
introduce yourselI to the company. %here are three types oI interviews Ior
proIessional jobs and executive positions like inIormation technology, science
and technology, medicine, engineering, agriculture, charted accountants,
company secretaries, business, marketing, sales communicators, management,
public relations, civil services etc.
%he types oI interviews are - (1) Personal interview (2) Subject/ %echnical
Interview and (3) Group Discussion. In all the three interviews, your
intellectual abilities, communication skills, language skills, way oI walking
into interview hall, initiative and drive etc., will be observed and judged. you
must be well prepared and present with an objective oI "Iirst impression is the
last impression".
Preparation and confidence
Interview is a major obstacle Ior many job seekers. Although you have the
qualiIications, experience, and proven track record, you may lose 'better
interviews'. so what does 'inteviewing better' actually mean? It comes down to
you being well prepared and conIident. You can answer questions in a way
which is acceptable but not necessarily right to the interviewer, and you also
know something about potential employer's business and hope to Iill the post.
%hese are your basic components oI a 'well prepared interview'.
Good preparation instills conIidence. %he basic approach to an interview is to
be well prepared. %his means two things-preparing you practically Ior the
interview and gathering knowledge and inIormation you can draw on during
the interview.
Continuous learning and practice is essential Ior a person who seeks
employment. You should spend 18 hours per day and do hard work, home
work, team work, smart work and net work.
O DLlllze Lhe faclllLles LhaL are avallable and avall Lhe opporLunlLles ln
developlng Lhe knowledge updaLe Lhe knowledge preserve Lhe
knowledge and apply knowledge
O o noL go Lo Lhe lnLervlew laden down wlLh baggage psychologlcal as
well as physlcal 1ake Lhe bare mlnlmum belonglng necessary
ConcenLraLe on Lhe lnLervlew aL Lhe lnLervlew noLhlng else
O lf you are asked Lo brlng orlglnal cerLlflcaLes references passporL slze
phoLos eLc geL Lhem ready Lhe day before 1ake your lnLervlew leLLer
O 9lan Lo reach Lhe clLy where Lhe venue of Lhe lnLervlew ls flxed a day ln
advance Lo avold lasL mlnuLe Lenslon and reach Lhe venue halfanhour
easy on Lhe day of lnLervlew
Personal interview
Personal interview plays a critical role in the selection process oI the
company. Personal interview is conducted by the human resource department
oI the company. Some oI the areas you may be evaluated on the personal
interview are:
O CommunlcaLlon skllls
O 8easonlng ablllLy
O eadershlp ablllLles
O AsserLlveness
O llexlblllLy
O nurLurlng ablllLy
O CreaLlvlLy
O AblllLy Lo recelve and glve consLrucLlve crlLlclsm
O SLress managemenL
O AblllLy Lo moLlvaLe oneself
O 1lme resourcefulness and prlorlLy managemenL skllls
O 9ersonallLy lnner and ouLer beauLy
Rehears yourselI two or three days beIore attending interview. Build your
selI-esteem and conIidence. %his includes your strengths and weaknesses,
your accomplishments, reviewing your strong and weak subjects and
recording some oI the key decisions you have made in your liIe. You should
also review interests, the disappointments you have encountered in the past,
your work environment, likes and dislikes, your business and personal values,
human values and ethics, your goals, needs restrictions and liIe style
preIerences.
Subject / %echnical interview
Your technical / subject competence, strategies, proIessional skills, your
projects, assignment which you have prepared during your studies, earlier
experiences and impressions gained in internship programme, creativity,
initiative, drive, interest in the subject and improving knowledge etc., will be
tested in depth. Your concepts and mindset will also be judged.
%he interview will be handled by a team oI technical experts or subject matter
specialists oI the organization.
As a part oI a technical interview which would require you to go back to your
books, project reports, assignments etc., and brush up on certain Iacts and
Iigures and discussion on general awareness Ior which you need to read the
newspapers, periodicals, Ioreign journals, everyday. Also watch group
discussion, interviews, quiz competitions, current aIIairs programmes.
%elecast by certain private channels to acquire latest inIormation and
developments on various Iields.
Group Discussion
Group Discussion is all about communicating with a group oI people. Group
discussion is not just talking about a given topic or expressing one's version.
In academic circles it is popularly known as GD. Normally, in a group
discussion, a candidate is tested in terms oI group behaviour, communication
skills, content collection and leadership attributes. A set oI persons brought
together to express their opinion and the subsequent exchange oI views on an
allocated subject is a group discussion.
Group discussions are held as a part oI recruitment process, as a part oI
eliciting views, opinion, ideas on any subject or plan oI action, as a part oI
decision making, problem solving, as a part oI reaching a consensus etc. Why
group discussions are held? - In the recruitment process, when a large number
oI candidates are present, group discussions are held Ior assessing the skills oI
candidates.
Skills to be assessed in 'GD'
%he Iollowing skills are assessed during the group discussion.
O CommunlcaLlon skllls
O SofL skllls
O lnLerpersonal skllls
O 1eam bulldlng skllls
O ConfllcL managemenL skllls
O 1aklng lnlLlaLlve and drlve
O eadershlp quallLles
O 9resenLaLlon skllls
O negoLlaLlng skllls
O bservaLlon skllls
O publlc 8elaLlons Lechnlques and SLraLegles
O anguage skllls
In addition to be above, non-verbal communication skills are also watched
with meticulous care.
O Smlle
O Shake hand
O our posLure
O Lye conLacL wlLh Lhe lnLervlewers
O Avold fldgeL (lldgeL means movlng hands your nervousness unable Lo
remaln quleL playlng wlLh key chaln or pen Lop ad[usLlng halr llp
movemenL
O nervousness and appearance wlll also be [udged
GD is all about communicating with a group oI people. Eye contact and body
language play an important role. Most candidates tend to look at either the
interviewer or any single member oI the group but that again shows lack oI
conIidence. 'Dos' and 'Don'ts' Ior GD is given below Ior guidance to the
candidates.
'Dos'
O Speak pleasanLly and pollLely Lo Lhe group
O 8emember LhaL a dlscusslon ls noL an argumenL
O 1ry Lo sLlck Lo Lhe dlscusslon Loplc onL lnLroduce lrrelevanL
lnformaLlon
O 8e aware of your body language when you are speaklng
Don'ts
O ose your Lemper A dlscusslon ls noL an argumenL
O ShouL Dse a moderaLe Lone aL a medlum plLch
O Dse Loo many gesLures when you speak esLures llke flnger polnLlng
and Lable Lhumplng can appear aggresslve
O lnLerrupL walL for a speaker Lo flnlsh whaL Lhey are saylng before you
speak
Positive language
Words are the best tools oI communication. choose words careIully. Words
can hurt and words can heal. What are the characteristics oI positive
language?
people who use positive language are eIIective communicators. %heir
message, written or oral, would be polite, pleasant, practical, persuasive and
powerIul. Your positive attitude makes you think positively. Your positive
language creates a positive impact on the receiver and it helps you to attain
your goal and achieve success.
An eIIective communicator checks whether his/her message is received
positively or negatively. Language is a powerIul tool and it can help people to
make wonders. Communicating in a a positive way helps people project
themselves positively. People who use positive language play a constructive
rather than a destructive role.
Negative words hurt the Ieelings oI the recipient and tell the person that he or
she has done wrong. positive words encourage the person and tell him or her
that they are respected. Positive words have a healing touch. Choose the
words careIully.
Avoid negative words: Always avoid negative words like:
O A cruel word may wreck a llfe
O A 8lLLer word may lnsLlll haLe
Use positive words: Always use positive words to build up human relations
and solve the problems.
O A [oyous word may llghL Lhe way
O A Llmely word may lessen Lhe sLress
O A lovlng word may heal and bless
GS - a global language
Language is an expression oI human activity. English language has become
popular and routine in day to day oIIicial communicating and in routine liIe
also. In Iact, 1.1 billion people oI India speak and communicate in more than a
thousand languages and the Iine line separating dialects Irom real languages is
sometimes indistinguishable. BeIore independence, English was a Ioreign
language. With the advent oI globalization, English has become a global
language. Hence it appears to be the best bet as a link language. In Iact, it still
remains a strong communicative language.
In India, where the business process outsourcing (BPO) and InIormation
%echnology boom has led to a demand Ior 'trained' English language speakers
and 'Learned' workers, particularly, the youth should understand the accents,
characters and cultural diIIerences. People who want to learn the language
have to expose themselves constantly to English, read, listen and grab every
opportunity to speak.
Conclusion
Language skills and communication skills are essential Ior getting good
placement in the inIormation technology and I. %. Enabled Services, M. N.
Cs., public sector and private sector industries etc. Everyone should revise the
language habits Irom time to time, in accordance with changing liIe pattern
and customs. As mentioned earlier, language is an expression oI human
activity and because human activity is constantly changing, language also
changes along with it.
Every communicator must know the signiIicance oI language which is
essential Ior eIIective communication. %here is no liIe without communication
and communication Ilows like a river. Hence communication is the liIe line oI
management and it is vital Ior good management. Unless and until one should
master the communication skills, he/she cannot get employability. He/ she
should develop communication and language skills practicing the Iollowing:
O Whlle lnLeracLlng wlLh someone glve lmporLance Lo Lhe message
O o nL be preoccupled wlLh grammaLlcal accuracy
O nce you become fluenL you should Lry Lo lmprove grammar
O AccepL yourself as you are
O 9racLlce ls very lmporLanL Whenever you geL an opporLunlLy Lo speak ln
fronL of oLhers make use of lL lace Lhe audlence boldly
O eep a good dlcLlonary wlLh you as your companlon
O 8ead newspapers read sLrles arLlcles newslLems waLch news on 1v
8adlo evelop your llsLenlng skllls
O Mlngle wlLh oLhers freely lL helps you Lo develop lnLerpersonal and
group skllls
O CulLlvaLe hablL of readlng books 8y readlng books you can lmprove and
develop CreaLlvlLy
O SelecLlon of rlghL books good books Lo read ls Lhe key facLor Lo success
O MoLlvaLe Lhe young mlnds and acLlvaLe Lo learn sub[ecL and language
O 1he greaL ldeas wlll deflnlLely help Lhe reader ln hls laLer llfe So read
Mark learn and lnwardly dlgesL whaL ls Lhere ln Lhe books
O 8ooks are Lemples of knowledge vlslL Lhe lbrary regularly aL flxed
hour
O nowadays knowledge ls open for all ln so many forms ou need Lo
acqulre deslred knowledge from vasL sources avallable
By
By C. Ramakanta Sarma
(%he author is PR Consultant & HRD %rainer based in %irupati, A.P)



Many students, oIten wonder why they are required to take communication
and public speaking classes, but in the real sense, such classes are meant to
teach us how to develop good communication skills that will be necessary
throughout our liIe. %hese classes prepare students in real liIe scenarios where
they interact with proIessors, students, departments head, student
organizations and diIIerent types oI people in diIIerent setting and situation.
One instance where it`s important to have good communication skills in
student liIe is when they`re running Ior college elections in student
organizations. Students are required to elect leaders who they believe will
eIIectively manage the student body to achieve the goals and objectives they
have set. Here, the nominated students must posses excellent public speaking
and communication skills.
%hose appointed as student leaders and representatives receive additional
practice in developing communication skills. As a nominee Ior any position,
those students may be invited to give speeches on how they would lead the
organization, their plans and how you will carry them out eIIectively. %his
requires them to speak to a large number oI students.
Preparing Ior speeches is one oI the better ways to improve skills and Iind
ways to present themselves well by using good communication. %o do this,
it`s important to learn how to make rough draIts ahead oI time as to what they
plan to say which is another important step oI the learning process. An
eIIective way to begin is to write ideas down on a sheet oI paper with short
headings.
Once they get on the stage, they receive additional training in composing
themselves and relating to their audience by Iinding their own way oI building
rapport as they organize their thoughts, so as to convey their message
properly. In order to be elected to the student organization, they will need to
demonstrate conIidence and enthusiasm Ior the elections.
Nominees will also need to send their message across to the whole audience in
a clear, concise and understandable voice tone. EIIective public speaking
requires a very Iirm and decisive message conveyed with the speakers own
personal style. It`s important Ior them to speak in such a way that let their
audience know exactly the point they are making and show them the
determination they have Ior implementing changes. All oI these skills help
them to build their ability to come across to their audience as a good and
eIIective leader.
When you take a look at all the skills required by students just to run Ior a
student organization oIIice you can see how useIul communication skills
classes are in student liIe.
However, making friends is anotber story.
When making Iriends and mingling with other students in social gatherings on
a daily basis, it`s still important to have good communication skills. Doing so
provides a much needed ability to more easily meet people and establish
contacts. As part oI a student`s liIe, communication skills go a long way since
networking is so very important. Meeting so many cultures oI people in
college, exposes students to diIIerent liIe styles which enables them to expand
their communication skills on yet another important level that will help them
throughout their liIe.
Another instance where communication skills can be developed in student liIe
is the typical classroom. In lectures, the proIessor connects with the students.
It`s their job to listener and be attentive in giving Iull attention to the
proIessor. %his way, the student will get the most Irom the class and establish
a healthy interaction with the proIessor when he/she solicits opinions or views
Irom the students.
%o stimulate eIIective communication skills between students and proIessors,
it`s helpIul to look at him/her and maintain eye contact. %his tip is useIul Ior
good communication skills in student liIe whether interacting with other
students, proIessors or running Ior oIIice.