What is the difference between communication and communication skills? Before the Industrial Revolution, people were self-sufficient and did not necessarily cooperate with others. It was acceptable even if they didn't communicate. As the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu said, "People can hear neighbors' roosters crowing and dogs barking, and people grow old and die without having had any dealings with each other." In a sense, people at that time only needed some basic communication, not communication skills. Why are communication skills becoming more and more critical in this day and age? As the social division of labor becomes more and more detailed, it is impossible for us to do everything alone. Whether a computer software engineer or a marketer, it's imperative to know how to interact and put forward ideas among people. How do communication skills help us succeed in our future careers? Effective communication skills are essential to allow us to give and receive information more accurately and quickly. As a computer science student, I believe that good communication skills are necessary soft skills that are critical for a successful career. For example, telling complex issues clearly and concisely to team members can improve teamwork efficiency; staying curious about other people's perspectives and stories can gain new insights and successful experiences; and being respectful can help us gain support from each other to enhance our work productivity.
First of all, expressing ourselves in clear and concise language is a crucial communication skill that significantly affects not only the outcome of teamwork but also our careers. From reading Robert W. Lingard’s article “Improving the Teaching of Teamwork Skills in Engineering and Computer Science,” we learn that software engineering work is essentially a teamwork process, and expressing ourselves clearly is one of the most important teamwork skills. However, Robert W. Lingard used a peer-review approach to assess the teamwork skills of ten teams (a total of 45 students); the result indicated that communicating clearly with other team members is being identified as one of the least achieved skills. He states that “Clear Communication within the Team: Low scores in this area are probably caused, at least in part, by some of the same factors that prevent students from asking for or giving help. Namely, students have been conditioned to work independently in most of their educational careers and are reluctant to freely talk to others on the team” (22). Computer-related majors are usually accustomed to completing work independently and lack training in expression skills. In practice, however, completing an engineering project requires collaboration and clear communication. From product planning to development to delivery, articulating the complex issues of software engineering clearly and succinctly can lead to the success of teamwork and our profession. Overall, as a computer software engineer or hardware engineer, success in a career requires not only the technical ability to simplify complex engineering problems but the ability to communicate with others clearly and concisely.
Secondly, staying curious in communication and listening to others' viewpoints and stories allows us to gain new knowledge and learn from others' successful experiences. From watching Julia Dhar’s TED Talk “How to have constructive conversations,” we learn about the importance of choosing curiosity over clash to build constructive conversations. “And the whole point of a curiosity conversation is to understand the other person's perspective, to see what's on their side of the fence” (Julia Dhar, “Constructive Conversations”). The author encourages us to stay curious in a conversation and listen to each other's views. Oftentimes, during a conversation, we are so busy expressing our opinions and telling our own stories; however, we forgot to listen and put ourselves in the shoes of others. As we know, deep down, we all long to be heard and valued. If we can remain curious about each other in our conversations, we will understand each other better. What’s more, remaining curious can help us to gain new insights of other’s perspectives and learn from their successful experiences. (feedback: Can you relate it back to your profession a little more? What does curiosity look like specifically in the computer science field?)
Last but not least, respecting others can help us gain friendships and support from colleagues so that we can be more productive at work. In the book “Bringing Respect Back: Communicating Without the Conflict” by Don Olund, the author tells us how to improve relationships by showing respect. He points out that “One of the main contributors to a lack of productivity on the job is low morale in the work environment. Disrespect is at the heart of the problem... Concepts like manners, decorum, and politeness seem obsolete in work culture” (5). In other word, Don Olund believes that a lack of respect in the work environment can affect work productivity. If we are respectful to others during the communication, we would also be respected by our colleagues, and we would be supported and helped by more people at work, thereby increasing productivity. A little respect goes a long way. Respectful communication is about when we listen carefully and respond kindly to others, even if we disagree with them. Becoming a more respectful communicator helps us understand others' perspectives, build strong relationships, and solve problems easier. In fact, showing respect through communication is the key to developing relationships, improving productivity, and advancing in our careers.
To conclude, good communication is essential in any environment with human interactions. Likewise, when it comes to communication in the workplace, good communication skills are an integral element of career success. Communicate clearly and concisely – improve teamwork efficiency; stay curious – gain new insights and experiences; be respectful – get help and support from colleagues to be more productive. I believe that mastering these three communication skills will go a long way to our success in future careers.
Works Cited:
Dhar, Julia. “How to have constructive conversations.” TED, March 2021,
https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_dhar_how_to_have_constructive_conversations.
Accessed 20 April 2022.
Lingard, Robert. “Improving the Teaching of Teamwork Skills in Engineering and Computer
Science.” Journal of systemics, cybernetics and informatics, Vol.8 (6), 2010-12-01, p.20-23.
Olund, Don. Bringing Respect Back: Communicating Without the Conflict. Createspace
Independent Pub, 2013.
Grades: A-
Overall Description:
For the Documented Essay Assignment, you must compose an 800-word essay that answers the following question:
How do the communication skills we develop in our personal relationships help us succeed in our future careers? Explain.
Your evidence should be based primarily on research, not anecdotes about your own personal life or hypotheticals.
The complete Documented Essay, must be at least 800 words (excluding any footnotes, endnotes, and Works Cited page), double-spaced, and in size 12 Times New Roman font.
You must use at least three secondary sources:
These three sources must be properly cited in their essays as well as list on their Works Cited page at the end. Their citations must adhere to MLA 9th edition standards.
Your essay will be evaluated based on the thoughtfulness of your thesis statement, the organization of your supporting points, your use of evidence from your three (or more) secondary sources, as well as your ability to compose in-text citations and a Works Cited section according to MLA standards.
Suggestions on Writing:
Grading Rubric:
Your grade for this assignment will be comprised of four separate components: the strength (meaning, the originality, directness, and analytical value) of your thesis statement, the structure of your essay, your use of evidence, and your writing’s grammar.
Due to the heavy emphasis on research in this assignment, a greater percentage of your grade will be devoted to “Evidence” and “Mechanics.”
Thesis Statement (20%)
A – Paper presents a specific, engaging and analytical thesis statement that contributes an original argument to the discussion.
Organization (25%)
A – After establishing a central idea, the writer presents his/her evidence in an orderly and organic fashion. One idea flows seamlessly into the next through the use of transitional phrases, when necessary.
Evidence (30%)
A – The paper draws on and analyzes pertinent passages from reputable sources in order to support the argument expressed in the thesis statement. Moreover, the author carefully analyzes each of the passages quoted in the paper in support. In other words, the paper does not merely jump from one quotation to the next. Lastly, the paper shows a balanced use of its secondary sources.
*** Essays that only use two sources will not receive a grade higher than a B ***
Mechanics (grammar, punctuation, syntax, MLA citations, tone) (25%)
A – The paper is without any mechanical errors or MLA citation issues.
*** Any essay without a Works Cited page will not be accepted for credit.