Communication

Communication

Communication skills are important to everyone - they are how we give and receive information and
convey our ideas and opinions with those around us.
Communication comes in many forms:
• verbal (sounds, language, and tone of voice)
• aural (listening and hearing)
• non-verbal (facial expressions, body language, and posture)
• written (journals, emails, blogs, and text messages)
• visual (signs, symbols, and pictures)
It is important to develop a variety of skills for both communicating TO others and learning how to
interpret the information received FROM others. Knowing our audience and understanding how they
need to receive information is equally important as knowing ourselves.
To an employer, good communication skills are essential. In fact, employers consistently rank good
communication skills at the top of the list for potential employees.
During an interview, for example, employers are impressed by a job candidate who answers questions
with more than one-word answers (such as yeah…nah…dunno), demonstrates that he or she is listening,
and shares information and ideas (by asking questions for clarification and/or follow-up). The
interview can be an indication to employers of how the candidate or employee will interact with
supervisors, co-workers, and customers or resolve conflicts when they arise. Remember, non-verbal
communication is also critical in an interview. Employers expect good eye contact, good posture, and
“active” listening.
One of the challenges in the workplace is learning the specific communication styles of others and how
and when to share your ideas or concerns. Though some supervisors may specifically ask for your
opinion, others may assume if there is something important they need to know, you will bring it to
their attention – or if there is something you are unsure about, you will ask. Knowing how to listen
carefully and when to ask for help is important. If an employee and a supervisor learn to communicate
well (in whatever method that works), there is a greater likelihood of job retention and promotion.
The activities in this section will not only help participants practice and recognize how they provide
information to others, but also help them consider how others may prefer to receive information. It is
important to reinforce with participants that communication skills involve give and take – and they
can, indeed, be learned and strengthened over time.


Note to facilitators: Communication skills are necessary for the development of self-advocacy and
self-determination, important skills for lifelong success. To that end, the activities in this section
offer many opportunities for youth to practice communicating their strengths and assets while
learning how to minimize any perceived barriers to employment. Please take the opportunity to add
to or tweak any of the activities to better focus on the needs of your particular group.
For example, if working with youth with disabilities, create opportunities to practice communicating
how, when, and to whom to disclose a disability on the job or in post-secondary education and/or
different ways to communicate a request for a reasonable accommodation. If you support youth
involved in the juvenile justice system, enhance this section’s extension activities to include
practicing how to communicate the proactive changes they are making in their lives, what they have
learned from previous experiences, and how any mistakes of the past have helped them to become
more focused and dedicated young adults.