It is rare to find someone with good technical and communication skills. You can get far ahead of your colleagues if you combine the two early in your career. People will judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills. Since habits form by repeating both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great communicators and adopt their styles and traits-in written and verbal forms. The art of listening and learning from each and every interaction, is another secret recipe. Develop the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to pause. Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your career develops, you will realise that the wise speak less. Speak when you have value to add, else refrain. Poorly constructed emails with grammatical errors are acceptable between friends, but they should be seriously avoided while communicating formally with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state when you might say things you will regret later. One unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or place can ruin a relationship, career or even your life. Such is the power of words. If such a thing happens, you should immediately apologise, else it may haunt you for life. Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast. Since our minds are working faster than our speech, we are inclined to speak fast. This does not necessarily mean that the person hearing it will get it any faster. On the contrary, it is always the reverse. So slow down, and think before you speak. "When I get ready to speak to people," Abraham Lincoln said, "I spend two-thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one-third thinking what I want to say." Adding humour and wit is also essential. But realize that not all jokes are funny and observe certain boundaries. Never say anything that could offend. Remember you are not a comedian who must offend as many people as you can to be witty.
1 Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the qualities of a good
communicator
(a) Speak coherently and clearly. (b) Speak loudly and fast.
(c) Immediately apologise when a mistake is made (d) Concentrate more on speaking than
on listening. (e) Always be humorous.
(i) (a) & (c) (ii) (a) & (d)
(iii) (b) & (d) (iv) (c) & (e)
2 Which quote best captures the central idea of the passage?
(a) The most important thing in communication is to hear what is not being said,-Peter Drucker
(b) Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to say something. –Plato
(c) Communicate unto the other person that which you would want him to communicate unto you if your position
were reversed. -Aaron Goldman
(d) Communication works for those who work at it. -John Powell
(i) Option (a) (ii) Option (b)
(iii) Option (c) (iv) Option (d)
3 People will judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills." It means, in our
career, communication skills play:
(i) some limited role. (ii) a subordinate role.
(iii) a significant role. (iv) a minor role.
4 "The art of listening... another secret recipe." Here 'recipe' DOES NOT mean:
(i) formula (ii) means of achieving something
(iii) cooking instruction (iv) blueprint
5. The word similar in meaning to 'subconscious' as used in para 1 is:
(i) suppressed (ii) repressed
(iii) latent (iv) underlying
Answers
Answer:
your career. People will judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills. Since habits form by repeating both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great communicators and adopt their styles and traits-in written and verbal forms. The art of listening and learning from each and every interaction, is another secret recipe. Develop the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to pause. Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your career develops, you will realise that the wise speak less. Speak when you have value to add, else refrain. Poorly constructed emails with grammatical errors are acceptable between friends, but they should be seriously avoided while communicating formally with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state when you might say things