Reputation, did you ever calculated the cost of lost customers or negative news?
Improve Your Communication Skills
Good communication skill is a must for software testers. You might have seen this line in every job requirements especially openings in QA and testing field. As testers require communicating with different project team members including clients, communication skill plays important role.
Poor communication generally leads to disagreement and misunderstandings. Even in romantic relationship if you are poor at communication, chances are high that you will break up with your boy friend or girl friend.
The secret to getting better at communication skills and becomeing more assertive is to let go of the need for people's approval. When you no longer need their approval, your nervousness will fade away and you begin to feel free to express your desires and opinions. As you start to express yourself more freely, you come across as a charismatic person. Letting go of the habit of seeking people's approval will also make you more assertive, you will be able to say no when you want to. When you constantly seek approval and acceptance, you place yourself in a position of weakness while interacting with people. It destroys your peace of mind, drains your energy,makes you tongue-tied and afraid to speak out your mind in front of others.
However this doesn't mean that you should give a damn about other people. Ofcourse you have to be considerate about people and behave in a responsible manner. But at the same time, you should stop trying to please all people at all times, and start saying things which you really think and feel rather than what others want to hear.
If you made the first step now it will be time to learn to listen Actively.
Most people are not naturally good listeners, and folk with the so-called "gift of the gab" tend to be very poor listeners. Many good talkers think that listening is simply waiting for their turn to speak. They can allow the smallest things to distract them and I have found that many are so busy thinking up the next clever thing to say that often they are not comprehending what is being said to them.
When you are talking you learn nothing. When you are listening, the potential for learning is unlimited. I am very grateful that I received this advice because it is a great truth.
Are you a good listener? If you are, you have a valuable skill. If you are not a good listener, it is never too late to start.
The rest of the skills will be now easy (and you will be the best communicator)
Be Clear
- Make sure you understand what you want to say before you start.
- Explain the context of your point so your listener clearly understands why you're talking to them.
- Are you asking for a favor? Are you trying to tell an important fact? Do you want to know something?
- Use simple words and language to express your point.
- Phrase your ideas and suggestions in a positive, rather than critical way.
- Be confident. Don't assume that what you have to say isn't worthwhile.
- Keep in mind that a listener's silence doesn't necessarily mean consent or disapproval. It may just mean that the person needs to think about a response before answering.
- Review situations in which you had to communicate with different people, such as a friend, parent, or a study group. Ask yourself:
- How did I handle the situation?
- Was I able to make my point understood?
- Did the discussion have a positive outcome? If not, why?
- What could I have done differently?
Read more
