Communication is a so-called “soft skill” vital to workers in virtually every role and industry. Good communication — verbal, written or visual — is a cornerstone of good business. Therefore, it is a skill employers value highly.
Thankfully, many degree programs offer communication skills, whether directly or indirectly, within their coursework. One such degree is the Youngstown State University (YSU) online Bachelor in General Studies program. This program gives students a chance to complete a bachelor’s degree while preparing for a large variety of roles, becoming more versatile workers and improving important transferable soft skills like communication.
What Are Communication Skills?
Communication skills are the abilities used to give and receive information clearly and effectively, whether through verbal, non-verbal, written or visual means. Qualities and behaviors that support strong communication include emotional intelligence, friendliness, respect and active listening. Effective communication skills are essential to workplace success, encouraging collaboration and driving productivity. Learning and developing various communication skills can bridge gaps across and within teams to achieve your organizational goals.
Professionals in all industries must approach communication as a two-way street to be effective communicators. To communicate with positive outcomes, one must not only be clear and confident as a speaker but also a receptive and engaged listener.
How to Improve Your Communication Skills
Communication skills are ultimately part of interpersonal skills, sometimes called soft skills when spoken about in recruitment environments. Though the name “soft” seems to downplay their importance compared to concrete skills often taught in educational settings, soft skills are the crux of many professions, especially those with public-facing responsibilities.
Writing for Education Week, Evie Blad asserts that there should be a stronger emphasis on teaching soft skills — or “non-academic skills” — in schools. When surveyed for a Gallup poll, teachers and parents agreed. These skills can often be overlooked in early education settings in favor of knowledge sets that can be more easily tested and tracked.
The good news is that communication skills are attainable, even later in life. The first step for someone interested in refining their interpersonal skills is awareness of the issue and a willingness to improve. Having support via a dedicated program can yield meaningful results for ambitious students.
What Is a General Studies Degree?
General studies degrees are usually interdisciplinary programs of study that allow students to take in a wide range of subjects while finishing some kind of accreditation. In the case of the online Bachelor in General Studies at YSU, graduates earn a bachelor’s degree by the end of the program.
This creates opportunities for individuals to pursue further studies through advanced degree courses or to directly enter the workforce. Some topics covered in YSU’s program include public health, computer science, social sciences, marketing, business and communication. Additionally, all students work directly with an advisor to choose two areas of concentration. As a result, the degree plan is personalized to the individual student and their career objectives.
Students also round off the degree with a capstone project or gain work experience via an internship in their field of interest. Participants have a great advantage in that YSU grants many transfer credits as part of its policy, allowing participants in this program to graduate faster.
No matter what focus an individual chooses during their time in the YSU program, students learn how to become effective communicators. This degree prepares graduates for the day-to-day challenges they will face in the workplace by training soft and hard skills.
Learn more about YSU’s online Bachelor in General Studies program.
