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What do you do if your communication skills are lacking in the digital age?

In today's fast-paced digital world, effective communication is vital. If you find your skills aren't up to par, it can be daunting. But don't worry, there are strategies to improve and adapt to the digital age's demands. Whether it's through email, social media, or video conferencing, enhancing your communication skills can lead to better professional relationships and opportunities. This article will guide you through practical steps to refine those skills for the digital landscape, ensuring you're heard and understood in every pixel and byte.

1 Assess Gaps

To improve your digital communication skills, start by identifying which areas need enhancement. Are you struggling with clarity in emails, or do you find it hard to engage in video calls? Perhaps you're not as responsive as needed on instant messaging platforms. Recognize that each mode of digital communication requires a slightly different skill set. For example, email communication often demands more formality and thought-out responses, while instant messaging favors brevity and promptness.

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Capt., Georgios Giannakouris

DPA/HSE Manager / Marine Manager at Marla Dry Bulk Shipmanagement Inc
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I once struggled to adapt my digital communication skills in a new remote work environment. While my emails were clear, I found myself stumbling in video calls, often struggling to engage effectively. Recognizing the gap, I focused on honing my video conferencing skills. I practiced maintaining eye contact, projecting confidence, and articulating ideas concisely. Soon, my ability to engage in video calls improved significantly, enhancing overall communication effectiveness in the digital realm.

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Alessandro Pancia

Leadership Trainer & Executive Coach | Maximise the potential of your Company/Enterprise and achieve the Success you deserve!
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Implement the "Digital Skills Assessment Strategy": To enhance your digital communication skills, start by identifying areas that need improvement. This could be clarity in emails, difficulty engaging in video calls, or not being responsive enough on instant messaging platforms. Recognize that each digital communication mode requires a slightly different skill set. For instance, email communication often demands more formality and thoughtful responses, while instant messaging favors brevity and promptness.

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2 Set Goals

Once you've pinpointed where your communication skills could use some work, set specific, achievable goals. If email effectiveness is your concern, aim to write clearer subject lines and concise content. For video calls, perhaps your goal is to articulate thoughts more confidently. Setting tangible goals will provide direction and a sense of purpose as you work on enhancing your skills. Remember, improvement is a journey, and setting milestones can keep you motivated.

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Alessandro Pancia

Leadership Trainer & Executive Coach | Maximise the potential of your Company/Enterprise and achieve the Success you deserve!
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Implement the "Concrete Communication Goals Strategy": Once you've identified areas for improvement in your communication skills, set specific, achievable goals. If email effectiveness is a concern, aim to write clearer subject lines and concise content. For video calls, your goal might be to express your thoughts more confidently. Setting tangible goals provides direction and a sense of purpose as you enhance your skills. Remember, improvement is a journey, and setting milestones can keep you motivated.

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3 Learn Etiquette

Understanding digital etiquette is essential for communicating effectively online. This includes knowing when to use certain types of communication—for instance, discerning when an email is more appropriate than a direct message. It also involves mastering the tone, which can be tricky without face-to-face cues. Politeness and professionalism should always be maintained, and remember to respect others' time by being concise.

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Alessandro Pancia

Leadership Trainer & Executive Coach | Maximise the potential of your Company/Enterprise and achieve the Success you deserve!
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Implement the "Digital Etiquette Strategy": Understanding digital etiquette is crucial for effective online communication. This involves knowing when to use certain types of communication, such as discerning when an email is more appropriate than a direct message. It also includes mastering the tone, which can be challenging without face-to-face cues. Always maintain politeness and professionalism, and remember to respect others' time by being concise.

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4 Practice Regularly

Practice is key to improving any skill, including digital communication. Engage in more written correspondence to hone your writing skills. Participate in online forums or group discussions to get comfortable with digital dialogue. You can also practice video calls with friends or family to enhance your on-camera presence. Regular practice will not only improve your skills but also build your confidence.

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Jessica Cordes

Let's drive your Clinical Trials to Success. || Senior Consultant Clinical Operations || Consulting & Training in Clinical Research || Oncology & Gene and Cell Therapy
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Practice is key to improving any skill, including digital communication. I engage in more written correspondence to hone my writing skills. Participating in online forums or group discussions helps me get comfortable with digital dialogue. I also practice video calls with friends or family to enhance my on-camera presence. Regular practice not only improves my skills but also builds my confidence.

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5 Seek Feedback

Feedback is a powerful tool for growth. Ask trusted colleagues or friends for their honest opinions on your digital communications. They can provide insights into areas you may not have considered, such as the tone of your emails or your engagement level during video conferences. Use this feedback constructively to refine your approach and address any weaknesses.

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Jessica Cordes

Let's drive your Clinical Trials to Success. || Senior Consultant Clinical Operations || Consulting & Training in Clinical Research || Oncology & Gene and Cell Therapy
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Feedback is a powerful tool for growth. I always ask trusted colleagues or friends for their honest opinions on my digital communications. They can provide insights into areas I may not have considered, such as the tone of my emails or my engagement level during video conferences. I use this feedback constructively to refine my approach and address any weaknesses.

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6 Embrace Technology

Finally, embrace the technology that facilitates digital communication. Familiarize yourself with the latest tools and platforms, as they often have features that can enhance your interactions, such as email scheduling or video conferencing backgrounds. Staying up-to-date with technology not only improves your communication skills but also shows that you are adaptable and tech-savvy, which is highly valued in the digital age.

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Alessandro Pancia

Leadership Trainer & Executive Coach | Maximise the potential of your Company/Enterprise and achieve the Success you deserve!
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Implement the "Technology Adoption Strategy": Embrace the technology that facilitates digital communication. Get to know the latest tools and platforms, which often feature enhancements that can improve your interactions, such as email scheduling or video conferencing backgrounds. Keeping up-to-date with technology not only boosts your communication skills but also demonstrates your adaptability and tech-savviness, which are highly valued in the digital age.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your communication skills are lacking in the digital age?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Gaps

2 Set Goals

3 Learn Etiquette

4 Practice Regularly

5 Seek Feedback

6 Embrace Technology

7 Here’s what else to consider

Training

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What do you do if your communication skills are lacking in the digital age?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Gaps

2 Set Goals

3 Learn Etiquette

4 Practice Regularly

5 Seek Feedback

6 Embrace Technology

7 Here’s what else to consider

Training

Rate this article

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