Communication in Adulthood

            Adulting is unavoidable and is a difficult transition for many as they transition from being a teenager and living college life to being on their own in the real world. There are many skills that are important to have to be a successful adult but having effective communication skills is very necessary. We use communication daily to complete tasks such as talking to others, ordering food, portraying our emotions, and giving instructions. Being able to express oneself clearly in both a personal and professional environment is critical in adulthood. Having effective communication skills helps build strong relationships, resolve conflicts with others, and be successful in a workplace environment. Communication is seen everywhere such as ordering at a restaurant, giving a coworker directions, expressing how you feel, and simply conversing one-on-one with another person.

           Effective communication is both written and verbal. Being able to express yourself through your words and through writing or online is useful in all aspects of life. Additionally, active listening skills are included in communication skills. Because in order to have good communication skills you have to be able to listen to others so you have accurate responses and are efficient in completing tasks through listening to instructions given. Understanding non-verbal cues is also important because you can understand and communicate through the use of other things such as expressions, body language, and gestures. It is difficult but very possible to have a communication and good understanding of a person through simply observing their non-verbal cues rather than conversing. Having empathy aids in connecting and communicating with others on a deeper, more personal level. Empathy helps build relationships and can resolve conflicts more easily. An obvious communication method that is used in today's modern society is digital communication. It is important to know how to correctly communicate online because it is extremely easy to miscommunicate online. Understanding how to write a sentence, instructions, or emotional message online is beginning to be just as important as face-to-face communication with the rise of online use. Knowing how to keep it professional online and have a clean digital footprint is needed to secure a job and be safe in the workplace. Overall, there are many ways that communication is useful in adulthood and communication is arguably the most important skill needed to be successful in life.