Communication as a Core Competency Required of Office Professionals

In any office environment, an office professional should use friendly communication to interact with co-workers, supervisor, management, supporting staff, clients and other people.  The office professional should be able to ensure that information is passed on to others who should be kept informed.   The important information from his/her management shared with his/her employees and others must be appropriate.  Good point is to share ideas and information with others who might find them useful.  The office professional can use different ways to communicate: oral and written; and also has to possess good listening skills for effective communication.

Oral Communication.  Office professional has to be able to express oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others.  The office professional should use appropriate grammar and avoid slang during talking.  The content of speech must be fitted to the level and experience of the audience, and the ideas and thoughts have to be organized and concise.

Written Communication.  Office professional has to be able to express oneself clearly in business writing.  The office professional can use different ways to communicate important messages (e.g., memos, newsletters, meetings, electronic mail).  The written ideas and thoughts must be clearly organized for the reader (e.g., through an introductory paragraph or through use of headings), and in appropriate business format.  Good point is to proofread documents before releasing them to others to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.

Listening Skills.  Office professional has to be able to understand the most important aspect of communication and actively work to improve those skills.

While working at court systems, I have prepared some requests about realising important documents from government institutions or private organizations.  The content of request has been organized (introductory paragraph – name of case hearing in court, body – what document court needs to request for review and conclusion).  I have always proofread request before send-out.