2016: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Blogs, voice activated devices, virtual reality etc., Millennials are known to express themselves online. Communication is the art of exchanging information. I was always told that communication skills are the most important of all life skills. Being able to explain, demonstrate and exchange information is an art.

Communication skills are necessary at school, college, workplace and everywhere. Today, it is a pre-requisite to communicate effectively. Competition is everywhere. If you think you are the best, look around, there might be 20 more like you. What it takes to be better than the others, is your way of communicating effectively. You might be the best, technically sound and a pro in your area of expertise but are you able to share and explain your knowledge to 20 people either in a written way or verbal way of communication?

I have come across a lot of people who are technically skilled, but when it comes to presenting and elucidating a concept, they lack communication skills. Let alone workplace, communication skills are very important in any kind of relationship. There is a dire demand to express and convey to people what and how you feel. In a business meeting, if you are not able to explain clearly or talk properly, then colleagues start to face difficulties working with you. Minimum communication skills are important today to be successful in life. I do not intend to focus just on presentation skills, I also mean to shed light on writing skills. Writing too is an effective way of communicating. I could go on with the types of verbal, non-verbal and written ways of communicating yourself, but I would skip that for thesis. ;)

English is a universal language. I believe that colleges worldwide should encourage the students and train them to be better at communicating instead of better at writing tests. Writing hundreds of exams might not be useful but what is more useful is the feedback a student gets after giving a presentation in front of 30 students or for his essay writing or poetry writing skills. The tests will help you understand the concept, but what use is it if a person cannot express or communicate his idea to the world?

Today everything is accessible with a touch or a click, but the value of talking effectively and conversing is lost. If you have an idea, or thoughts or questions, you need to express and divulge, you need to communicate, be it through an email or a presentation or a blog. We say we belong to the tech age, but are you communicating effectively today?