This short essay argues that communication is a fundamental skill required in every professional field, not merely a supplementary ability. Drawing on Eadie (2009) and a New Scientist article on science communication, the paper contends that humans are inherently social creatures whose effectiveness depends on their ability to communicate clearly across multiple modes. The essay surveys different communication forms — digital, face-to-face, and written — and situates them within the context of the Digital Age. It concludes with a personal reflection on how strong, multi-modal communication skills can support career advancement, particularly in social media organizations where interpersonal and digital communication are equally essential.
Communication is necessary in every field, no matter what it is. So long as two or more people are engaged in working together toward some common objective, communication is essential. That is the takeaway lesson from A Toolkit for the Real World (2011), in which Dr. Mullins states that "communication is important whatever you do, but particularly in science." Why is it especially important in science? Consider that researchers not only need to study and find solutions to problems — they must also be able to present their findings to audiences and different groups of people. If they cannot present effectively through quality communication skills, their research efforts will have been largely in vain. No one will listen or pay attention, and their work will go unrecognized. Thus, as this article shows, communication is a necessary skill — as necessary, in fact, as the talent and ability to conduct scientific research in the first place.
Strong communication skills are necessary in every type of organization because we all live and work in community and are part of a workplace culture just as we are part of a social culture. If we are so absorbed in our work and in our own lives that we do not take time to consider others, we are not really living to our fullest capacity. We are, at root, not workhorses or machines, but social creatures for whom society is important. And as society is important, so too is the communication skill needed to bring society together.
How we communicate is what changes over time. In the Digital Age in which we live, we can communicate via all sorts of new media and new technology that people should understand how to use (Eadie, 2009). Communication skills can therefore be thought of in many different ways: one can be skilled in digital communication, in face-to-face communication, or in written communication. There is no need for everyone to share the same communication skill set, as different people will have different natural talents to draw on. What matters, however, is that everyone develop some form of communication skill. As communication continues to evolve alongside technology, adaptability across multiple modes becomes increasingly valuable.
"Social media bridges leaders and followers directly"
"Multi-modal skills support career advancement in tech"
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