Vital Communication Skills and Competencies in the Workforce of the 1990s

Abstract

This study seeks to identify the value of interpersonal communication skills to success on the job. A questionnaire was developed and administered to a random sample of employment recruiters/human resource personnel who represent 76 national/international organizations and are major recruiters of U.S. college business graduates.

A one-way analysis of variance tested the hypothesis that all mean ratings for various identified specific skills in three areas—verbal behavior, nonverbal behavior, and group interaction behavior—were equal. Mean ratings assigned by the recruiters/human resource personnel showed the value they placed on the specific skills in each of the three areas and for all areas combined.

The results of this study suggest that much of the interpersonal communication that occurs in business today and in the future will be in the form of informal, spontaneous, small group settings. There-fore, business educators should emphasize in their classes the communication processes that occur in small group settings, such as small group management, information dissemination and feedback evaluation, and problem/conflict resolution. They need to provide a variety of experiential exercises for students such as case studies, role-playing, and simulations that will strengthen these vital communication skills that will be necessary in the work-force of the 1990s.