List of Communication Skills & Abilities
In order to compile a list of communication skills and abilities, we have to consider all phases of communication. These phases start before an actual direct interaction takes place and continue through reflection back upon the interaction to become a better communicator for the future.
The list also includes skills ranging from very basic to higher-level ones that usually require advanced communication skills training.
This is not a complete list of communication skills. But it contains many of the most important and interesting ones.
- The ability to focus
- Observing other people
- Observing your surroundings
- Noticing circumstances, events and entities in your environment
- Reading facial expressions and microexpressions
- Reading body language
- Reading voice tone
- Emotional intelligence
- Recognizing people of different backgrounds and cultures
- Understanding the symbolism and meaning of different clothing, jewelry and ornamentation
- Ability to identify people’s personality types and values
- Building vocabulary
- Spelling
- Understanding grammar
- Ability to speak, understand, write and read multiple languages
- Translation
- Adaptability
- Sense of humor
- Strategic thinking
- Planning
- Imagination
- Creativity
- Improvisation
- Storytelling
- Performing
- Acting
- Descriptive ability
- Outlining
- Writing
- Playwriting
- Screenwriting
- Speechwriting
- Building rapport
- Using facial expressions
- Using body language
- Using voice tone
- Using touch
- Using quotes
- Audiovisual skills
- Fashion
- Grooming
- Persuasiveness
- Salesmanship
- Debating
- Assertiveness
- Ability to envision and carry out multi-interaction communication processes
- Listening
- Active listening
- Reading between the lines
- Mirroring
- Validating
- Empathizing
- Investigating
- Asking questions
- Using and understanding analogies, similes and metaphors
- Modeling based on others
- Reading
- Memory
- Studying
- Analysis
- Learning
- Taking initiative
- Risk-taking
We may continue to add to this list of communication skills and abilities. In addition, we may create more content going into depth about some of them, as well as share resources for improving communication skills over time.
