Final answer:
A great communicator is marked by their proficiency in writing, verbal, listening, and nonverbal skills. These attributes are essential in every professional sphere, including engineering, as they facilitate clear documentation, effective conversations, understanding others, and rapport building. Balancing directness with diplomacy is also key to effective communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify what makes a great communicator, it's essential to understand that communication is a multifaceted skill set. The four attributes that apply in this context are writing skills, verbal skills, listening skills, and nonverbal skills.
- Writing skills are crucial since the ability to clearly express ideas in written form is foundational in many professional settings, including engineering, where documenting activities and presenting technical content is a routine task.
- Verbal skills involve the capacity to articulate ideas and information effectively, a skill highly prized in job interviews, presentations, and customer interactions.
- Listening skills are often undervalued but are essential for truly understanding and responding to communication. Good listeners are engaged, reflect on what is being said, and can relate it to other contexts, like reading a poem.
- Nonverbal skills encompass body language and other cues that can convey meaning beyond words. Awareness of nonverbal communication can greatly enhance one's ability to understand and connect with others.
Beyond these skills, effective communication also involves attributes such as reflexive and intentional communication, sociability, and the balance between being direct and diplomatic.