How to Become an Excellent Communicator as a Tester – A 4-Step Process

Warm welcomes to all my beloved readers! I hope you’re doing great and finding the field of Testing fulfilling. I’m also fine and eager to bring you some captivating ideas about successful communication mastery and how to develop it.

Now, compare the opening sentences above, which introduce this article, with the ones below:

Today’s discussion centers on “Successful Communication Mastery” and the path to its acquisition.

Which of the two options have a tendency to evoke more reader curiosity? I’m inclined towards the first option as it underscores the significance of honing your communication abilities.

This piece offers some perspectives and guidance on refining your communication proficiency.

A job ad requirement that often intrigues me is “Exemplary communication skills required.” I have not yet encountered a job description that doesn’t emphasize this. For any business, effective communication is indispensable.

Except for technical skills, communication abilities are the second most important.

The phrase “Exceptional Communication Skills” gives rise to several queries:

• What does successful communication involve?
• Why does it feature in every job specification?
• What indicators reveal you’re a competent communicator?
• What steps can you take to enhance your communication abilities?
• But most crucially, how can you develop the assurance to declare “I am an outstanding communicator”?

In this piece, I’ll provide answers to these puzzlers through real-world examples.

Let us commence with some fundamental notions:

What Exactly is Communication?

• Communication is the act of transmitting a message via a comprehensibly common medium or language.
• It encompasses information exchange between two or more individuals.
• Communication includes relaying information, ideas, sentiments, news, and achieving mutual understanding.
• Effective communication fosters connections among people, promoting cooperation among different business departments.

What are the Various Modes of Communication?

The diagram below demonstrates the various communication methods:

1) Non-Verbal Communication: This type involves transmitting messages using gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and body posture. It dramatically contributes to dialogues, meetings, and interviews.

But today, our focus is geared towards verbal communication.

Why is Efficient Communication Important?

Communication is an art that every professional has to grasp to be successful. It assists in forging strong bonds and widening networks.

Try this short quiz. Please answer the questions below with a YES or NO:

• Do you frequently fail to elicit the desired responses despite believing you expressed your inquiries effectively?
• Are you prone to using speech fillers like “Uhh” or “Umm” regularly?
• Do you get jittery when speaking to large audiences?
• Do you require some time to kick off conversations?
• Do interviews make you uneasy?
• Do you find it tough to express your thoughts comprehensibly in meetings?
• Are you frequently asked to clarify your statement?
• Do you find it tough to articulate your viewpoint?
• Do you lose concentration when others are speaking?
• Do you struggle to say NO when necessary?
• Is maintaining eye contact during conversations a challenge for you?
• Do you display signs of anxiety like slouching or keeping your head down while conversing?
• Do you speak too softly or too loudly?

If mostly YES were your answers, your communication skills could use some polishing.

Becoming an Outstanding Communicator: How Can You Achieve This?

Enhancing communication capabilities might seem daunting, but with sustained practice, it is attainable.

Below are a few suggestions. Remember, this journey requires incremental daily progress.

#1) Cultivate Active Listening Abilities:

Communication is a reciprocal process, making listening vital alongside speaking. It’s essential to engage actively in the conversation instead of merely hearing.

An Example from Everyday Life:

As a tester involved in a system requirements meeting, you have a chance to deepen your grasp of the system. These tips will enable you to optimize the meeting and earn commendation from your superior:

Guidelines to becoming an engaged listener:

• Stay focused and ask queries.
• If unsure about something, seek clarification. For instance, inquire “So, does that suggest…” or “Would you kindly confirm if I grasped that correctly?”
• Maintain eye contact with the speaker.
• Smile, nod and keep a positive posture.
• Give favorable feedback.
• Contribute to the discussion when suitable.

#2) Boost your Speaking Confidence:

An Example from Daily Life:

Testers get many chances to participate in formal dialogues, like review meetings and defect triage sessions. These tips will ensure your competence in these settings:

Guidelines to becoming a more confident speaker:

• Trust in your abilities.
• Don’t second guess yourself; have confidence in your thoughts and contributions.
• Contemplate before speaking.
• Establish eye contact with others. It increases your likelihood of receiving favorable reactions.
• Keep your speaking speed under control and decelerate if you need to.
• Monitor your pronunciation and aim to speak clearly and audibly. If you’re uncertain about a word’s pronunciation, instead of mispronouncing, use a synonymous term.
• Rehearse holding small conversations.
• Avoid conflicting messages. Ensure your words, facial expressions, body language, and tone are consistent.
• Comprehend words’ meaning before using them. If uncertain, refrain from using them and make a daily habit of learning a new term.
• Communicate your message with clarity.
• Master positive body language. For instance, open arms hint at an open discussion, while crossed arms and slumped shoulders display a lack of engagement and reservation.
• Adopt a fitting, positive posture for smoother conversations.
• Learn to deliver constructive feedback without hesitation.
• Strive to resolve disputes.

#3) Polish your Presentation Savviness:

Real-world Example:

Effective presentation abilities and leadership can substantially contribute to various gatherings, including defect status updates. Below are some tips for such situations:

Tips for sharpening your presentation acumen:

• Prepare your content beforehand.
• Always follow an agenda and keep the meeting on course.
• Encourage participation by inviting thoughts and ideas.
• Interpret the behavior and reactions of your audience, managing yours simultaneously.
• Employ assertive communication in both verbal and written interactions.
• During defect status meetings, stay calm and objective while discussing the defects. Avoid personal biases and foster positive interactions.
• Monitor your body language, ensuring it complements your words.
• Appropriately incorporate humor.
• Show empathy by understanding others’ viewpoints and being receptive to fresh ideas.
• Accept criticism positively.

#4) Boost your Phone Conversation Skills:

An Everyday Example:

IT teams frequently carry out telephonic interviews, making stellar telephonic communication skills crucial.

Guidelines for enhancing your telephonic conversations:

• During phone discussions, remember that the other individual cannot see your expressions, making it harder to express yourself.
• Always greet the person on the other end before initiating your conversation.
• Introduce yourself, even if your call is anticipated. Announce your name distinctly.
• Declare the purpose of the call right from the start.
• Ensure your speech is lucid and concise.
• Avoid extended pauses.
• Pause when necessary.
• Don’t interrupt; allow the other person to speak.
• Keep a notepad handy to note significant details during the call.
• Avoid speech fillers like “umm” as they can be annoying over the phone.
• When talking to unfamiliar people, choose your words carefully.
• Uphold an upbeat tone.
• Always round off the call with a note of gratitude.

Summing Up:

• Become an engaged and alert listener.
• Speak articulately and confidently.
• Actively participate in all gatherings.
• Don’t be reluctant to express yourself.
• Demonstrate empathy.
• When speaking or listening, maintain eye contact.

About the author: This guest piece is authored by Renuka K., who has more than 11 years of software testing experience.

Many thanks for reading! Your feedback is immensely valued. Continue testing!