Five Personal Ways a Communications Degree Can Impact Your Life
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Great at Networking
- Ability to Move Out of the Comfort Zone
- Great Crisis Management Skills
- Ability to Market Anything
A communications degree has become the technology world’s most in-demand liberal degree, but it’s what the degree can offer professionals in their personal life that is the focus of this article. While many communications professionals are used to using their skills on the job, the truth is that those same skills can be used in their personal life as well. Everything from learning how to move out of one’s comfort zone to being able to manage a crisis can be taught within this one field and this article lists five ways that the degree can transform a person’s personal life.
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1. Excellent Communication Skills
Communication skills are especially important in an era where so much communication is done through the internet. And while it’s necessary to understand how to best communicate one’s ideas and thoughts through social media and technology, it’s equally critical to be able to communicate face-to-face with loved ones. Whether it’s having a tense conversation with a family member or debating a political idea with a friend, communicating effectively and with compassion will make life much easier for any individual.
2. Great at Networking
Networking is usually reserved for business goals for most people, but the truth is that humans network constantly. It can be done at a PTA meeting, in the grocery store, or even attending a social event. Because networking is rooted in how humans interact with each other, learning how to network can make these social situations easier for even the most introverted individuals. A degree in communications not only teaches different ways to network but also when and where are the best times to do so. Mastering the art of networking can not only make a difference in how a person attracts new friends, it can also make personal projects, such as a nonprofit venture or a creative project, much easier.
3. Ability to Move Out of the Comfort Zone
Most people have a hard time moving out of their comfort zone; the most obvious reason for this is that it’s easier to stick to what someone knows than risk trying something they’ve never done before. A communications program teaches students that moving out of their comfort zone can be more rewarding than they ever thought possible. Because the communications field is about reaching out to people and starting projects, students will soon be accustomed to moving out of their own personal comfort zone in order to be successful; the same can be done in their personal life. Trying out that new skill, taking that once-in-a-lifetime trip, or even starting up their own company may not always result in a resounding success, but the experience is well worth it.
4. Great Crisis Management Skills
There will be times in every person’s life where a crisis emerges; this could be in the form of a death, divorce, or some other personal issue. When it strikes, few people are prepared to tackle the issue head-on. Communications professionals, however, are taught to take control of a crisis and work around it so that it doesn’t upend their life. While this skill is generally used for business crises, the ability to manage a crisis can come in handy in someone’s personal life as well, especially if the situation causes them to have to explain their circumstances to other people in their life. It’s not easy to move through a crisis, but these professionals can do so with grace.
5. Ability to Market Anything
While this may seem like it’s directly related to career ambitions, the ability to market oneself is important in personal situations as well. This could be something as simple as impressing a partner’s boss or friends or as complex as volunteering to fundraise for a worthwhile cause, including cold calling potential donors. Communications skills, such as those taught at the college or university level, can enable anyone to market themselves or their ideas much more efficiently. It can also help a person understand how best to present their ideas to loved ones or new friends in a way that does not seem like a sales pitch.
Life can throw people curveballs, especially in personal situations. The best thing a person can do is try to find a way to work through any issues or hurdles in order to live their best life. This degree can help professionals do exactly that in more than just the five ways listed above; only when a person uses their communications degree for their personal life will they really be able to see the positive changes that their education can make.
Source: Forbes