Showing up to practice
Communication is key,
It’s a phrase we hear all the time. Yet, that phrase does little to explain how to do it!
We have been taught how to speak, and write, but we’re never taught how to use those words effectively. Communication is a learned skill, one we have to figure out on our own, which for the most part, is true. Every time we step out of our comfort zone to interact with those we do not normally interact with, we build those communication skills. Communication is always evolving. New communication tools have come about since I started college, and more will come in another 5 years. Evolving with the trends is how you stay effective in that skill. It’s easy to stick to who and what you know, but then that is all you’ll ever be: stuck.
Through each job I have held and each class I have taken, I have learned new ways to communicate with people. My internship through DragonTree Media Group is no different. It is a new ballpark I have never been in, but that makes the learning experience all the more constructive. I have spoken to department heads from large and small companies, clients, event attendees, and even CEOs. The thing I have found through doing this is that communicating with people is not as scary as it seems. Public speaking has always scared me, and I know I am not alone in that feeling, but every time I learn how to communicate with someone new, it gets just a little bit less daunting.
There is a reason it becomes less daunting, and that reason is that I keep doing it despite the fear.
No one gets better at something because they simply wish to be. All skills take practice. Your favorite sports player, dancer, or musician doesn’t just show up for the big event; they show up at practice. DragonTree MG has allowed me to practice my communication skills and put my practice to work.
It’s not about one skill over another or picking up every single skill you can. It’s about honing your skills. What I have learned is that the best skill to have isn’t necessarily a skill, but the drive to practice. You will only get better the more you practice. This is what DragonTree MG has taught me. It’s okay if you fail ten times, but you better get up on that 11th try and give it your best.
Nobody has all the answers on how to best learn communication because there isn’t one answer. You have to find what works for you and then practice it. Over and over and over again.
You never stop learning if you don’t stop practicing.