I think that effective communication skills are important for me because my future job is all about managing people. If you do not already know, I am a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular. I am quite fortunate in the sense that I get to skip the "job searching/resume (cover letter)-writing" stage. However, I think that it is still a vital skill to pick up as the future is unpredictable, and these skills will definitely come in handy when the time arises. When I return to the force after I graduate, I will have to lead men and take care of their welfare and training. I will have to forge bonds with my men and earn their trust and respect. I believe that effective communication is the key to building trusting relationships with my men. These men come from very diversified backgrounds and it is important to speak with the right tone and the right words, so that certain negative messages are not subtly passed to the men. The same formula will not work for every soldier. I would need to be extremely persuasive so that I can motivate my people to strive for their best and contribute to the defence of the nation. Effective communication with my future superiors will also be crucial with regards to the cascading of intent by the higher headquarters (HQ) down the ranks. Generally, I think that effective communication is an essential skill for anyone. Effective communication minimizes the chance of one offending people unnecessarily, and allow the other party/parties to receive one's message completely and accurately.
