In all parts of life communication is very important. However, in business and workplace situations being able to communicate clearly and efficiently is vital. Improving your communications skills to ensure continuing good relationships with colleagues, customers and clients should be a top priority for anyone interested in building a business or management career.

In any organisation, staff members participate in meetings, work in teams, write memos, talk to customers, listen to managers, deal with clients, speak to groups, and close deals. Each of these tasks may seem straightforward enough, but even small hiccoughs and slip-ups can have potentially awkward and damaging consequences, which a communications skills training course can nip in the bud.

Communications problems and breakdowns do not necessarily have to be any one individual's fault. Sometimes people don't get along, not because of any huge personality clashes, but just because that's the way things are. Other times people forget to inform a colleague of an important decision, or don't take the time to explain their position entirely; then great trees from little acorns grow, and suddenly everyone has a problem. Communications skills courses are designed to keep these confusions to a minimum, and enable people to deal with situations when they arise.

You might argue that communications skills is just a load of mumbo - jumbo, that if everybody just says what they mean all the time then we will all get along fine. You would be wrong. Also, some people are very proud of their top-notch social skills, and like to think they can always glide through sticky situations unharmed. That kind of attitude is inevitably pride before a fall. In business, as in most areas of life, misunderstandings and conflict are inevitable; communications skills courses can prepare you for cleaning up afterwards.

There are a number of different communications skills courses available in Ireland, all of which aim toward the development of the skills required for effective and confident interpersonal communication. General communications skills courses cover areas such as listening skills, conflict resolution, meeting and interviewing skills and relationship building. Other topics such as effective business and report writing, body language, visual communications, and technology in communication can also be included.

People at different stages in their careers can all benefit from a communications skills course. Those just getting started on the corporate ladder might brush up their interview and business writing skills, while people moving towards management roles can prepare for responsibilities such as holding meetings, resolving office conflicts, and dealing with troublesome employees.

Communications skills courses can be delivered in a number of different ways. Some courses are run each night over a number of weeks, while others take place during working days or over weekends. The methods of learning can include typical lectures and presentations, and also workshops, exercises, group discussions and role-play.

An increasingly important area of communications skills training is inter-cultural communication. With Irish society getting more cosmopolitan and globalised every day, the potential for inter-cultural misunderstandings grows. People from different backgrounds and expectations have their own ideas and preconceptions about what is acceptable and what is not, and it is easy enough to blunder, even with the best will in the world. Intercultural communication courses teach specific skills, understanding and attitudes to help overcome cultural barriers and obstacles, both at work and in our everyday lives.

Some communications courses delve deep into how and why we communicate in the way we do. This means moving into the field of psychology and studying theories and concepts of interpersonal communication - such as group dynamics, relationship building and personality types.

One thing to consider is that employers as well as employees can benefit from communications skills courses. A happy workplace is an efficient workplace, and workers with good communications skills are highly sought after, so employers often look upon paying for their staff to do a communications skills course as an investment. If you are considering taking a course it might be worth approaching your boss, to find out if the company can cover the cost involved, or give you time off work in lieu. A good choice would be Kilroy's College who aim to help students become better communicators as so make the most of opportunities in life through distance learning.

Whatever your particular career and circumstances a communications skills course can help minimise and deal with little misunderstandings and spots of confusion as they crop up, leaving you free of office squabbles and conflicts, popular with clients and managers, and able to concentrate on your continued career success.