Being in high school is the first step in the transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency. Seniors will be moving out and heading to college in just six months. This means that students will have to find their way in the real world – which requires good communication skills in order to be successful. Developing a strong ability to communicate in high school makes the transition to a professional adult setting much smoother.

According to www.holmesreport.com, poor communication comes at a huge cost. Companies with 100,000 employees or more lost a total of over $37 billion due to employee misunderstanding due to a lack of communication. Anyone who has held a job knows the frustration of being unable to understand what is being expected. This is why learning to communicate is so vital. It greatly increases productivity, because everyone involved has a clear picture of the expectations and tasks in front of them.

Communication is also important out of the workplace. Countless teens find the idea of calling an office to make an appointment daunting. They believe that they will say something wrong or make a mistake, but the reality is that the person on the other end of the line receives countless calls a day, so one from a nervous teenager most likely will not stick out. The ability to revise and edit a text before sending can be comforting, but being about to communicate with someone in the moment, whether on the phone or in person, is critical for both business and personal relationships.

Think of a teacher from the past that just does not seem to be able to explain the material in a way that is easily understandable. A movie that ends with more questions than answers. An argument that runs in circles because neither party is getting their point across. All of these issues have one thing in common: a lack of communication. Having a grasp on this skill makes everything easier for everyone involved. This is why it is so concerning that some students have no idea how to make their needs, ideas or desires clear to others. Graduating without the ability to make a phone call or express thoughts is a clear sign of a lack of maturity. Make an appointment, confront a problem, talk to someone face to face. Use communication for clarity in everyday life.