Importance of Communication Skills
When you think about skills needed to be an artist, technical skills like anatomy or architecture knowledge usually comes to our mind first. We shouldn’t forget the importance of other skills – teamwork, creativity, time management… – and especially communication. The ability to communicate clearly can make a difference in your career, and it doesn’t matter if you work as a freelancer or a full-time employee at a studio!
In general, be cheerful when you talk to somebody about your art. People don’t need to see your face to know if you are smiling or not, they feel it and it influences the way they answer you. Pay attention to your body language in case of face-to-face meetings or video conferences. For example, maintain eye contact, avoid crossing your arms and legs, stand straight… Even if your art seems clear to you, it isn’t necessary the case for others. Choose the right words and tone, adapt your level of technical vocabulary to explain what you paint according to the person you are talking to.
By mail, the vocabulary used is even more important, your aim is to be as clear as possible. Avoid sending emojis and gifs when you start talking with a new client. It can be better to keep a formal mail structure – starting with Dear… and finishing with Best regards – until you figure out if you can write in a more relaxed way. If you see that it is hard to talk about what you want writing, don’t hesitate to suggest a call, it can save you and your interlocutor a lot of time and prevent misunderstandings. A typing error or a missing attachment… it is also useful to review your messages before sending them.
With clients, peers and colleagues, from the management team for example, it is essential for an artist to be able to explain his art. It starts when you represent yourself in front of a potential client or employer. When you apply to a job position in a studio, the way you communicate will impact the choice of the person in front of you, consciously or unconsciously! It would be too bad to lose an opportunity just because you made a bad impression. For those not comfortable speaking about themselves, prepare your pitch in advance can help. Having a pitch ready prepares you to welcome opportunities whenever they will show up. Communication includes talking, but also active listening. For example, you’d better listen carefully to a brief and recommendations given by the client and ask questions in a polite way. Responsiveness helps create a trustful collaboration in the long run.
Giving and receiving feedback are sensitive parts of communication in a working environment. Nobody likes receiving critics, but it isn’t only that! You can learn some tips in the related article here.
Sometimes, because of a lack of confidence, we don’t always step up to assert our point of view or ask our questions, but this is crucial in an artist’s life. After all, communication is an art!