15 Other Ways to Say “Good Communication Skills” (With Examples)

“Good communication skills” is a phrase that’s become a staple on resumes—but is it doing justice to your abilities? Recruiters often skim over this overused term, leaving your resume to blend into a sea of similar applications. If you’re looking to stand out, finding other ways to say “good communication skills” is essential.

This article aims to help you replace generic wording with impactful, specific alternatives that highlight your true capabilities. Whether you’re a job seeker frustrated by vague language or someone struggling to describe your strengths concisely, these 15 expressions offer clarity and precision. Let’s transform your resume into a standout piece that effectively conveys your unique skills.

Is “Good Communication Skills” a Good Resume Word?

When crafting your resume, “good communication skills” is often seen as generic and overused. While it does convey an important quality, it fails to showcase the specific ways you excel in communication. Recruiters prefer action-oriented terms or examples that demonstrate your abilities in a real-world context. Instead of relying on this vague phrase, opt for precise wording that highlights your unique strengths.

What to Say Instead of “Good Communication Skills”?

Here are 15 alternatives to replace “good communication skills” on your resume, along with examples of how to use them effectively:

1. Strong Interpersonal Skills
2. Exceptional Written Communication
3. Effective Verbal Communication
4. Active Listening
5. Conflict Resolution Skills
6. Presentation Skills
7. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
8. Negotiation Skills
9. Clarity in Expression
10. Team Collaboration
11. Public Speaking Skills
12. Persuasive Communication
13. Customer Engagement
14. Feedback Delivery
15. Adaptability in Communication

1. Strong Interpersonal Skills

“Strong interpersonal skills” refers to the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others through effective communication, empathy, and collaboration. This phrase is suitable in scenarios where teamwork and rapport-building are essential.

It highlights your capacity to connect with people and navigate social dynamics, which is critical in roles requiring teamwork or customer interaction. This term suggests a proactive approach to fostering mutual respect and understanding.

Examples:

• Suppose you’re applying for a customer service position. You might say:“I utilized my strong interpersonal skills to resolve customer complaints effectively, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rating.”
• Imagine you are describing your role in a team project:“My strong interpersonal skills enabled me to mediate conflicts within the team, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely project completion.”

2. Exceptional Written Communication

“Exceptional written communication” conveys proficiency in expressing ideas clearly and concisely through written mediums. It’s particularly relevant in roles involving documentation, reports, or correspondence.

It emphasizes your ability to craft well-organized, impactful written content tailored to different audiences. This phrase suits roles that demand precision and clarity in writing.

Examples:

• If you’re applying for a technical writing job:“I demonstrated exceptional written communication by creating user manuals that reduced customer support inquiries by 30%.”
• For a role involving marketing content:“My exceptional written communication skills allowed me to craft compelling email campaigns, leading to a 20% increase in click-through rates.”

3. Effective Verbal Communication

“Effective verbal communication” refers to the ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively in spoken form. It’s ideal for roles requiring presentations, negotiations, or frequent interactions.

It showcases your capacity to convey messages in a way that resonates with your audience, fostering understanding and engagement.

Examples:

• If you’re interviewing for a sales position: “I used effective verbal communication to deliver persuasive pitches, resulting in a 25% increase in sales.”
• In a leadership context: “My effective verbal communication skills helped align cross-departmental teams during strategy meetings.”

4. Active Listening

“Active listening” refers to the ability to fully engage with and understand the speaker’s message, fostering clear and effective exchanges.

It reflects a collaborative mindset, emphasizing your attentiveness and responsiveness in conversations.

Examples:

• If you’re discussing conflict resolution: “By employing active listening, I identified the core issues in team disputes and proposed effective solutions.”
• For a customer service role: “My active listening skills ensured that I accurately addressed client concerns, leading to a 20% increase in customer retention.”

5. Conflict Resolution Skills

“Conflict resolution skills” involve identifying and resolving disagreements in a constructive manner to maintain harmony and productivity.

It demonstrates your ability to handle disputes effectively, a key attribute for leadership and collaborative roles.

Examples:

• If you’re a manager: “I utilized conflict resolution skills to mediate workplace disagreements, improving team cohesion and morale.”
• For a client-facing role: “My conflict resolution skills helped de-escalate challenging customer interactions, enhancing overall satisfaction rates.”

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6. Presentation Skills

“Presentation skills” highlight your ability to deliver information effectively to an audience, often in a structured or visual format.

It suggests confidence, clarity, and the ability to engage and inform an audience effectively.

Examples:

• In a project management context: “I leveraged my presentation skills to deliver project updates to stakeholders, earning their trust and securing additional resources.”
• For a teaching role: “My presentation skills allowed me to simplify complex topics, resulting in a 90% comprehension rate among students.”

7. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy and emotional intelligence” refers to understanding and managing emotions—both your own and others—to build strong, supportive relationships.

It reflects your ability to relate to others on an emotional level, fostering trust and collaboration.

Examples:

• If you’re in a leadership role: “I used empathy and emotional intelligence to navigate team challenges during high-pressure situations, improving morale and productivity.”
• In a caregiving position: “My empathy and emotional intelligence helped me provide personalized support to clients, ensuring their comfort and satisfaction.”

8. Negotiation Skills

“Negotiation skills” highlight your ability to reach agreements that benefit all parties involved. This skill is crucial in roles requiring problem-solving, decision-making, or contract management.

It underscores your ability to advocate effectively while finding common ground and demonstrating balance and professionalism.

Examples:

• In a procurement role: “I applied negotiation skills to secure vendor contracts that saved the company 15% in annual expenses.”
• For a sales position: “My negotiation skills helped close deals with major clients, increasing revenue by 25% over the previous quarter.”

9. Clarity in Expression

“Clarity in expression” refers to your ability to convey thoughts and ideas succinctly and precisely.

It suggests you can break down complex concepts into digestible information, ensuring your audience understands your message.

Examples:

• For a role in technical training: “I ensured clarity in expression by simplifying technical jargon, enabling new hires to quickly grasp key processes.”
• In a project proposal: “My clarity in expression during presentations led to unanimous approval from stakeholders for the new initiative.”

10. Team Collaboration

“Team collaboration” emphasizes your ability to work effectively with others toward a common goal.

It reflects your adaptability, cooperative nature, and contribution to group success.

Examples:

• For a team-based project: “I enhanced team collaboration by fostering open communication, leading to a 20% increase in project efficiency.”
• In a leadership role: “My team collaboration efforts aligned cross-functional departments, enabling us to meet tight deadlines.”

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11. Public Speaking Skills

“Public speaking skills” refer to your ability to address an audience confidently and persuasively.

It demonstrates your capacity to captivate an audience, an essential trait for leadership or customer-facing roles.

Examples:

• For a conference role: “I honed public speaking skills by delivering keynote presentations that received a 98% positive feedback score.”
• In a sales pitch scenario: “My public speaking skills secured investor confidence, leading to a $500,000 funding round.”

12. Persuasive Communication

“Persuasive communication” focuses on your ability to influence others through compelling arguments or ideas.

It suggests you can inspire action or change perspectives, a valuable asset in marketing, sales, and leadership roles.

Examples:

• For marketing campaigns: “My persuasive communication in crafting ad copy boosted customer engagement rates by 35%.”
• During negotiations: “I used persuasive communication to negotiate favorable terms with partners, strengthening long-term collaborations.”

13. Customer Engagement

“Customer engagement” describes your ability to foster meaningful interactions with clients to build loyalty and trust.

It highlights your focus on creating positive experiences, which is essential for sales, customer service, and marketing roles.

Examples:

• In a support role: “I enhanced customer engagement through personalized follow-ups, increasing retention by 20%.”
• For a sales position: “My customer engagement strategies led to a 40% rise in repeat business.”

14. Feedback Delivery

“Feedback delivery” refers to your ability to provide constructive insights that inspire improvement and growth.

It shows your skill in addressing performance issues diplomatically while maintaining a positive environment.

Examples:

• In a leadership context: “My feedback delivery techniques motivated underperforming team members to exceed their targets by 15%.”
• For peer evaluations: “I provided balanced feedback during performance reviews, fostering professional development among colleagues.”

15. Adaptability in Communication

“Adaptability in communication” emphasizes your ability to tailor messages to suit different audiences or situations.

It reflects versatility and awareness, which are crucial for navigating diverse environments effectively.

Examples:

• For multicultural teams: “I demonstrated adaptability in communication by adjusting my style to accommodate cultural differences, ensuring effective collaboration.”
• In customer interactions: “My adaptability in communication allowed me to resolve concerns for both technical and non-technical clients seamlessly.”

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right words to showcase your abilities can be the difference between being overlooked or landing your dream job. Instead of relying on the tired phrase “good communication skills,” explore these other ways to say “good communication skills” to add precision and depth to your resume.

Each alternative not only highlights a specific aspect of your expertise but also makes your application more impactful. Now is the time to take action—revise your resume, stand out from the crowd, and let your communication skills speak for themselves!