Are Our Communication Skills Really Improving?

We live in a world obsessed with constant improvement. Every year, a new iPhone—or Samsung—arrives, faster, smarter, and cheaper than the last.

But what about our human skills? Are we really better listeners, negotiators, salespeople, or managers than people were 50 or 100 years ago?

Sure, we have incredible tools today—spreadsheets, spellcheckers, and even AI. Yet every profession still relies on a purely human component. In fact, as technology advances, these human qualities often become the decisive differentiator in business.

Consider free internet. In the 1990s, I cycled 30 minutes to my local library just to read online newspapers in Romanian. Back then, free internet was a major differentiator. Today, free Wi-Fi is everywhere, but most people already have mobile data. Decisions are now based on other factors. The same is true in business: technology alone no longer sets you apart. Communication skills—how we interact, listen, and connect—are increasingly what matters.

The challenge? Unlike technology, soft skills don’t come pre-installed. They must be consciously learned and maintained. A naturally talented salesperson, for instance, can become complacent, relying on charisma instead of improving. Many leaders fail not for lack of technical skill but due to interpersonal shortcomings—poor listening, defensiveness, or lack of empathy—which often worsen with success.

Research also suggests communication skills may be declining, particularly empathy. Reduced face-to-face interaction, more screen time, and digital-only communication limit exposure to emotional nuance, body language, and real-time feedback—key ingredients for meaningful connection. Sherry Turkle argues that constant digital connectivity replaces deep conversation with convenience, weakening our capacity for silence, ambiguity, and vulnerability—the very conditions where communication and self-reflection grow.

If improving communication is critical, why don’t more of us do it? The answer: choice overload. There are countless books, courses, and videos on communication. While resources are abundant, prioritizing what to focus on is harder than ever:

·        Which aspects of communication should I improve first?

·        What standards define success?

·        How do I measure my current skills?

·        Which techniques are both effective and sustainable?

Without a methodical approach, we risk chasing the latest “life hack” or Instagram tip, only to find that real change never happens.

The takeaway: Human skills don’t automatically improve alongside technology. Communication, empathy, and connection must be actively developed. As tech becomes ubiquitous, these human qualities are the true differentiators—and the ones most worth cultivating.

Literature

Turkle, S. (2015). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in a digital age. Penguin Press.

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Gerhard Ohrband is a psychologist from Hamburg/Germany, specialized in Communication Psychology and HR. He coaches individuals and companies worldwide (in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian and Russian) on how to avoid costly misunderstandings and handle conflicts with employees and clients.

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