Effective communication in the workplace is critical, especially in times of uncertainty and change. Good communication impacts productivity, efficiency, trust between employees, professionalism and the overall work environment.
Here are four (4) ways you can hone your communication skills and effectively communicate at work this year.
1.) Show Respect
An important part of effective communication is being respectful of other people’s space and time. We must always be mindful of how we speak to and engage with others, especially related to sensitive matters. Be respectful of other people’s ideas, opinions and feelings. In order to foster a positive working environment, when communicating with others always use a person’s name, make eye contact and ensure you are actively listening to the conversation. Avoid multi-tasking while communicating. This helps to make people feel appreciated and valued.
Be aware of your body language as well. Remember, your body language communicates more than words so pay attention to the kind of energy you are emitting with your actions and movements. When communicating via email, ensure that you spell person names correctly and edit your message for grammar and spelling errors. At the end of the day, each person in your organization deserves your respect. Be sure to treat people kindly and fairly to create a successful work environment.
2.) Be an Active Listener
Active listening is an essential skill that every employee should work to hone. Often people come into a conversation only thinking of their contribution and what they plan to say. Failure to listen well during a conversation means that you might not fully understand the message that the other person is trying to convey. This could lead to misunderstandings and conflict later. Active listening involves paying attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the other person says to make sure you understood. This aids in effective communication as you can formulate appropriate and productive responses having listened more carefully to the conversation.
3.) Remain Open-minded
Effective communication is dependent on persons engaging with one another with flexible, open minds. Rather than focusing on solely getting your own message and thoughts across, listen attentively to the other person and try to understand his or her perspective. It is simpler to have a positive and fruitful conversation when both persons are willing to engage in an open-minded dialogue.
As it relates to processes, be open to new methodologies and different ways of doing things. Change is an important part of growth so embrace innovation and new ideas from your team members with openness and a positive attitude.
4.) Choose the Right Medium of Communication
Before reaching out to others, it is important to stop and consider what is the best mode of communication for the task/situation or the preferred mode of communication for the recipient.
If the recipient is a very busy person (such as your boss, perhaps) you might want to convey your message via email. However, be sure to include a clear subject line and keep your message brief and focused on one topic. Long email messages often go unanswered. Email is also a great choice for concise questions that don’t require an immediate response.
However, if you have more serious or complex issues to discuss (such as layoffs, disaster management, resignations, personal issues etc.), a phone call or a virtual meeting may be more appropriate. Simply knowing which medium of communication to use is an important communication skill. People will appreciate your thoughtful, diverse means of communication and will be more likely to respond positively to you.
By Sherise Brooks
