Easy tips to help you improve workplace communication

The workplace is a social entity. Like all human interactions, it is built upon communication. Healthy, honest communication is the foundation of long- and short-term success. It is how you build relationships and get things done. Everyone struggles with communication from time to time; becoming an effective communicator takes both skill and practice. Here are some quick tips that can help you better communicate with your colleagues, customers, and prospects:

Walk the talk. A critical element to becoming a competent communicator lies in establishing trust. Be sure your actions and your words are aligned to build credibility.

Be as transparent as possible. If you’re a boss and you’re secretive, your reports are going to regard you with suspicion. This is not only a terrible way to conduct business, but it also quells productivity and fires up the gossip mill. 

Listen. Listen not only to what is being said, but listen to the spirit in which it’s being said. Don’t just listen so that you can respond. That makes the conversation about you. When you listen empathically, you make it about the person who is speaking.

Avoid making quick assumptions. Nothing inhibits workplace communication more than misread signals and misunderstood language. If you’re not sure about what someone means, ask for clarification.

Be mindful of how you are communicating. Word choices, tone, and body language speak volumes. Early in my career, I learned that when I would use “big” words, some people thought that I was being condescending. That was not my intention, but that was how it was being perceived. Now, I make it a point to communicate in plain, clear language whenever possible.

Have empathy. Everyone absorbs information differently. Your workplace is likely comprised of people whose first language is not English or who have a disability like dyslexia, which may impact their understanding of written and spoken language. 

Encourage social interactions. People want to work with people they like. When people get to know one another, they build authentic relationships, and team performance improves.

Don’t be a robot. Have you ever worked with someone who never talks about anything but work? Someone who gets all teary over the company’s new go-to-market strategy? But when you ask about their life outside of work, they become evasive? Yeah, so have I, and it’s just plain weird. It’s fine to keep things professional and, to a degree, superficial, but show some humanity. 

Business exists to solve problems; healthy communication is the key to creative problem-solving. Improving workplace communication is not an easy task. It cannot be accomplished in a matter of weeks, but it is worth the effort to have an engaged workforce and heightened productivity.