HOW TO COMMUNICATE BETTER IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT
“We have communication issues.”
You have probably heard the sentence above severally as an excuse for many things. Be it unfinished work, employees who are in a bad mood, poor teamwork, and many other things. If you take a look at some surveys carried out in an office environment, poor communication is one of the biggest problems an organization has.
Good communication is so important in any kind of setting; be it a formal or an informal setting that it mustn't be overlooked. To overlook the essence of good communication in a work environment is to overlook the success that is meant to be achieved.
Communicating well in a work environment becomes harder because the individuals that make up the organization are different makeup entirely. They are individuals with different ideologies, beliefs, customs, exposure e.t.c. The ability of colleagues at work to communicate and communicate well will require a level of intentionality and dedication. And for this sake, a few helpful tips on how to communicate well will be provided below;
The Hows of Communication
Good communication is so important in any kind of setting; be it a formal or an informal setting that it mustn't be overlooked. To overlook the essence of good communication in a work environment is to overlook the success that is meant to be achieved.
Communicating well in a work environment becomes harder because the individuals that make up the organization are different makeup entirely. They are individuals with different ideologies, beliefs, customs, exposure e.t.c. The ability of colleagues at work to communicate and communicate well will require a level of intentionality and dedication. And for this sake, a few helpful tips on how to communicate well will be provided below;
- Take your time to listen: Before you give a response to whatever is being said to you, ensure you have a firm understanding of what the person is trying to communicate to you. And also try as much as possible not to give wrong interpretations to whatever is being said.
- Give room for feedback: There is more than one person that needs to talk in a conversation. If you are the only one speaking all the time, people will start tuning you out and they will eventually lose interest in what you are saying. Take a break and allow other participants in the conversation contribute to to the topic of discussion.
- Be concise: No one remembers everything that takes place in a meeting. Make a few short notes about the meeting and send them in an email to whoever needs to have them.
- Be mindful of your body language: Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language. Rest your arms instead of crossing them over your chest as this is interpreted as a sign of defense. Smile when it’s appropriate, nod your head while someone else is talking, and also establish eye contact.
In conclusion, never personalize criticism, and the person criticizing should do it constructively.
