What do you do if your logical reasoning skills are hindering effective communication in the workplace?

Start by recognizing the signs that your logical reasoning skills may be impacting your communication. This could include receiving feedback from colleagues or noticing misunderstandings or conflicts arising from your communication style.

If logical reasoning skills hinder workplace communication, seek ways to balance them with empathy and clarity. Practice active listening to understand others' perspectives. Use storytelling to convey complex ideas more engagingly. Collaborate with colleagues to refine your communication style. Seeking feedback and professional development opportunities can also enhance your ability to communicate effectively in diverse workplace settings.

If logical reasoning skills hinder effective communication, focus on enhancing communication skills such as active listening, empathy, and clarity in conveying ideas. Seek feedback, engage in training or coaching, and collaborate with others to develop a balanced approach to communication.

This is an interesting one to explore as when you take into account neurodivergent folks, and how communication styles differ, this is not always an easy fix. While it sounds easy to recognize signs, one of the missing elements for many neurodivergent folks is the ability to see the signs. If you're like me, and read this and feel all sorts of ways, know that the key is also being candid. I speak openly about my neurodivergence so that I can have trust enabled relationships that lead to positive challenge when I may be missing a sign. If you can't recognize the signs effectively on your own, speak up and share. There is no shame is knowing that our beautiful minds all function differently. When have empathy for each other, we all win.

Develop emotional awareness to complement your logical reasoning skills. Recognize the emotions of others in conversations and consider how your communication style may be perceived emotionally. Practice active listening and empathy to connect with your colleagues on a deeper level.

I have deep empathy and I can connect with people easily. I also don't always pick up on subtle, emotional changes. As a neurodivergent individual, I work really hard to follow a different set of rules when engaged in communication but if any of that slips, I might miss subtle changes in someone's emotions -or I may even completely misinterpret them. I have learned to seek clarification within communication and avoid assumptions. The way my brain works has directly led to this. It is exactly why I am so empathetic. What I have noticed is that it does not always go the other way. It is not just emotions we need to understand but also the nuances of information processing and communication overall. Seek to understand the person as a whole.

Recognize that emotions are a fundamental part of human experience and can profoundly impact workplace dynamics. Cultivating emotional intelligence can enhance your ability to navigate conflicts, build trust, and foster a positive work environment. Practice self-awareness to understand how your own emotions influence your communication and decision-making. Be mindful of nonverbal cues and subtle emotional signals from others, as they often convey important information. Ultimately, integrating emotional intelligence into your communication approach can lead to stronger relationships, increased productivity, and better outcomes in the workplace.

Be willing to adapt your communication style to different situations and audiences. While logical reasoning is valuable, it's essential to recognize that not everyone communicates or processes information in the same way. Flexibility in your approach can help you tailor your communication to better meet the needs of your colleagues and enhance understanding.

Questions help us all contextualize the world around us. It is difficult to adapt your approach if you lack context to understand why it may be beneficial. Explore meaning not just through open-ended questions, but also targeted ones that help you better connect with someone else's thought process. Also, encourage them to ask questions as well. If you have to respond to their questions about why you are resistant, or inflexible, to an idea, you will learn a lot -both from the questions they ask and how you respond. Perspectives are unique. Simply asking someone to further explain their point of view wont help you understand the experience that has gone into shaping it- you have to go a layer deeper.

Active listening, why is it so hard and is it really a thing? If I am attending a lecture, active listening is actually my ability to pay attention. If I am in conversation, it is my ability to not interrupt. The better you understand yourself, and the situation you are in, the better you can engage effectively. That engagement is what others will perceive as "active listening". If you know you're prone to interrupting - it's usually because something triggers a thought and you want to share it. Keep a little notebook, jot your thought down so you aren't distracted by it and can circle back. If it is hard to stay focused, try coloring while you listen, or something else small that doesn't distract.

Active listening is not only about understanding the words spoken but also about empathizing with the speaker's perspective and emotions. It requires patience and openness to fully grasp the underlying message being conveyed. Through active listening, you demonstrate genuine interest in others' thoughts and feelings, fostering trust and rapport in relationships. Additionally, paraphrasing or summarizing what you've heard can confirm understanding and validate the speaker's experience. Ultimately, mastering the art of active listening can lead to more meaningful conversations, stronger connections, and more effective problem-solving.

I can't stress enough the "trusted" portion of "ask trusted colleagues". Perception is not reality. Some folks are perceived poorly simply because how they engage is different. This isn't a problem if we speak openly, share feedback, seek to understand and work to find ways of engaging that leave everyone feeling respected and valued. While your approach may make some feel a certain type of way, that shouldn't mean you have to change for their comfort. Candid conversations about communication preferences go a long way to creating better interactions. Perhaps you do lead with logic. If someone knows that about you, they will be better prepared to have a productive conversation, as well as share valuable feedback with you when needed.

Effective collaboration also involves clear communication of goals, roles, and expectations to ensure everyone is aligned and working towards a common purpose. Encourage open dialogue and constructive feedback to address any challenges or conflicts that may arise during the collaboration process. Recognize and celebrate the contributions of each team member to foster a culture of appreciation and motivation. Flexibility and adaptability are essential in collaborative efforts, as they allow the team to adjust strategies and overcome obstacles together. Ultimately, successful collaboration not only achieves shared objectives but also strengthens relationships and builds a foundation for future teamwork.