Communication Styles To Adopt And Encourage In The Workplace

In today's job market, 6.1 million job postings specify that communication skills are required. But what does an employer really look for when he/she is seeking to hire a candidate with strong communication skills?

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most in-demand soft skills. The reason for this is that in today's market, people usually work in a variety of different modes, with hybrid work becoming more prevalent. It is therefore essential that we broaden our communication styles in order to be efficient and effective across a variety of media channels.

Considering how much has changed in the last few years about how we work, it is vital that we all explore ways to improve our communication skills. It will help your organization improve in areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, work-life balance, culture, and reputation.

Here are some communication styles to adopt and encourage:

1. Active Listening

By listening with your whole body, you will be able to better understand what you hear. To show you are understanding what someone has said or to give them the chance to clarify, reflect it back to them in your own words. In order to accomplish this, empathy must be drawn on.

2. Open and respectful body language

In order to convey warmth and approachability, use a neutral tone of voice, non-aggressive eye contact, neutral or friendly facial expressions, and an open posture. Whenever possible, avoid dominating postures such as crossed arms, furrowed eyebrows, or a high voice.

3. Productive feedback

Ensure that you routinely communicate to your employees what they have done well and provide them with tools for improvement by formally summarizing and evaluating their progress. The use of encouraging and positive language when providing constructive feedback on areas of growth may also be beneficial.

4. Mindful communication

Communicate with compassion while also being compassionate to yourself. Keeping in mind that we all have been through trauma, large or small, and acknowledging that sometimes people need to be supported rather than corrected shows respect.

5. Inclusive language

Language should be used in a way that is inclusive of all backgrounds. By doing this, we will cultivate a culture of respect.