How To Be A Better Communicator At Work

Communication is key, no matter where you are, and more so at the workplace. Be it working at an office or working remotely, good communication is a cornerstone of successful employment and it is imperative to be a good communicator in order to be a good employee.

Knowing how to communicate in the workplace is a key part of effective collaboration—because if you can’t communicate clearly, then you risk miscommunication, confusion, or even unintentionally hurting someone’s feelings.

So here are some top tips you need to inculcate in order to communicate better at your job!

Choose The Right Channel of Communication

?With most of us now working remotely, it is important to choose where to communicate and what to say. Communication happens in many different forms—face-to-face, over email, via instant messages, and in work management platforms. To be most effective, make sure you’re following communication guidelines and messaging about the right things in the right places.

?Try Talking Face-To-Face

?To make sure nothing gets lost in translation, try communicating important things and concerns face-to-face. If you are not working from an office setting, go ahead and schedule a video conference. Face-to-face communication is particularly important if you know a conversation is going to be hard. Tone can be difficult to communicate through writing so ideally, you want your team member to be able to see your facial expressions and body language.

?Keep Body Language and Tone In Mind

?Body language is crucial in communicating things, especially when what you want to communicate is difficult. Try to relax your body language and facial expressions to avoid giving off any unintentional cues, and make sure you don’t let your personal problems spill into your body language.

?Ask Open-Ended Questions

?A simple way to help you learn how to be a better communicator is to ask open-ended questions. These are questions that begin with who, what, when, where, why, and how. Be prepared to listen to the answers and ask follow-up questions until both of you are clear on the next steps or actions to take. That’s when you’re really engaging in effective office communication.

?Be A Great Listener

?Master the art of listening. The most adept communicators are experts at listening and reading between the lines. Avoid commentary or interjecting. Instead, ask open-ended follow-up questions. This provides evidence that you are hearing and listening to the person. It shows your respect for the person speaking and for the information they are sharing.?

Follow these tips as you apply for your next job with us! Visit our careers page for more!