MASTERING WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION.

Effective communication plays a pivotal role in maintaining a harmonious and productive work environment. When we talk about communication, people often view it as a mere exchange of information. Communication encompasses setting clear boundaries, mitigating conflicts, and fostering a culture of understanding, collaboration, and growth.

A work culture that is defined by effective communication establishes boundaries and defines individual roles and responsibilities. When there is clarity on boundaries, tasks can be performed efficiently without overstepping territories are escaping responsibility.

Clear thinking coupled with coherent articulation helps avoid conflicts before escalation and leads to smoother teamwork. It is obvious that communication serves as a linchpin holding the functioning of an organisation.

How can we communicate effectively?

There are the main characteristics of effective communication –

1)???? Listening - Listening is an essential aspect of communication because it fosters trust and strengthens relationships. Active listening requires you to pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues mindfully. One simple technique I recommend to practice this is “PAR” - PAUSE - ASK – REFLECT.

PAUSE - Pause and give the speaker your full attention. Do not rehearse your response when they are speaking.

ASK - Ask open ended questions to encourage the speaker to elaborate on their thoughts.

REFLECT - Reflect back to confirm your understanding and show you are engaged and interested in the conversation.?

2)???? 3C’s of Communication – Remember the fundamentals – Clarity, Conciseness, and Consistency.

CLARITY - Make your messages are clear and precise. Avoid jargons, ambiguity, or complexity.

CONCISENESS - Be succinct. Avoid unnecessary details or elaboration. Get to the point quickly.

CONSISTENCY - Make sure your message is uniform and doesn’t contradict itself.

3)???? Assertiveness - Assertiveness involves communicating and expressing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions clearly. It is most effective when combined with approachability and empathy. To get started, I would recommend a simple solution - “I” statement technique.

Frame the statements using “I” instead of “you”.

Rather than saying, "You're always so negative," you can say, "I prefer positive conversations and I'd like us to focus on the bright side of things."

Instead of saying, "You never listen to me," you can say, "I feel unheard when my perspective is ignored.”

Some individuals may find it difficult to express their emotions, especially if they are not used to doing so. Stay consistent and know that practice and self-awareness help people communicate better with time.

If you struggle to articulate your thoughts or express your emotions effectively, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

I’d like to quote a line from ‘A Balance Called Life’ –

“Good mental health is beyond the absence of disorders. It is about having clarity of thought, a confident stride, and moving forward with a growth mindset.”

Prioritise mental health.

Prioritise yourself.

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