Here’s the truth, communication is crucial in the workplace. It helps everyone in the team, including you, to be understood and heard. As a result, everyone will benefit from an encouraging and positive environment.
In contrast, poor communication generates opposite results. Even the most creative ideas fall through because of the lack of open discussion. Poor communication leaves the team unacknowledged, frustrated, and misunderstood, which then results in moral decline.
Leadership is the key to excellent and effective communication in the workplace. While the task may seem daunting, it is still possible as long as you know where to start. Here are some strategies you can incorporate into the workplace to enhance employee communication.
Make sure to give undivided attention
Whether you’re in a team meeting or with one worker, giving your full attention to them will significantly enhance how they think of you. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you were talking with a person who keeps on using their phone? Isn’t it insulting?
Lack of attention in the workplace discredits the conversation causing the people to lose interest. Practice maintaining eye contact as you speak with someone and avoid using your phone or any distraction during meetings.
Listen attentively
You may be the boss, but that doesn’t mean that our opinion is the only one that matters. People will start to tune you out when you monopolize a conversation and make it all about you, leading your message to get lost.
Be straightforward with your message, but make sure to pause after pointing out essential matters to give way for questions and check if everyone understood you. Listening to people’s concerns and questions will help your employees feel valued.
Be mindful of how you communicate
Words may play a vital role in communication, but there are other things to consider too. Your tone and body language deliberately contribute to how people perceive your message. Stand in front of a mirror and practice your tone and hand gestures.
It would be helpful to maintain a clear stance and friendly facial expression while you speak to employees. Instead of crossing your arms over your chest, rest them by your side to avoid a defensive frame.
How you communicate through devices is a factor too. Employees often communicate through phones, emails, or company VoIP. Regardless of the platform, make sure to sound approachable and friendly yet professional.
Always follow up in writing
So the meetings adjourned, and everyone seemed to participate actively. However, it’s most likely that people will forget at least half of the meeting’s agenda. Before the meeting, assign someone to take notes, who will know what the meeting is all about.
Afterward, review the notes and distribute the collected information to everyone involved via Email. Doing this will ensure that everyone remembers their agreed tasks during the meeting, reducing the risk of poor productivity.
Explain why you need your employees to do specific tasks
Don’t just designate responsibilities. Ensure that your staff understands why they need to do it. It might sound silly, because after all, each employee has job descriptions, and they are hired for specific reasons.
Taking the time to talk to your employees to define the importance of their tasks is a great way to keep them motivated. It gives them purpose. Explaining the task shows employees how valuable they are to the company, and if they do not perform, there will be severe consequences that might affect the entire team.
Do not make assumptions
Making assumptions is a deal-breaker for good communication. If you want to promote healthy and happy relationships among employees, avoid making assumptions. Don’t immediately assume that an employee is lazy because they are not excelling in certain areas. It would be better to ask the employee directly. They might be suffering from something you know nothing about.
Ask your employee how they’re doing and if they need help with something. Sometimes, a friendly conversation is all it takes for someone to open up and release what’s weighing them down.
Learn your employee’s strengths and weaknesses
There are many ways to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your employees. You can do this by observing them or asking them questions. Knowing where they are lacking and where they excel is an effective way to communicate better.
For example, if you know that a person’s weakness is being shy, you can use that information to approach them correctly. Help them overcome their shyness by inviting them to coffee breaks or by joining them during lunch breaks.
The positive effects of enhanced communication may not appear right away. But with consistency and effort, you will surely get there. Use these tips to promote good communication in the workplace, helping you and your staff to understand each other better.
