Do you want to be seen as a better communicator at work? Learning and practicing communication skills will help you be a stronger leader and employee. In this post, learn what can make you a better communicator at work.
Listen to others.
This is an obvious one, but listening is a skill that people often forget about when they’re at work. When someone else is talking, don’t just wait for your chance to interject or add something. You need to really listen to what they’re saying.
Make eye contact and ask them questions about what they’ve said if you have any questions. This will show that you care about their thoughts, which can lead them to trust and respect you more than if you just talked over them the whole time.
Find a mentor.
Find a mentor like Norman Bacal, who can help you learn how to improve your communication skills and gain confidence in yourself as a communicator. You can read the Norman Bacal Take Charge book for more insights on better communication skills.
You can also find someone who has been successful in your chosen career path and ask them about their experiences with public speaking and communicating their ideas with others.
Don’t use email for difficult or sensitive conversations.
If you need to deliver bad news or have a difficult conversation about something, pick up the phone or schedule an in-person meeting instead of sending an email. Your message will come across more clearly, and people will have time to ask questions and digest what they’re hearing before responding.
Use visual aids.
Visual aids can help you get your point across more effectively. They can also help keep your audience engaged by showing them something tangible rather than simply talking to them for an hour or more without any breaks.
If possible, create your own slides rather than using templates from websites. This way, they’ll be unique to your presentation and reflect the style of your company rather than looking like everyone else’s slideshows.
Speak up if you have a disagreement.
If you disagree with someone, say so. It’s important to state your perspective and why you think it’s valid, but it’s also important to do it in a way that doesn’t make anyone feel defensive or attacked.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this in person, do it by text or email so that the other person has time to reflect on what you’ve said and respond thoughtfully.
Be open-minded.
Don’t assume that everyone agrees with you just because they haven’t said otherwise yet. Listen carefully when others speak and try to understand where they’re coming from before offering your own opinion or advice.
If you don’t understand something completely, ask questions until you do get it but don’t interrupt while someone is speaking unless there is an urgent matter at hand.
Avoid using too many words.
Avoiding overusing words isn’t just about keeping things simple. It’s also about making sure that your message gets across clearly without having to read between the lines too much.
People tend to get frustrated when they have to think too hard about what someone else means; this is especially true when they have other things on their minds as well. So if you want people to listen when you speak, keep it short and sweet.
Use the right tone.
When speaking with someone who is upset or angry, it’s important that you use a tone of voice that’s sympathetic and understanding.
Using this type of approach will help ease tension between two people and allow them both to move forward in a productive manner instead of continuing to argue back-and-forth over minor details that aren’t really worth arguing about anyway (especially if you’re trying to resolve a conflict or disagreement).
Be confident.
It’s important that you feel comfortable speaking up in meetings and offering your input, even if you don’t have all the answers or think you’re wrong about something. Having confidence when communicating can go a long way toward getting others on board with your ideas.
Conclusion
Communication at work can be stressful sometimes. Whether you’re having a hard time communicating with your boss or coworkers, you’ll want to make sure that you’re clear and sharp in your communication style.
You’ll never get what or where you want in your career if you’re not good at communicating professionally. In order to be a better communicator at work, you need to consider the tips listed above.
