In a workplace communication is incredibly important not only to perform work effectively, but to make working more enjoyable for both yourself and others around you. These tips will help improve your communication in the workplace, and will help make both yours and others work experience better.
Allow others to speak
When in a workplace or a meeting, you need to allow everyone in the conversation to have their say in the matter. Allow them to finish speaking before raising your ideas, as it signifies that you respect them as an individual and you do not value yourself over others. Also when speaking with others make sure you are actually listening to them. They might bring up good ideas involving the topic of discussion that might help with what the conversation is about. Never ignore others and always be mindful of when they are speaking.
Be mindful of how you present yourself
While unspoken, your body language conveys a lot about yourself and your attitude when speaking. When speaking with others make sure you don’t come off as unenthusiastic or uninterested in the conversation. It can give others the wrong impression, even if you are actively participating in the conversation.Always be wary of how you are presenting yourself to others. Sit up straight and try to seem enthused when in the middle of a conversation. Don’t frown or slouch as it can end up giving a negative impression to whomever you are speaking with at the moment.
Try to understand who you are talking to
When speaking with others, it is important to try and understand who they are. If you are in an upper management position or inviting a guest for a meeting, you need to try and understand who this person is and what they will respond well to. If you see someone feeling down, try to pick them up without coming off as overbearing on them. It is a difficult balance to find the right way to talk to someone, as everyone is different and will respond differently to different speaking styles. Understanding who you are speaking with and adapting to them can make conversations more productive and can help get your point across to them.
Be clear
When speaking, always make sure your intent is portrayed. There needs to be a careful balance on how information is delivered as doing it incorrectly can lead to people not willing to listen to you or ignore your suggestions. Be clear when speaking to make sure your point is coming across and make sure you know who you are speaking to and convey it in a way they will understand.
There are numerous ways to improve communication in the workplace, but these methods are based on the idea that a workplace is not comprised of exactly identical individuals. Let others speak, understand who they are, and speak to them in a way they understand. By following these ideas not only will you develop an understanding of one and other, but will create a better, more enjoyable workplace.