The ability to communicate and connect is one of the crucial reasons for workplace success. You may have all the technical skills, or you may look very efficient in papers. But if you do not have good communication skills, it may become a roadblock in your growth. It is a critical skill for both employers and employees to succeed professionally. Therefore, honing communication skills is a must for everyone’s professional growth.
Here are the secrets to strong communication skills in the workplace.
1. Empathy
Empathy is in being sensibly understanding others keeping yourself in their shoes. It is vital for good communication in the workplace. When you empathize with the person you are communicating with, you automatically become non-judgemental. This helps in the flow of communication.
You attentively listen to the person and understand the problems or the situation from their perspective. This enables you to take a calculative action towards it without getting biased or misinterpreted. Managers/leaders who are more empathetic towards their employees are more successful.
2. Practice active Listening
Active listening is a conscious decision, to actively listen to the speaker with respect and understanding without being judgemental. In the workplace, overflow communication often leads to ambiguity. When you actively listen and pay attention to the speaker, you keep the conversation clear and compelling. The listening skills can vary from person to person. But the good part is that it is a skill and can be acquired with time and patience. Active listening also helps you build trust, boost employee productivity, resolve conflicts and form healthy work relationships.
3. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the capability to identify, manage, evaluate and understand our own emotions and the people around us. EI is, therefore, one of the most essential communication skills you can develop. Some people are inherently more emotionally aware, but those who lack this skill can create it with time and practice. Self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills are the core features of emotional intelligence. Each of these helps you while communicating with others.
4. Broad-mindedness
Broad-mindedness or being approachable is a source of growth and acceptance. While communicating, it is important to stay open-minded, or else we become insistent on our point of view. This brings ineffectiveness in the communication process. It is essential to look at a situation from different perspectives. Therefore hearing everyone’s opinion is very important in the workplace.
Try to enter into communications without having an agenda. Strong communications require an open mind and a commitment to understanding other people’s points of view. If you disagree with the people you are speaking to, try to reach a middle ground that benefits all parties.
5. Respect
When you show respect through communication, you create satisfying work relationships and make the most out of your work environment. Being respectful is the best way to put forward your views and ideas to your co-workers or managers. Therefore, no matter whom you are communicating with, be polite, have courtesy and kindness.
6. Confidence
The other secret to solid communication skills in the workplace is confidence. Carry confidence on your sleeves while you communicate, make eye contact, and ask questions when you doubt. When you exhibit signs of confidence, you are more trusted by your co-workers and managers.
7. Feedback
Giving feedback is one of the critical communication skills. Managers or supervisors with solid communication skills know its importance and offer open, constructive feedback. Many do not know the effectiveness of giving the proper feedback since they are not aware of giving it the right way. Exercising it and giving it effectively is a needed skill.
8. The tone of voice
In any communication, make sure that you set the right tone. A friendly tone will encourage others to communicate with you. A welcoming and friendly manner catches our attention. It is a great way to start any conversation or greet your co-worker at the weekend.
9. Transparency
Good communication is not only about saying the right thing; it is also about putting the messages with clarity. The objective of communication is to understand and put across our ideas to obtain an outcome. When you are transparent and concisely put forward your thoughts, you make it easier for others to comprehend. When you are not clear in your head, you would always create room for confusion. Therefore, bringing clarity in your thoughts and actions is a must.
10. Non-verbal communication
Actions speak louder than words. And it does when it comes to non-verbal communication. We speak through our vocals chords, and it is limited to the language we speak, what we say or how we use our words. In the workplace, there is a diverse set of people coming from different backgrounds. It is often not possible to converse with them if we do not share a common language.
In such scenarios communicating more with our body language and tones is more effective than using words to express. Also, when verbal communication conflicts with non-verbal cues, people are more likely to interpret the true meaning through non-verbal clues. Non-verbal communication helps people to:
- Strengthen or transform what is said in words
- Convey information about their emotional state
- Define or strengthen the relationship between people
- Provide feedback to the other person
Conclusion
We all know the importance of solid communication skills in our lives and especially in our workplaces. The points mentioned above can help you hone your communication skills and bring you more growth and success professionally.
