FROM THE CEO: Effective communication in the workplace

Effective communication in the workplace is an integral element of a business’ success; it enhances relationships within the company and with clients, and it increases employee engagement and the overall effectiveness of a team. However, recent research by US firm Gartner shows over 70% of business mistakes are due to poor communication.

As we enter a post-COVID world with people still operating from home, restricting our ability to meet face to face, communications in the workplace take on an even stronger necessity. Even having to socially distance in the office or business environment if we get there makes it difficult to manage communication, particularly in large groups.

For some, good communication comes naturally, but for others, it can be hard to articulate their thoughts and feelings in conversation, often leading to conflict and fundamental errors. So, whether you’re an effective communicator or not, it’s essential to understand the importance of good communication and how it can help your business and ultimately you as an employee.

I have listed below a few benefits from having good communication practices in the workplace.

It improves team building

Honest and effective communication can create a strong team. When staff consult with each other, consider other opinions and discuss their progress, they will be more enthused to collaborate. As a result, the strong unit that they create makes the workplace more enjoyable, and they will be eager to perform well so they don’t let their teammates down. Indeed, communication helps solve employee morale issues by keeping entire teams in the loop, making all team members feel useful within the workplace.

It increases creativity

If employees are scared of communicating their thoughts and ideas out of fear of being rejected, then they are likely to only contribute the bare minimum. However, if there is an open line of communication between supervisors and staff members, they are encouraged to be more creative and innovative within the workplace, and they are likely to put forth new and creative ideas

It improves productivity

Managers can understand their employees’ talents and skills and will then give clear directions to the people that are best suited for the job, thus increasing the overall turnaround time of any given project. A good line of communication builds trust between a manager and an employee, which results in a loyal relationship. A two-way line of respect ensures there’s no micromanagement involved and that an employee is trusted to get on with the job that they were hired to do.

It increases efficiency

Poor communication compromises efficiency, as well as the overall quality of work. When instructions aren’t provided clearly, mistakes are bound to happen. Wasted time and resources are usually the result. On the other hand, clear instructions eliminate the need to clarify and correct any issues.

So now we know some of the benefits of good communication, below are some things for us to consider in becoming better communicators.

1. Engage in frequent discussion. It doesn’t have to be an important conversation. The main idea is to build rapport. By showing an interest in others, they’ll start showing an interest back and this will make it much easier to actually have a conversation with them.
2. Listen to what others have to say. Listening is perhaps THE most important part of communicating with other people. Regardless of everything else, if you don’t actively listen to what’s being said, you’re either going to misinterpret the meaning of what other people are saying, or you’re going to reply with something that shows you simply weren’t paying attention.
3. Adopt a positive mindset. This may seem a little unusual, but if you try and maintain positivity when talking to others you’re likely to find that they’re more positive in response.
4. Take notes. If you’re in a meeting or having a group discussion in the workplace, it’s important to take notes. You might think you’ll remember everything that was said, but you won’t. If you take notes it’ll help you remember everything that was said, and you’ll be able to craft a more targeted response.
5. Be aware of who you’re talking to. You can’t talk to everyone the same way. Some people appreciate a more jovial tone, whereas others are more serious. Adjusting your speech is a common part of communicating, and many of us do it completely subconsciously.
6. Think before you speak. Always, always, think before you speak. If you speak without thinking, you’re more likely to say something that will offend or upset someone – however unintentional.
7. Be aware of your body language. Non-verbal communication is a massive part of communicating, as it subconsciously tells people what to think of you and what you’re saying. Make body language key and you’ll be much more likely to get what you want out of any interaction.
8. Keep it simple. Probably one of the worst things you can do when you talk to people is overload them with information. If you constantly go off on tangents without ever really making your point, people will just switch off and stop paying attention to what you’re saying.

Hopefully this has been of interest to you. Now I’m off to practice what I preach.