In the business world, many employers or even stakeholders believe that proper internal communications can significantly increase employees’ productivity as well as improving the proper workflow.
Communication may seem simple to many people. We often think that communication is just about transmitting the messages to the other party. Is that true? No.
Effective communication is a process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, knowledge and information such that the purpose or intention is fulfilled in the best possible manner. In simple words, it is nothing but the presentation of views by the sender in a way best understood by the receiver
Often when we try to establish communication with others or others with us, there is always a chance for a lack of understanding that can cause conflicts and frustrations in personal or professional life in relations with other people.
Why is it so important to ensure that communication is the key in the organisation?
Successful communication can deepen relations in personal life or professional life. In personal life, they can help us understand better people and situations that happen on a daily basis. It can also help us to avoid conflicts, compromise and help in better decision making.
By improving communication skills, we can improve employee engagement, teamwork, decision-making, and interdepartmental communication in the workplace.
Communication skills is the key to success during Covid-19
The COVID-19 Coronavirus is putting pressure on businesses. Businesses must adopt new approach that have not been done before, such as telecommuting. In the past, we can easily walk over to our colleagues’ desk to clarify any work issues or we can also even discuss work matters in a cosy meeting room.
Now that most of us are working form home, we do not have the luxury of discussing with colleagues face-to-face. This must have brought stress to many people. We need to leverage on technology to communicate such as video calls, WhatsApp messages or even phone call. This also mean that we need have effective communication skills to ensure that the messages we bring across to the other party must be clear, precise and logical.
If the other party fails to understand, this will bring problems to the team or organisation. Here are some tips for you and colleagues to improve your communication skills to a whole new level:
- Cohesion and Clarity
Good communication is much more than saying the right thing; it is about communicating messages clearly and concisely. Before you start a conversation, type an email or begin a discussion, have in mind what the purpose of the communication is and what information you hope to obtain as a result. Lack of clarity and cohesion can result in poor decisions and confusion.
- Friendliness
In any type of communication, make sure that you set the right tone. A friendly tone will encourage others to communicate with you. Always try to personalise messages, particularly when working with partners or fellow colleagues. Wishing the recipient a ‘good weekend’, for example, is a great way to personalise your message.
- Empathy
Within a busy work environment, everyone will have their own ideas about how things should be done. Even if you have disagreements with your colleagues or partners, their point of view should be considered and respected. Empathy is also beneficial when speaking with customers in certain types of customer-facing role.
- Respect
Empathy leads into the next communication skill, respect. If you respect the ideas and opinions of others, they will be more likely to communicate with you. Active listening or simply using the name of the person you are speaking to can both be effective.
- Open-Mindedness
Try to enter 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. Approaching a discussion with an open mind is more likely to result in a successful outcome.
Sources:
Communication Skills for Workplace Success
