Ever heard the phrase “It’s not what you say, but how you say it”? workplace communication
That quote comes from Albert Mehrabian’s research based on the 7%-38%-55% rule.
Words: 7%
Tone: 38%
Body Language: 55%
The tone is becoming more critical in this day and age since we have far less face-to-face communication. The less they speak, the more they forget, and manners can fly out the door a bit for some people. Maybe we got too comfortable with Zoom meetings where we didn’t need to be a professional as if we were going into the office instead.
What happens when the tone used annoys instead of inspires? What happens when the style and the words or body language don’t match? Unfortunately, not everyone has the best poker face, and how many people are saying “fine” when it is the exact opposite? All that does is cause people to lose trust and add more confusion.
As a female, I can attest that the jokes where when we say “fine,” it should be taken as a cue to run the other way or show up with chocolate are indeed pretty accurate. However, how many times can you convince someone that you are happy when it’s evident to them that you’re pretty down in the dumps.
These scenarios are constantly happening in one way or another. When you add a bit of distraction to the mix, it’s even easier to say something positive with a negative delivery. For the ‘foot in the mouth’ moments, my life runs above average. They say that we learn by teaching others, so here’s hoping that that is the case, because Lord, help this girl.
Why do we need to have good communication skills at work or workplace communication?
Good communication can make all the difference when it comes to leadership. Poor communication leads to misunderstandings and confused employees. When the doors for communication are open within the company, projects are done quickly and effectively while fostering a positive culture with the ability to meet goals on time, increasing tenfold if not ahead of time.
Create Effective Communication in the Workplace
Emails – Messaging
In most office settings, communication via email remains crucial. Having the ability to pass messages to your team members without pulling them out of their workstations keeps the workflow steady with fewer interruptions and distractions.
One on One
Experts say some people understand better when talking to them one-on-one. Also, keeping eye contact with them will help the message sink in.
Communication through Training
Training should be customized towards communicating specific information to your team members. Most employees take their training seriously, especially if it’s tied to workplace incentives, i.e., a raise, promotion, etc.
Display Confidence and Seriousness workplace communication
When speaking with confidence, you likely won’t be taken for granted. When others sense insecurity or lack of seriousness, they typically disregard the information. In one ear and out the other, the tone can unintentionally affect things.
Use Different Learning Styles
Adding visuals boosts interest and helps with comprehension. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners benefit from various aids such as pictures/graphs or engaging in activities to grasp the concept. In addition, by offering different learning styles, your employees will feel more comfortable and confident in their job roles.
Listen to Your Team Members
Communication goes both ways, don’t talk because you are the ‘leader’ without taking time to listen to others. Having open communication will encourage employees to be more comfortable having hard conversations. You have one mouth and two ears – meaning you should listen twice as much as you speak; things that aren’t said can be just as important.
Be Humorous
It has been proven that using humor or friendly jokes is highly effective. Using humor can put everyone at ease and reduce tension in an uncomfortable situation. This allows the intended message to be relayed in a more relaxed way. Just remember, your day job is probably not a clown at the circus, so don’t go overboard.
Avoid Mumbling
Clear communication also includes enunciating your words and not mumbling. People can’t understand or grasp the topic very well if you are speaking too fast and mumbling.
Gesticulate
Making hand motions can establish the seriousness of the topic when talking. In addition, it puts off the vibe of knowing your subject and emphasizes your confidence.
Be Appreciative
Being appreciative to the team and your listeners is just courtesy. Working together is supposed to promote idea sharing and boost productivity. By being specific about the things, you appreciate you improve professional relationships and have more effective communication. When workplace communication is down or employees feel unheard and undervalued, it can cause confusion and sideline an entire project. They took the time to hear you out; thank them for it.