Communication happens in many ways—speaking, listening, signing, drawing, and music, just to name a few. To ensure our message comes across correctly, we need to employ the tools of effective communication.
What Constitutes Effective Communication?
When we speak to each other, we need to make sure we are getting the right message across in the right way. This necessitates defining what makes for good workplace communication skills if we are to build and utilize them for ourselves. Good communication involves more than your word choice and tone.
First, the messaging must be clear and concise. In technical fields, there is the concept of “rubber duck debugging,” which is the theory that if you can’t explain a piece of computer coding simply to a rubber duck, then it likely won’t work or be needed in the program. If you can’t explain yourself clearly and without extra verbal fluff, then work on your concept or the wording of your idea before you approach the team or manager.
Active listening is another aspect of good workplace communication. Avoid forming an opinion or preparing your words while the other person is still speaking. Give them your undivided attention and practice saying, “Let me think on that for a moment,” then pausing in silence while you determine your next words. Other aspects of active listening involve paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, nodding, and making eye contact, all to demonstrate understanding.
According to Albert Mehrabian’s research, body language and nonverbal cues account for 55% of communication. He says that 38% of communication stems from paralinguistics (tone and other vocal cues), and only 7% of meaning comes from the words themselves. Managing our bodies and facial expressions during a conversation can add to the effectiveness and clarity of our messaging.
Then there’s the format in which we provide feedback, thoughts, or solutions. Dale Carnegie recommends in his principles to “Begin in a friendly way,” “Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly,” and “Use encouragement, making the fault seem easy to correct.” These are the principles strong leaders apply in their feedback approach.
We’re also in the digital age, which means communication may be happening face to face, via written channels, or virtually with messaging, audio, or video. Each platform has benefits and drawbacks. Leaders will need to combine the team’s unique needs with the policies and procedures of the company to find a happy middle that makes for the highest-performing team possible.
But the questions still remain: Why are communication skills important in the workplace? What does effective communication actually result in? And what avenues are available for learning effective workplace communication skills?
What Is Communication’s Impact on Success?
The benefits of effective communication in the workplace are many.
The earliest sign of good communication is enhanced productivity and efficiency. Project turnaround times and work accuracy can be shortened and sharpened when there are well-defined instructions and any feedback is communicated clearly.
Ideally, this leads to improved conflict resolution and problem-solving. Teams that are able to communicate ideas, viewpoints, and feelings to each other are more equipped to deal with arguments if they arise. This leads to more creativity (due to psychological safety) and higher-performing teams.
High-performing teams exhibit strong team dynamics, with each member understanding their teammates’ backgrounds and influences. This enhances communication even more and can result in better and faster work with assigned projects.
Overall, good communication leads to increased employee engagement, satisfaction, and morale. Engaged employees stick around, leading to lower turnover. Open communication within a company also leads to increased trust and renewed belief in the company’s and team’s vision.
Implementing Good Communication at Work
So, how do we do this? How do we set the wheels in motion to increase workplace communication skills for our teams?
- Foster a culture of open communication: Encourage feedback and suggestions, create platforms and procedures for discussion and idea-sharing, and be sure to cultivate internal psychological safety for all employees.
- Provide communication training and resources: Offer courses and workshops on topics such as active listening or communicating with tact and diplomacy, and give employees access to the communication tools and technology they need.
- Lead by example: Managers and leaders need to demonstrate the behaviors and communication they want to see from others, which requires creating opportunities for check-ins and updates and being transparent and respectful in communications.
- Establish clear communication protocols: Being clear about how to communicate is the first step to fostering better communication among others; be sure to set expectations for how much communication is needed and how quickly, and set boundaries for when communication is inappropriate (e.g., outside work hours).
Build Effective Communication Today
Effective communication leads to better interpersonal relationships and allows you better to lead with influence. In my new book, Lead With Influence: A Proven Process To Lead Without Authority,
I set out strategies and principles that will help you better communicate with others in ways that build trust and help form better connections. Establishing a culture of effective communication can enhance your business in many ways. Get started on your journey with training from Dale Carnegie.
Check out the Lead with Influence online course!