Communicating effectively might seem like an easy task because we are communicating all the time.
We communicate at home, at the office, when we’re out with friends, and at school, but do you ever think about how effective you really are when doing so?
Having a well-established communication system is difficult for any business; however, it is key to success in the workplace.
Everyone communicates differently in this ever-changing digital world, which causes all types of problems.
For example, a number of people want to know everything that is going on in the company, others prefer not to be bothered with petty details that only involve different departments.
So, as you can see, effective communication is defined differently by everyone and can be difficult to establish.
However, we have put together a general list of the top 5 ways to improve communication at work:
1. Avoid Verbal Orders
We live in a society where writing information down is key.
If something is not written, I can almost guarantee that I am not going to remember it in an hour, much less a month or so later.
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In order to alleviate this problem, anything that is of importance and needs to be remembered, should be written down.
For example, all office policies, tasks, standards, and rules should be documented and shared with everyone at the office.
In doing so, remembering and understanding them will be much easier. Of course there will be questions, but those questions will also help clarify what is expected.
2. Enhance Direct Communication
In the 21st century, digital communication has taken over.
I personally think it is sometimes easier to relay messages via text message, Facebook, Instagram, even a phone call than to approach certain people in person.
However, the fact of the matter is this harms the effectiveness of communication, especially at the office.
Technology does wonders for speed, but we lose our intuition to understand body language and facial expressions because of the way we depend on technology.
The best remedy for this is to talk to co-works in person, whenever possible.
Make it a priority to walk across the office or even stop by another branch to increase your communication effectiveness.
3. Implement Team Building Activities
We can improve direct communication at the office by doing some quick team building activities for work.
Team building activities can increase fun at the workplace and can improve employee engagement.
With team building activities, your employees will not only be having fun and enjoying themselves, but they will also be improving their methods of communication, which will also boost employee performance.
4. Have a Well-Established Plan for Solving Office Quarrels
Avoiding office fights is a far fetched goal, which is why every office should have a set plan for handling them.
In order for this to be realistic, employees need to know that they can talk to upper management about simple issues.
Some small issues will blow over but others may turn into major conflicts if they are not handled in a timely manner, which is why managers need to have an open communication policy with their employees.
5. Understand and Respect Cultural Differences
As international and global business strengthens around the world, so does diversity in the workplace.
Therefore, there is a great chance that many of your colleges are foreign. As mentioned above, people define good communication differently, which is even more prominent when different cultures are involved.
The presence of different cultures means that certain words, gestures, and ways of non-verbal communication are interpreted differently.
For example, in Australia, the peace sign is the equivalent to the middle finger. Improved communication at the office is possible with just a set plan and a little bit of thought!
Are You Doing Anything to Improve Communication At Work?
What are you doing to improve communication at work? Do you think our tips will work? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comment section below!
This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community: 5 Ways to Improve Communication At Work
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