HOW TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE AT WORK

Communication skills are critical to your effectiveness at work & therefore the success of your career. It might seem easy, but effective communication can take quite a bit of finessing. Choosing the right words, listening with our minds instead of just our ears, & getting our message across are skills that we could all work on.

Advances in technological communication may hinder an individual’s ability to connect on a personal level with co-workers, as it removes much necessary information, such as body language & tone. Effective workplace communication is also based on the interpersonal, professional relationships that are developed through a keen awareness of courtesy, attentive listening, active participation & situation appropriate body language.

There are several factors you really should take into consideration to ensure you more than simply “get your idea across” at work, but that you are informative & engaging in your professional communication… Please enjoy & share!

Networking & Personal Contact
Networking in your workplace is key to communicating effectively. There's room to talk about “non-work stuff” with co-workers. We want to. To get along with & find common ground with the people we work with. Everyone wants to feel connected to their coworkers to some degree. Getting personal at the right times helps us see coworkers as individuals, as real people with feelings. You should also attempt to speak with co-workers outside of your department whenever possible to learn more about the company as a whole. This in turn, makes you more interesting & reflects to your manager that you are professionally invested in the company.

Body Language
Body language is perhaps the biggest part of effective workplace communication because it “tells”. Gestures & facial expressions communicate to the listener what you are thinking or what your attitude is regardless of what you are verbalising. Pay attention to your body language. Avoid sighing, averting your eyes, or any other negative body language so you don’t unintentionally communicate something that may send the wrong message. Try to use forms of positive body language such as maintaining eye contact & genuine smiles. It may seem basic, but it’s true that a smile goes a long way.

Attitude & Demeanor
Your attitude & demeanor should be courteous, clear & consistent. Being courteous gives others the impression that you care & are invested in the professional relationship. When asking a co-worker for assistance or advice, perhaps use phrases such as “would you please” rather than just “please” & always show gratitude to promote rapport & convey parity. Asking follow up questions such as “Have I explained this clearly?” instead of just “Do you understand.” This helps to builds trust & reflects consistency in parity & rapport.

Active Participation
Conversations should be a fluid volley between participants, allowing each other to make a statement, observation, or ask a question without interruption or negative reaction. Have something interesting to say besides work related topics. You can read your local newspaper in the morning to help gain an understanding of what is occurring outside the workplace. For conversations that are work related, read trade or industry publications to stay informed & up-to-date. Effective communication is not only about listening; it is about being able to bring an interesting or informed opinion to the conversation.

We hope this assists you to help you communicate more effectively with your co-workers & managers – of course if you have any other ideas or experiences to share, we’d love to hear them! In the meantime, remember we are here to help support you with all the behind the scenes groundwork in pulling the best options together from 1,000s of venue & supplier options while you focus on looking after your manager, your teams & meeting/event content. As our team are all “ex-industry”, we speak the language & know how to get you the best results for your off-site conferences & functions. So lean on us – it’s free…

We compare apples with apples – accurate, like-for-like & presentation-ready documents, sent straight to your inbox. We provide best rates guaranteed with no surprises, PLUS exclusive value-adds & rewards*, you reap ALL the benefits!

Contact our friendly team on 1300 843 836 or SUBMIT your requirements online, for a speedy turnaround & options to suit your personalised requirements.