The Importance Of Communication in the Workplace
Communication in the workplace is something we do naturally and every day. Most people though do not waste too many thoughts on it and this can result in miscommunication and huge challenges that can decrease morale. Good workplace communication is something that needs to be learned and practiced constantly. Especially in the workplace we need to pay attention to what we say and also how we say it.
Very often interoffice politics and conflict can easily arise when team members do not do a good job of effectively communicating. This can then take a toll on the company’s productivity and morale causing a great deal of harm. This is why some organization bring in a coach to help address these issues. Companies like the Coaching Institute work with many organizations in helping them to address these issues. Here are some of the tips they suggested:
Listen to Your Co-Workers Problems
Instead of always hanging around with your own team mates and discussing the latest news of the ‘grape vine’. Instead of always looking at things with you as the center of the universe try to look at your company from the standpoint of your peers, your boss, the factory workers and the financial department.
Go to lunch with people from across the hall; visit the production and customer service departments and be interested in everything you see and hear
- Listen to their challenge
- Possible improvements
- Stories of how they sell the product or service
- Most favorite customer
- Most terrible customer
- Oddest story that ever happened
- History of the company or the boss
If you do this just once a week consistently you will have accumulated a lot of vital information within just a few months. You will be able to better understand your company, the challenges you all face and the amazing people who make it all happen. Once you understand other people, your peers, your superiors and who they are from a professional stand point and also from their character it is much easier to interact and speak with them; since you now understand their point of view. For example: once you understand the challenges your boss is facing you can support him or her with your specific expertise or skills.
Keep Your Team Motivated
Inspiring people to do great work can be a daunting task when communication lines are broken. This is why some people lose their motivation to work when there is drama or people feel like they are not being heard.
“When you need to present your statistics or your production quota or your sales results do not simply talk about the numbers,” says John Mueller of Motivation Ping. “Tie them to the people who make it all happen so that they feel acknowledged and validated for their efforts. Showcase their struggles and retell their entertaining stories to get your co-workers to show their appreciation for their efforts as well.
Communication in the workplace is easy when you understand that your peers and superiors are as important as you are in pushing your company forward. See yourself as a small but very important part of a whole working mechanism a bit like the little parts of a watch. Each one moves at its own pace but somehow makes the whole thing work perfectly.
