Internal communications strategy

Communication Skills You Need in the Workplace

Because the workplace can be extremely stressful, it is imperative to have the right communication skills in order to work effectively and to build strong relationships with co-workers and staff members.

Here are the communication skills each and every member of an organization must develop and integrate into their internal communications strategy:

1. Listening

While talking can certainly help you get your point across, active listening makes your interaction with another person more dynamic and effective. Communication is an exchange – it is about listening to the ideas of another person in as much as it is about talking. Listening helps you to get to know what the other person is thinking and, consequently, allows you to get to know more about the person you are working with. When listening to the other person, focus on him or her and don’t be distracted. If necessary, take down notes to remember what he or she is saying.

2. Clarity

Don’t beat around the bush or go in circles. Be direct and straightforward about what you want to say so that people you work with understand your message. Don’t give a speech about unrelated issues to calm down your nerves before getting to your actual point. If you feel like you’ll forget what it is exactly what you want to say, write down notes as part of your internal communications plan.

3. Empathy

Any work environment that involves other people will always be about teamwork. Learn to put yourself in the position of other people so you better understand where they are coming from. Ask questions and be sincere in your interest to learn about what the other person is thinking. Without empathy, any internal communication plan will prove to be ineffective.

4. Patience

Impatience will not only make you lose focus, it will also muddle the other person’s communication process. Be methodical and be patient. Allow the other person to properly gather his or her thoughts, and listen actively to what he or she has to say.

5. Be positive

While it can be difficult to remain positive in the workplace at times, it is always the better choice to look at stress and difficulties as challenges instead of problems. Look for ways to overcome anger and frustration, and talk openly but respectfully to others.

Practice the points given to gain more confidence. Be conscious and purposeful when it comes to practicing your communication skills. The better you get at it, the more confident you will be.

While some employees are inherently more social than others, it doesn’t mean that they can’t develop the communication skills necessary to be successful in the workplace. Improving communication is about proper guidance. Teach your staff members how to develop their communication skills through the following ways:

1. Create employee training programs to help employees with their communication skills. These programs can include the fundamentals of good communication, developing listening skills and taking on the challenges of online communication.

2. Take notice of how you interact with staff members. Employees who work closely with their bosses tend to model the communication style of those they work for; therefore, if you are open, respectful and professional your staff members will be influence to adapt the said style.

3. Set the company tone you want by giving managerial and supervisory roles to employees who have proven to be effective communicators.

4. Give incentive awards to staff members who have met your communication goals, and include communication skills as a category in performance appraisals.

5. Strengthen your workforce through team-building exercises and activities. Group activities help develop your staff members’ communication skills and allows them to discover how best they can work with each other.