The path to clear and effective workplace communication
Communication skills are essential in everyday life, but strong communication skills are what set leaders apart.
Improving your communication skills relies on more than just listening and speaking in an exchange of information. A great communicator tunes into tone, pitch and body language to pick up on the subtleties others commonly miss.
This enables them to glean extra information, which can prove crucial in negotiation, conflict-resolution and problem-solving. Along the way, these expert communicators build a firm sense of trust and respect in those around them.
To set you on the course of improving your communication skills, we take a look at the easy-to-follow CLEAR system.
Clarity
Being clear is at the heart of every communication, whether it be face-to-face, via email, on the phone or across social media. When people don’t understand you, they feel confused and even offended. This can result in mistakes, missed opportunities and relationship damage.
Make your messaging simple by avoiding long words where short words can do the job. Try not to use jargon or slang.
Instead, know the key ideas you want to communicate and stick to them. Be succinct and accurate.
Listening
Great communicators often listen more than they speak. They listen in an engaged manner, by making eye-contact and registering non-verbal responses such as nodding and making appropriate facial expressions. This shows the speaker they have their full attention and are understanding what they are saying.
Listening well means not just understanding the words or the information being communicated, but also understanding the emotions the speaker is trying to convey.
Active listeners are able to switch off their inner-monologue so they are more attentive and focused. They also wait for three seconds after someone has finished speaking to avoid interruptions.
Empathy
Empathy goes a long way in communication. If you can show people you identify with their feelings, they feel listened to and more likely to share information with you.
Statements such as, “I can only imagine how frustrating that is”, or, “That sounds really challenging”, can acknowledge how the other person feels.
Resist any urge to diminish the other person’s experiences and make it all about you.
Showing empathy doesn’t mean you have to agree with someone else, it just shows you can relate to them.
Appreciation
By offering appreciation, you can make others feel valued and show them you care. Poor communicators might make a mental note of someone performing well, whereas good communicators express their observations with simple statements of appreciation. “This is great work”, or, “Great job”.
It all leads to trust-building and mutual respect.
Requests
Making requests doesn’t sit well with some people because they have concerns about being rejected or appearing needy. They might dance around the subject and take a long time to get to the point.
Simple and direct requests give people the ability to accept, decline or make a counter-offer. Avoid the urge to cushion requests with apologies.
Expand and improve your communication skills with Communication Skills Parts 1 and 2 on the Suncorp Learning Campus.
