Dear Al Brown, Welcome to Workplace Watch! Workplace Watch is a series of business articles dedicated to providing you and your company with information on current business topics and trends that affect your daily work life. This month we will be talking about leadership styles -- what works, what doesn't, and the results produced by using different styles.
Contact: Al Brown Doherty Staffing Solutions 7625 Parklawn Avenue Edina, MN 55435 952-832-8350 Send an Email   To view other Workplace Watch articles click on the topics below: Baby Boomers and Beyond: The Multigenerational Workforce Conducting Successful Meetings The Complexity of Workers' Compensation The Challenges of Change Managing Problematic Employee Behaviors Understanding Unemployment		Effective Communication at Work In the working world, one thing is certain: you will need to communicate, and communicate well, to truly shine. Whether verbal or written, effective communication can help people receive and share information better, define and understand goals, and even avoid the negative effects of conflict and confusion. Good communication can also build rapport, enhance relationships, promote self-confidence and have a positive overall impact on the working environment. Once you begin practicing the basics of good communication, you'll quickly witness its positive effects on your working day. Below are a few tips to start you on the way to become a clear and effective verbal and written communicator. Tone of voice How people interpret or identify with how you communicate to them can be greatly impacted simply by the tone of your voice. There are many ways to say the words "yes" or "no". You can express doubt, anger, indifference or any range of emotions with either of these simple, short words. When engaging in a conversation, try to keep an even and normal voice tone and volume. This will avoid any mixed messages and help your listeners stay focused on your words and their meaning. In the world of technology, e-mail has become an important form of communication in the workplace. And like a verbal conversation, there are certain ways the "tone of voice" in your e-mail can affect your message. Avoid using all capital letters in an e-mail correspondence, as this may appear that you are shouting at the recipient. In addition, stay away from using excessive punctuation, such as several exclamation marks (e.g., "I was hoping I would get to speak with you today about this!!!!!!!"). The use of excessive punctuation may convey to your reader that you are extremely emotional or overly excited. When communicating through e-mail, remember to convey your message clearly and do not overstate it by using too much tone of voice. Clear and courteous What was taught to us as children still applies today. Always be polite in your communication with others. The words, "Thank You," show that you appreciate a person's efforts. Try saying, "Will you please..." instead of just, "Please..." You will sound less aggressive. Keeping your message clear is also a courteous way to convey your message. Asking "Did I explain this clearly?" will assure that people understood what you said or have the opportunity to discuss any confusion. Avoid hostility Certain forms of communication may be read as indicating hostility or resentment. The following sentences demonstrate how differently the same message can be communicated: "If you had bothered to read the report, you would know…" "It might be that the report was not clear on those points. Would you like me to explain?" The first sentence uses the absolute word "never" and as a result may cause the other person to argue or become hostile. In addition, the sentence places blame on the receiver. The second sentence lacks the confrontational characteristics that are seen in the first one and, therefore, works for the initiator by offering to help solve the problem. Paraphrase and summarize Using paraphrasing in your communication helps clarify expectations, address any misconceptions, and offers everyone a clear understanding of what is being said. To paraphrase, use opening lines such as: "It sounds like..." or "If I'm hearing you correctly..." or "So, what you're saying is..." and then repeat what you've heard and understood in your own words. This will give everyone participating a chance to measure where everyone stands and also whether or not the message has been communicated successfully. Offer your full attention Listening to what others are saying and reading through a message completely will ensure that communication remains clear. When communicating verbally, try the open questioning technique, gentle probing, and "checking in" periodically throughout the conversation to see if you've understood everything correctly. Also make sure you have read through a written communication to avoid asking the person a question they may have already answered. It is important to show respect for co-workers' ideas by giving them your full attention. Summary A good amount of conflict and confusion can result from a lack of communication in both written and verbal formats. Having effective communication skills can eliminate these conflicts and encourage an open exchange of information. People who communicate effectively are perceived as personable, helpful and efficient. Whatever your position is in the workplace, using effective communication is a great skill to develop for the benefit of your company and yourself. If you are successful in following these basic tips, you will not only be successful in communicating at work, you will increase your chances of being understood and of understanding others.
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