10 Steps to Improve Your Workplace Communication Skills

10 Steps to Improve Your Workplace Communication SkillsCommunication is key. Whether written or spoken, reading, or listening, these skills are crucial in any workplace and can make you a better, mora effective, and more efficient employee. Here are 10ways to improve your communication skills. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Dont beat around the bushBe clear. First and foremost, make sure your point is conveyed and that your message is easily understood. Use specific language, avoid spewing out too many acronyms. When in doubt, imagine youre speaking to someone who doesnt know your company.2. Listen activelyThe better you listen, the better you are at communication. Before you respond, make sure youve heard and digested what someone is saying. Dont just wait for their mouth to stop moving to make your point.3. Repeat backThis is the second stage of active listening. Let the speaker know first, that youve understood them, and second, t hat you care about what theyve said. Do this by repeating what theyve said and including their words in your response. Paraphrase back to them to prove that youve heard them loud and clear.4. Use your bodyWhen in doubt, or if you have something particularly complicated to discuss, try doing it in person. Face to face, you have the extra benefit of body language and non-verbal cues like gestures and facial expressions, all of which make it easier to avoid confusion.5. Show r-e-s-p-e-c-tDont multi-task while communicating. Dont be on your phone, or doodling, in the meeting. Make sure what youve said is professional and respectful. Make eye contact and use peoples names. Basically, be a human.6. Match the message to the mediumIf youre better via email, dont try to have that important progress update in your bosss office before youve had your coffee. If its a sticky situation that requires a nuanced approach, dont just send a flat-toned email when you could finesse the situation with a well-managed in-person conversation. Figure out what it is you have to get across, then choose the medium that suits that message best.7. Know your audienceDont talk to your client as you would your boss. Or your HR rep as you would your best work pal. Match your tone and timing to the person youre communicating with.8. Text smartMore and more workplace information gets communicated via text and email. This is another instance where its best to know your audience and choose the most appropriate medium. Bottom line never text anything too complicated. That will help you avoid misunderstandings and misinformation. But dont send a big long email to arrange a short meeting either.9. Make meetings matter moreSo many meetings leave us feeling we could have better spent that time. Demand better platzset an agenda, keep to the scheduled time, dont invite unnecessary people. Make sure every meeting is productive enough to justify every attendee taking the time and resources from their worklo ad.10. Keep it positiveNo matter how stressed you are, or how fraught the conversation, try to stay positive. Put your team first. And never make it personalkeep your focus on the professional. Earn a reputation and respect.