Continuously improving your communication skills helps in virtually every area of your life and career. At work, becoming a better communicator makes it easier for you to not only achieve success, but also to have your victories noted by people who count.
Communication in the workplace isn’t just about how well you talk to and collaborate with others. It also leads to building stronger relationships, minimizing waste and errors, and working as productively as possible.
In one recent survey of 400 corporations, it was found that communication barriers cost an estimated $37 billion per year in lost productivity.
Tips for More Effective Communication
Effective communication happens when a message is sent and received accurately and in a timely fashion. It sounds simple – and in fact, it doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. But there are some tips you can follow to make sure it happens consistently. And, like playing a sport or mastering a musical instrument, practice makes perfect.
Practice active listening.
Believe it or not, by closing your mouth and focusing on what the other person in a conversation has to say, you often can get a lot more accomplished. This includes listening to what someone is not Pay attention to things like body language and tone of voice. Don’t interrupt or jump in to give advice or state your opinion, until asked. Hint: Here’s where that practice comes in!
Even if it scares you a little – or a lot – hone your public speaking skills.
No matter how introverted you are, in order to advance in your career you will most likely need to be able to speak confidently in front of your team and/or other groups. If the mere thought of public speaking makes you lose sleep or break out in hives, rest assured. You can always minimize the need to do so, and this too, gets easier the more you do it.
Know how to give feedback.
There’s positive feedback and there’s negative feedback. As much as possible, try to focus on the positive. Disclaimer: Sometimes negative feedback is necessary too. And in those instances, make sure it becomes a teaching moment.
Work on your written communication skills, too.
To be effective when conveying information in writing, you need to be clear and concise, and at the same time complete and accurate. Learn to compose text in ways that your audience can easily understand. This applies whether it’s an email, a sales proposal, or an instruction manual for a product, service or in-house tech tool.
Looking For A Job In Fresno? PrideStaff is Your Best Resource!
When it comes to improving your communication skills and building your career in areas including administration, customer service, IT, accounting and finance, legal support, healthcare and production, consider partnering with PrideStaff Fresno. We’ve got the resources, the expertise, and the opportunities you’ve been looking for in the Central Valley and beyond. Read our related posts or reach out to us today to learn more.