We all know basic communication skills but there are more direct and specific things you can do to improve how you communicate with those around you, especially those you work with. Being at work can increase your stress which may decrease your clarity around effective communication. These strategies can help you get started in a better direction. Formal communication skills training from professionals can take these skills to a new level, improving workplace morale, productivity, and employee retention.
Communication Skills Training
Conflict within the workplace is preventable, and good communication skills are a big part of that. Communication skills training can provide formal guidance and insight for your employees so that they can better understand how they contribute to the interpersonal issues that can evolve into workplace conflict. Here are some communication skills that can improve the dynamics at work.
Listen Assertively
Communication isn’t just about what we say, it’s about how we hold what other people say. Listening is critical to understanding and communicating respect to others. Don’t listen to respond, listen to understand and provide your undivided attention to the person sharing with you. Communication skills training can help you navigate your strengths and weaknesses in this area and make the necessary improvements.
Understand the Importance of Body Language
Not everything we communicate is verbal. Sometimes we can pick up on subtle cues like noticing open or closed body language, eye contact, and focus. This also means you’re communicating non-verbally, so make sure you’re not crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or demonstrating visible distraction while someone else is speaking to you. Communication skills that acknowledge the importance of body language can make a big impact on your group.
Think First, Speak Later
Sometimes the reason conflict arises is because we speak faster than we can process or understand what we’re actually communicating. By slowing down your penchant for speaking out, you can gather more information, work out the details, and make more informed commentary. This can also help to slow down emotional reactivity which may lead you to say something you regret; something that may escalate existing tensions. Communication skills training online can help educate your team on when and how to most effectively communicate.
Reread Your Emails Before Sending Them
If you’ve ever written an email from a place of frustration, you may intimately know the value of making sure you’ve corrected some language before firing it off. If your message could be perceived as aggressive or passive rather than effectively assertive, you could silently spark some tension that will serve as conflict kindling later. Make sure your emails are objective and professional, even if you have to write a few drafts in order to pull that off. Communication training can help your team avoid these small and common mistakes that lead to larger issues.
Communication skills training online can help your remote team address communication issues that may be creating conflict and preventing collaboration. Contact Pollack Peacebuilding Systems today to get the right solutions for your team.
