Did you know that Gallop reports that 74 percent of employees feel disconnected and missing out on important company information and news?
Better yet, did you know most employees are ready to dig in and be amazing employees, at least for the first three months, and then they start to slack off and finally get to “who cares anyway.”
How do you keep communication fresh and lively and keep those you lead and work with delighted and engaged?
4 top secrets for effective workplace communication
You can use these at home or with friends. I have more secrets for effective workplace communication and you can find them in my webinar “Communicate to Captivate” which will help you stay at the top of your game for years to come.
Secret #1: Stay positive
Even if you want to tell someone they are not doing a great job, there are ways to talk with them, so they don’t lose a sense of self.
Example: If someone is talking way too much about trivial things in meetings and even in hallway encounters and others are getting frustrated, you can say “I think you have so many interesting and useful things to say and I’d like you to consider a goal to be to curtail your messages so they are shorter and therefore will be heard more effectively.
In this day and age, shorter is smarter and since I already know you are smart, how about giving shorter a shot.”
Secret #2: Think learning styles
One size does not fit all. There are those of you who are visual learners, those who are auditory learners and those who are kinesthetic learners.
Use all 3 ways of getting your points across. Example: For visuals paint what you say with colors. Talk about the bright rainbow of delight that the successful project will bring. Use images that spark the imagination and visual learners will love it. For auditory learners, use words like “listen to the praise that comes with a successful project.”
And for the kinesthetic who love the hands-on approach, talk about the wonderful feeling of warmth that comes from knowing you have helped clients get to the next level of success.
Secret #3: Less is more
Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. You can’t fight this trend.
Thus, being brief is a winner in the communication game. Make your messages easy to follow.
One great piece of advice I give leaders is to write down in detail what they want to say to an individual or a group, and then give what they are writing a title. Yes, like the title of a play or book. That is what you want to use as your entree and end with it also. Think about this for a minute. Think about your life story to date. What title would you give your life play (it can always be changed).
Example: The title of my play right now is “Keep Going, Keep Growing.” What would you say about your life story?
Secret #4: Have an action plan
Everyone wants and yes, needs some help with direction.
No, you don’t take them by the hand and lead, however, you do suggest where to go for more information (offer some books or articles) and give options to help them decide what to do with the information at hand.
Example: Use a story about how others have made great strides in finishing a complex project. Give hope and show folks that everyone comes to a fork in the road and with some good examples they can get over seemingly impossible barriers. Example: Talk about someone (Steve jobs comes to mind) and how he was drummed out f his own company only to return to make it a major success. Then ask whoever you are talking with what would be the first step in their own plan.
HINT: all you need is the beginning of an action plan, not a major page-turner of what to do.
Practicing and perfecting effective workplace communication is vital to how you will be received.
In “Communicate to Captivate” you get many excellent ideas on how to engage those around you to do more than they (and you) ever thought possible.
With Deep Appreciation,
Sylvia
