{"id":13130,"date":"2023-08-27T17:11:43","date_gmt":"2023-08-27T17:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/?p=13130"},"modified":"2023-08-27T17:11:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-27T17:11:43","slug":"better-communication-co-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/blog\/better-communication-co-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Keys to Better Communication With Coworkers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Communication is hugely important. While few would dispute this, we tend to emphasize communicating in our personal lives. Businesses, on the other hand, often focus on how to communicate better with customers.<\/p>\n

Sadly, we rarely consider the consequences of how we communicate at work. <\/b>Yet neglecting these horizontal and vertical lines of communication in the workplace can have a dramatic effect. Poor communication can impact everything from collaboration between coworkers to decision making, the implementation of management philosophies and strategies, the efficiency at which things get done, and overall business success.<\/p>\n

Why Good Internal Communication in the Workplace is Important?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Good internal communication<\/a> is getting harder to achieve, especially as more and more teams work virtually<\/a>. But that\u2019s precisely why it\u2019s more vital than ever.<\/p>\n

Productivity<\/h3>\n

\"Productivity\"<\/p>\n

Up to 28 hours a week is spent writing emails, searching for information, and collaborating internally. Effective communication<\/a> channels not only keep your knowledge workers from wasting nearly the entire workweek spinning in circles, but also help you avoid crushing employee engagement and morale.<\/p>\n

Flexibility<\/h3>\n

Remote work is here. While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this transition, employees increasingly demand more flexible working conditions. Business-specific technology such as instant messaging apps<\/a>, video conferencing tools, and virtual collaboration software ensure agility in the workplace without sacrificing productivity.<\/p>\n

Team Culture<\/h3>\n

Internal communication is often the main casualty of remote work. In fact, remote workers cite loneliness and disconnect as the biggest drawbacks of working from home<\/a>. Having an effective internal communication strategy<\/a> in place helps you avoid a disengaged workforce and paves the way for a true team culture<\/a> that drives performance.<\/p>\n

\"Remote<\/p>\n

\"Remote<\/p>\n

\"Remote<\/p>\n

7 Tips for Better Communication With Coworkers<\/b><\/h2>\n

Healthy communication can only take root by being proactive. Luckily, that\u2019s why you\u2019re here! With these simple steps, you can begin to promote a culture of real connection and collaboration. Better yet, they\u2019re achievable in practically any work environment.<\/p>\n

So here’s a list of 7 tips for effective communication at work:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Put in place clear communication channels<\/li>\n
  2. Respect others\u2019 communication preferences<\/li>\n
  3. Examine how you communicate<\/li>\n
  4. Keep written communication simple and direct<\/li>\n
  5. Build meaningful professional relationships<\/li>\n
  6. Listen attentively<\/li>\n
  7. Criticize constructively<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Now, let’s expand on these:<\/p>\n

    1. Put in Place Clear Communication Channels<\/h3>\n

    \"The<\/p>\n

    Communication at work can suffer for the simple fact that employees don\u2019t know how they should communicate. If the power structure is ambiguous, it may not be clear who reports to whom. Other times, employees may not know where to find information. And if you don\u2019t have robust channels to handle diverse flows of information, communication can grind to a halt.<\/p>\n

    A good communication strategy should account for all of this. Each team, regardless of its size, functionality, or level of formality, must have a clearly defined pecking order with each employee knowing where they fit. This helps to more swiftly resolve issues and makes it easier to communicate and collaborate.<\/p>\n

    Implement a searchable company wiki with a designated knowledge manager. This reduces the number of unnecessary questions and wild goose chases for information that disrupts workflows.<\/p>\n

    \"Why<\/p>\n

    Finally, consider a team communication<\/a> tool, such as Brosix<\/a>. An all-in-one instant messaging software for businesses, Brosix<\/a> offers rich communication and collaboration<\/a> features including one-to-one and group chat, voice and video calling, a suite of collaboration tools, and robust administrative control features<\/a>. It\u2019s designed to foster better communication between coworkers.<\/p>\n

    [highlight_block title=”Improve team communication starting today.” link1=”https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/signup\/” link2=”” link3=”” ]<\/p>\n

    2. Respect Others\u2019 Communication Preferences<\/h3>\n

    There are bound to be a variety of preferred communication methods around the office. After all, not only are different generations working together under the same corporate roof, but multiple means of communicating, too.<\/p>\n

    If there\u2019s a coworker who never responds to emails, stop emailing them. If the IT team prefers to be reached via chat, send an IM instead of wondering why they\u2019re not picking up.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019ve got a company intranet<\/a> or HR portal with employee profiles, have team members state their preferred communication methods and tools. Get to know your coworkers\u2019 individual preferences and find them there.<\/p>\n

    3. Examine How You Communicate<\/h3>\n

    Sometimes ineffective communication isn\u2019t down to the other party at all. It\u2019s you. Speak in corporate lingo or open up too much personally and coworkers may tune out or shy away from you altogether. Pack your instant messages and emails with emojis and colleagues may not take you seriously. Is your language appropriate for meetings or conversations with superiors?<\/p>\n

    Moreover, pay attention to nonverbal cues like a lack of eye contact or poor body language, which can cause others to disregard you or take advantage of you.<\/p>\n

    How you communicate is a reflection of your professionalism. If you\u2019re struggling to get your message across, examine your own communication style and preferences. Having a better grasp of how you communicate can help you rectify any weak points, as well as assert yourself and your message more effectively.<\/p>\n

    4. Keep Written Communication Simple and Direct<\/h3>\n

    Keep written communication short and sweet. There isn\u2019t enough time in the day to dig through paragraphs-long emails<\/a>. Overly complex explanations and recommendations from the get-go can confuse. Instead, assume the recipient will either understand everything directly or respond with their own questions; then you can clarify or elaborate as necessary. Also, avoid acronyms and overly technical jargon as they slow down the process. If you have to go deep into detail, use subheadings, bullet points, and bold fonts to highlight key takeaways.<\/p>\n

    5. \u00a0Build Meaningful Professional Relationships<\/b><\/h3>\n

    \"Build<\/p>\n

    Finding ways to interact on a more personal level opens the door for meaningful communication. So devote some time to getting to know your coworkers. After all, you\u2019re already spending most of the week with these people!<\/p>\n

    Simple team-building activities<\/a> can help, and they don\u2019t have to be rigorously planned. Sharing photos, dedicating a channel for casual conversation, having a virtual coffee, or playing virtual quiz games can be carried out on channels which you probably already make use of, such as instant messaging, group chats, and video calling.<\/p>\n

    This allows coworkers to share personal experiences and build professional relationships fueled by trust and mutual respect. It even makes it possible for employees to build sincere camaraderie with team leaders<\/a> and supervisors, smoothing the workflow of your business.<\/p>\n

    6. Listen Attentively<\/h3>\n

    \"Listen
    \nOf all the telltale signs that communication could be better, listening flies under the radar. That\u2019s because most of us are actually bad listeners, yet we don\u2019t even know it. Multi-tasking while someone\u2019s talking to you, already planning your response, or interrupting, are all indications that your listening skills could use some work.<\/p>\n

    When someone\u2019s talking to you, give your full attention. Take notes, jotting down quick one or two-word reminders. Wait for them to finish, and then ask questions to validate their points. Practicing empathetic listening<\/a> can have the knock-on effect of encouraging your coworkers to improve their own listening, as well.<\/p>\n

    7. Criticize Constructively<\/h3>\n

    No one enjoys having their faults pointed out. So when you have to have a tough conversation, keep it constructive. Embarrassing someone or demeaning them won\u2019t produce a better outcome. Give concrete advice or tips on how to improve. Consider regular feedback that includes positive reinforcement. When staff are consistently kept in the loop on performance-related issues, feedback and criticism are less intimidating.<\/p>\n

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    Benefits of Effective Communication at Work<\/h2>\n

    By simply communicating better, businesses can realize many specific benefits. These are some of the most tangible advantages according to leading professionals\u2019 thoughts on communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n