Clear and effective communication is important to have in any relationship, be it personal or professional. In the workplace, colleagues should be on the same page when communicating so that they can accomplish what needs to be done and avoid costly mistakes. The inability to communicate in the workplace not only makes it challenging to complete tasks but can also take a toll on your professional relationship with your colleagues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully, there are ways to be better at communicating, which can help improve your relationship with your colleagues and create a fun and effective workplace. In an episode<\/strong> <\/a>of Breaktime Breakthrough<\/a><\/strong> on PLUS Network<\/a>, <\/strong>trainer, speaker, and content creator Doreen Cooper talked about how we can effectively communicate with our colleagues. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cooper acknowledges that there are many people who are unhappy with their jobs. They stay with their jobs not because they want to, but because they need to, and there\u2019s nothing wrong with that. However, she adds that it would be better if your work gives you what you need and also makes you happy. And one way to change how we think about our work is to communicate better with our colleagues through a few simple tips: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip #1: Speak Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You have to tell your colleagues if there\u2019s something you don\u2019t understand<\/strong> or are unable to do.<\/strong> You can say this in a clear and respectful manner <\/strong>to avoid any misunderstandings. You can also ask colleagues to demonstrate how to accomplish tasks <\/strong>so that you can see how they do it which you can follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When there\u2019s something you don\u2019t understand, once colleagues give you instructions, you can repeat it to them<\/strong> so that you have a clear understanding of what is expected of you. That way, you and your colleagues are on the same page. When you\u2019re the one giving instructions, you need to practice patience,<\/strong> because a little kindness goes a long way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip #2: Get To The Point<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, we love to talk or there\u2019s a lot we want to say to our colleagues. We end up losing focus <\/strong>and losing track of what we want to say or need to do. When there\u2019s something we need to communicate to our colleagues, whether it\u2019s an email, call, or face-to-face interaction<\/strong>, we need to say it clearly.<\/strong> Prioritize what we need to do first. After briefly catching up with them, talk about your tasks and what needs to be done so that you don\u2019t lose focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip #3: Audience First <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When we need to communicate something, we need to think of our audience<\/strong> first. Cause sometimes, we talk to other people in the same way we want to be addressed. We need to consider that not everyone has the same preferences when it comes to communication. For instance, even if we understand an explanation, a colleague may actually prefer a simpler or different explanation. <\/strong>As the saying goes, \u201cput yourself in the other person\u2019s shoes.\u201d<\/strong> It is important to communicate based on what your audience needs, not based on what you prefer<\/p>\n\n\n\n These simple tips will help you effectively communicate with your colleagues, which can improve your relationship with them and make your workplace fun and exciting. For more stories about professionals, visit PLUS Network on Facebook<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> and YouTube.<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n