Sharpen Your Workplace Communication Skills!

Business consultant David Grossman said it best: “You can’t not communicate. Everything you say or do, or don’t say or don’t do, sends a message to others.”

We tend to think that good communication skills are important for lawyers or teachers. But in fact the rewards of effective communications benefit all of us regardless of our occupation. Since we spend an average of 2,000 hours per year at work, doesn’t it make sense to cultivate positive relationships with our co-workers? A recent survey of employees who describe themselves as “happy most of the time” at work revealed that they are adept at simple yet compelling communication skills. These include:

• Smile, even when you don’t feel like it. Presenting a warm and engaging attitude creates an “emotional contagion” that invites civility and cooperation even in challenging situations.
• Be constantly aware of others’ feelings.

Disagreements are a part of life and certainly the workplace is not immune. But giving in to the temptation to “unload” on another can damage a relationship and reflect negatively on you – even if you are perfectly justified in your position. It’s far better to find a way to make your point without a verbal smack-down.

• Be quick to praise. Not only does this elevate others, it also elevates you as well. It’s a proven psychological fact (spontaneous trait transference) that saying positive things about another causes listeners to ascribe the very same positivity to you. Of course, the opposite is also true: Trash-talking another prompts your audience to see you in equally unflattering terms!