Thanks to technology, it’s becoming easier to communicate irrespective of geographic distances. It has allowed us to connect with our fellow sapiens with just a click on our smartphones. With technology, sharing information and discussing ideas has become easier over time zones. Good communication brings people together, helps us convey our needs, and sometimes even prevents a war. that’s not all when we want to communicate with our peers, especially in a new workplace. We need to make sure we communicate our messages, ideas, and boundaries effectively. Effective communication is essential for both the success of the individual as well as the teams’, but there are a few things one needs to be mindful of.

How do we nail that first impression?

Let’s take Dale Carnegie’s help! Here are some fundamental actions that can make people like you instantly, based upon How to Win Friends and Influence People

1. Show genuine interest in people around you
2. Smile as often as you can
3. The most favored sound by every person is their name
4. Listen carefully and encourage everyone around you to open up
5. Keep other person’s interests and likes in your mind when you talk to them
6. Show genuine importance to other people around you

This might come as a surprise, but the best way to win an argument is by avoiding it. You can master all these only if you develop the most important skill – Listening!
Communication is a two-way street, at the workplace, this means exchanging information and ideas, both verbally and non-verbally, and sometimes with groups or even the whole organization! Before we dig deeper on the other traits that can make communication smoother in new office premises, let’s look into the basics.

Why is Workplace Communication important?

Communication is vital since people need immense liberty to exchange their ideas, information, and thoughts with their peers. Through effective communication, you can take your relationships forward with a sense of positivity. Knowing how to resolve conflicts, building unshakeable trust among your team members and maintaining long-term relationships can come handy in achieving common goals.
Your words have the power to make or break any relationship.

Redefining workplace communication

Workplace communication refers to any form of communication happening inside work regarding work. It can range anywhere between talks about day-to-day tasks, updating project status or providing performance feedback to employees or managers. You also need to know how to communicate tough decisions and under challenging situations.

Follow these 6 tips  to become a proactive communicator at your new organization:

1. Analyse where, when and what to communicate

It doesn’t matter via which channel you communicate, be it over email, face-to-face or through instant messages, if you aren’t communicating it at the right time, in the right way it may not be effective. Organizations chalk out guidelines that you need to adhere to. NEVER communicate what you wish to share in the wrong channel.
For instance, your company might be using Slack, through which you can create a lot of channels for specific tasks. It would be inappropriate to ask for updates on tasks on a channel meant to convey birthday wishes to your colleagues. Know your audience, your channel and only then convey the message.

2. Collaboration is key
Communication is indeed the horsepower that helps your team keep going. Practicing open-ended communication would provide you with an opportunity to share your opinion curtly. In case of difference of opinions, you need to stand by your thoughts and express it politely. For example, not everyone will agree to revamp the existing system when you want to invest in a new tool or application. In such cases, your primary goal should be to communicate how the tool can help them get the work done fast and how it would add overall value to them, instead of arguing. By improving team communication, you can surely improve your team performance.
Remember this quote when you collaborate:
“A lot of problems in the world would be solved if we talked to each other instead of about each other.” — Nicky Gumbel.

3. Nothing can match face-to-face talks
Do you know that A Face-to-Face Request Is 34 times more effective when compared to an email?
Sometimes, a single phone call can solve issues quickly in comparison to a long email thread. It’s an unwritten rule that hard conversations should happen offline since it takes away a lot of assumptions and misunderstandings. Nobody wants to land up at the office door, only to know that they have been laid off. HR has to communicate the reason and other information about the severance package clearly in person. As a team manager, it’s always a healthy practice to catch up with your teammates at a local cafe if your team is virtual. This can help you build a strong bond with each other.

4. Stick to facts, not stories
It’s always unadvisable to indulge in unproductive watercooler chat, even though it can improve harmony between your team members. Always rely upon facts rather than stories spun by people around you. For instance, your manager might feel that your productivity isn’t up to the standards. It might be a story based upon his opinion. If you have the right set of data and records to prove that you have put the right efforts, right from login time to folders in Google drive, then you needn’t fear much when it’s time for 1:1 with your manager. You can always showcase and demonstrate your contribution towards the organization.

5. Speak to the right person
There would be less to no avail if you complain about delay in salary credit to your office admin. Your HR would be the right person to discuss this issue. Always know who your project stakeholders are to keep track of what and whom you need to speak when there is a need.

6. Don’t take things personally
Not everyone may appreciate your work openly. If you feel demotivated, acknowledge the fact and stay calm. Be conscious about what you need to convey without feeling overwhelmed. Remember that it is important is to love your job, not the organization. Whatever happens, take a chill pill. A calm mind can even face a storm, isn’t it? This applies to your work culture as well.

Conclusion

It’s always better to be vocal about what you feel. Ask a lot of questions to know more about what to expect at your workplace in the upcoming days. This can go a long way in ensuring that you are admired for the way you communicate with maturity and integrity.

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