How to improve the communication skills of employees? A successful organization depends on effective communication. It not only makes teamwork simpler, but it also promotes productivity and growth. It should come as no surprise that it’s one of the most in-demand talents in almost every field and that HR professionals and company owners are both looking for innovative methods to enhance communication abilities at work.
Smooth communication at work depends on effective communication, which is a soft talent that every person in every field needs. We are able to complete jobs more quickly, work together on critical ideas for growth, and even monitor and understand our coworkers on a daily basis thanks to effective communication.
However, good communication at work isn’t always clear, and training staff members in communication skills could require more care than you think. We previously told the tale of two people who struggled to communicate with one another. One was quite blunt, the other seemed hesitant to divulge anything. In the end, it was so difficult to mediate these discussions that HR was obliged to fire one of the participants.
Continue reading if you’ve ever found it tough to encourage your team to produce results because some of your employees find it challenging to communicate effectively.
Why is communication in the workplace important?
It’s critical to have effective and transparent communication in the workplace to prevent misinterpretations, foster strong team dynamics, and raise morale and happiness among workers. Collaboration and productivity rise when team members communicate effectively, which leads to better work and higher output from the organization as a whole.
Effective communication at work has a lot of advantages, including:
- greater cooperation and improved teamwork
- increased output
- fewer disputes between workers
- decreased staff churn and increased commitment
- increased motivation and engagement
Communication skills are crucial for everyone, but leaders in your organization need them the most. To boost employee morale and encourage their team, line managers, team leaders, and even CEOs need to know how to communicate successfully. It will not only result in fewer misunderstandings or errors, but it will also set a positive example for other employees to follow.
The three main reasons for bad workplace communication
Business psychologist Simon Kilpatrick asserts that there are three primary reasons why some workers may find it difficult to successfully communicate at work. Which are:
- Lack of emotional intelligence or social awareness: This individual may not be aware that their communication is unsuccessful.
- Lack of confidence: Although this individual is likely aware of their communication difficulties and may have a theoretical understanding of how to do so, it prevents them from taking effective action.
- Lack of knowledge of effective communication methods: This individual is probably aware that they have communication problems but is unsure of how to fix them.
Since every employee must start somewhere, you can discover that these problems are prevalent across an organization. However, there are several strategies to recognize and enhance these communication abilities in the workplace. A communication program aids managers and HR teams in inspiring their staff members and identifying any necessary skill-development areas, including communication.
How to encourage someone to speak more clearly
One thing is to work on your own communication; another is to help a coworker communicate better. Telling them about the communication problems you’ve seen is the first step, and even doing that will put you to the test.
The first step is to provide constructive criticism because it’s possible that the employee with poor communication skills is unaware of the issue. Examine their communication abilities and make a list of the reasons why they don’t communicate well; this will enable you to keep the talk on-topic and simple for them to understand.
The following actions should be taken after advising someone to develop their communication skills:
- Use our guide to acquire thoughts on why their communication issues aren’t adequate and where it falls short of your company’s ideals as you attempt to convey the benefits of communication.
- Request their opinions and suggestions: It’s crucial to hear their perspective since it will make them feel more invested in making changes.
- Effective communication is discussed: Talk to them about the principles of good communication, such as body language, listening, clarity, and written communication. If they have a specific issue, concentrate your conversations on that subject.
- Practice, practice, practice: As they say, “practice makes perfect,” so attempt to encourage them to communicate effectively every day. They may try making a tape of themselves and viewing it again, attending more meetings, or just working on their listening skills.
Of course, you shouldn’t constantly encourage a worker to work on their communication skills because doing so might lead to a quarrel. Improved communication may be one of HR’s new aims through efficient employee assessments and performance reviews, which are the greatest places to turn for assistance and constructive criticism.
How to improve the communication skills of employees
One of the most effective methods to begin enhancing individual and corporate communication is by using an HR system. HR managers have more time to address disputes and investigate communication problems as a result of simplified HR processes, which leads to improved communication. Productivity will quickly rise if performance evaluation software is added to help define individual improvement targets.
Regardless of the reason an employee is having trouble, there are ways to aid them. We’ve listed 5 crucial methods to assist an employee to improve their communication skills or ways you, as a mentor or fellow worker, may encourage them to be more open.
1. Keep your body language in mind
Body language usually referred to as non-verbal communication is a major form of communication. Often, speaking and listening effectively is insufficient; you also need to be aware of your body language.
Face the person you are speaking to, maintain an open stance, and create frequent eye contact. This demonstrates both your listening skills and your openness to their viewpoints. Allowing yourself to physically express your emotions is also important. If you’re joyful, smile; if you’re perplexed, frown a bit. Of course, keep your voice down and avoid being confrontational; your aim is to start a dialogue with the other person via visual clues, not to frighten them.
While it is beneficial to add dynamism to your speech using hand gestures, you should avoid seeming like an orchestra director since this may be highly unattractive. However, with experience, utilizing body language may become natural, even if it may first feel forced if you’re not used to it.
2. Hone your listening skills
One of the most important aspects of communication at work is listening. To enable the discussion to advance and for all sides to be happy with the outcome of the communication, it is necessary to be able to sit, listen, and answer when it is appropriate. There are several methods you may sharpen your listening abilities, including:
Practice active listening: Practice active listening, which is paying attention to nonverbal signs, being completely present in the conversation, and posing open-ended questions. In a team-building or training session, we’d suggest including active listening.
Pose inquiries: By asking follow-up questions that expand the topic and make it clear to the speaker that you’re actively engaged, you may demonstrate that you’re paying attention by practicing how to improve the communication skills of employees.
Don’t interject or pass judgment: When you cut off a speaker, you could come out as disrespectful or as if you don’t care what they have to say. Watch out for signs that indicate when you can talk.
Exhibit your listening: You may convey your interest in the conversation to the speaker(s) by employing nonverbal communication techniques including eye contact, a modest nod, and an open stance.
Since listening is the foundation of communication, it should be one of your top priorities while trying to boost your abilities in this area.
3. Use team building sessions to get employees started
Team building exercises are a wonderful place to start if you want to provide your staff with a secure environment where they can practice their communication abilities. Not only does it help employees get to know one another better, but participating in the sessions enables all staff members, regardless of job title, to develop their communication abilities.
The [team development] activities should take place in a fun environment. When learning is enjoyable, it is more effective. Additionally, since mistakes might be overlooked in this situation, people are more willing to venture outside of their comfort zone. When done properly, team-building exercises will highlight each person’s unique talents and improve communication because there is less pressure. When they return to their jobs, they may put this into practice.
4. For written communication, clarity is essential
While some people communicate well in person, they struggle to do so over email. Because you can’t very easily utilize tone of voice or body language to back what you’re saying, communicating via email or instant chat is entirely another ballgame.
People who have trouble communicating via email might think about the following recommendation:
Be sure to address individuals properly: If you don’t know someone very well, avoid using a name that is too familiar.
Right away, succinctly state the key points of your message: If you blather on for several paragraphs before making your second point, the reader can lose interest.
Mention any attachments in the email because they are frequently forgotten or neglected. Communication through technology requires good etiquette, being courteous, and providing clear explanations of everything. Additionally, with more people than ever working remotely or in hybrid roles, it is critical that businesses offer training on this subject when it is important to prevent miscommunications among remote teams.
Call them again or meet them in person to follow up: This is particularly crucial if the email contains sensitive information since the absence of social cues makes it more probable that misunderstandings may occur.
5. Use visual aids as communication cues
Employees can enhance their communication skills by writing notes in preparation for planned talks, such as meetings; these notes can act as verbal signals that assist them to express their contributions by learning how to improve the communication skills of employees.
For those who don’t feel comfortable interjecting, We advise taking notes throughout the talk to assist them to recall which issues they want to bring up afterward. However, we caution individuals who do feel comfortable interjecting to be careful with their timing because an improperly timed interruption might come off as disrespectful, which may cause others to pay less attention to what you really say.
You should also use affirming vocalizations whenever you speak. Speaking and listening are equally vital, and by actively demonstrating your interest in what the speaker is saying, you may assist them to make their point.
Final thought
At all organizational levels, communication is crucial, and frequently, poor communication at the executive level can negatively affect a company’s ability to succeed by applying how to improve the communication skills of employees.
The reorganization turned out to be far less concerning than people had anticipated. Additionally, if top management had just stated this, perhaps they would have kept more workers on board.