Excellent communication is critical in the workplace
Communication barriers in business decrease ROI. Why? Excellent communication with coworkers is critical to job success. The ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues is required in most business environments. Unless we only interact with a computer in a cubby, we find ourselves in situations where we must be a team player to get the job done well. Even then, from our cubby we text or email coworkers or customers.
Communication barriers in business are often invisible
Often our barriers to effective communication are invisible to us. Our fears, agendas, and even enthusiasm get in the way of doing the kind of listening we need to do to foster good communication. Rather than listen, we talk.
The seven step solution to address our barriers to effective communication
The solution is in our mindset and approach. Seven steps to effective communication are:
- Try to keep an open mind.
- Express how you feel, and
- listen to hear other points of view.
- Pay attention to your internal alarms.
- If something doesn’t feel right, respect your body’s signals
- Gracefully pull back or pull out until you can sort out your triggers.
- Return to the conversation when your thinking is clear.
Why bother improving my communication skills?
You might think, “I’m a software engineer. I code. Marketing needs to communicate better, not me.” Unless you work in a bubble, effective communication is necessary in order to get the job done well and in a timely way. Communication poorly and the project is delayed. If the project schedule isn’t met on time, it could cost the company the client. Lose the client- lose revenue. Quality on-time deliverables add value to the organization. Nothing will clog the process faster than miscommunication and resulting drama in the workplace. Increased communication equals increased efficacy which equals increased ROI.