Workplace Communication Tips

You may have heard about workplace communication. You may have also heard about work place politics and chains of command. Unfortunately, the lines can get blurry and you will have to figure out how to communicate, who to communicate with and when. 

1. If the company has a handbook or an organizational chart, check it out to learn more about how that workplace is structured. Is it always followed ? No. Do people communicate effectively always, no. So you will have to be patient. 

2. Try to have a good rapport with your direct report. This person should be a good person to work with for you and can help you navigate your work environment. You should also try to develop a good rapport with others who know the organization, however be wise due to politics, you want to be sure you connect with people who are genuine about your growth within the workplace. 

3. Listen and observe before acting. Some people communicate without thinking about how the other person will perceive their message. The best thing to do is to clarify what you don’t understand, try to get the task completed, confirmed and be done with it. When the person is difficult, you may want to get assistance from someone in a higher position. Try to problem solve from a neutral place and don’t take what people do personally. 

4. Protect yourself by always keeping track of what you need to do and what is expected of you. Be a pleasant person to work with and surround yourself with others who are pleasant. It will make your work experience better. 

5. When in doubt, give yourself time to respond and don’t feel pressure to write long explanations. Be brief whenever possible. Make 24-48 hours a reasonable response time unless it’s an urgent matter. Put an out of office message up when you’re unavailable. 

6. Keep your manager in the loop when possible so they are not left in the dark. You may even ask their preferred communication and CC them when needed  

7. Find someone outside of work to support you. Sometimes people in your work space are not the right people to talk with when you need to vent. Get a mentor, connect with trusted people in your profession who can guide you. 

8. Read. Try to learn better ways to communicate by reading articles and engaging in professional development around the matter. 

9. Transfer your skills wherever you go. Remember you are an asset. Everything you learn goes with you. 

10. When you need help, be careful. Don’t panic. Stop and think about the right person to ask and the best way to ask. Should you call? Schedule a meeting? Email? Text? Again, this goes back to learning your environment and the people around you. In addition, what are you comfortable with ? I know you may want to make good impressions but you also need to be respected by setting boundaries around when you communicate and how.