Communication is absolutely vital, not just in the workplace but in life. Every interaction with someone involves some form of communication, even if nothing is verbally spoken. You need to be able to communicate to adequately express your ideas and plans on how to execute them.
Keys to Communication
First and foremost, the key to effective communication is to be clear and concise. The goal of communication is to make sure that your ideas are correctly understood. The best way to achieve that is to express them with as little room for confusion as possible. It is easier to engage with your audience when you do not waste their time and give them little opportunity to get distracted.
Nonverbal Communication
As mentioned earlier, communication is not just verbal. It helps if you consider your nonverbal communication as well. Your audience will judge you based on how you present yourself, including:
- your attire
- posture
- hand placement/movements
- eye contact
- and more
Studies have shown that when someone's verbal and nonverbal communication is contradictory to each other, people are more likely to believe the nonverbal.
Verbal Communication
Back to the verbal side of things, another critical aspect of connecting with your audience is your tone. After all, what you say can be interpreted vastly different depending on how you say it. For example, sarcasm is the practice of saying one thing but meaning the opposite, and the way people can pick up on sarcasm is through the tone it is delivered with. As a side note, you should avoid using sarcasm in a professional setting, as you cannot guarantee that everyone will identify that it is sarcasm. Your tone should generally indicate a positive or neutral mood, whichever is more appropriate. However, the tone is not just about mood, as there are other important aspects to how you deliver your ideas. Foremost of the essential aspects of tone is the audibility. You need to make sure you can be properly heard by everyone you are addressing, ideally by projecting your voice to allow you to maintain a reasonable volume.
Two-way Street
Of course, communication is a two-way street, and just as important as being able to express yourself is being able to listen when someone else does the same. When someone is talking to you, you should give them your full attention and avoid distractions. No organization can function without communication between its members. It is important that you do your part to facilitate healthy and positive communication. Strong communication skills will enable you to build healthy relationships and rise to greater heights within the workplace.
We hope this advice helps guide you in situations that require a bit of formality. Like, say, an interview!
And if you need some assistance in getting one, apply with us today!
We even have a 'night-before an interview checklist' to help out.