Career Success: Master the Art of Workplace Communication

Effective communication is critical in virtually all areas of life, but can be especially valuable in the workplace. We often find ourselves working with (and for) people of diverse backgrounds, educational abilities and personality types, so it is important that we find ways to communicate well with everyone in order to maintain an efficient and pleasant work environment.

Unfortunately, good workplace communication skills do not come naturally to a lot of people. The good news: there are some basic tactics that can help you improve your office communication style quickly.

This article shares several tips to help you communicate better at work. The first key is to really pay attention to other people. This means both listening well, and being attuned to clues from their body language.

You also need to consider how the other person best likes to communicate. Some people prefer that you stop by their office or cubicle for a face-to-face chat, while others would rather you just send them a note via email.

Another thing to remember: it’s often not a matter of what you say, but how you say it. Be aware of your manner of speaking—if you tend to be brisk and cold, this may strike some people as a sign that you are unapproachable or difficult to discuss things with. On the other hand, you don’t want to be so casual and informal that it seems like you think you are at a club instead of at work.

What are your tricks for good communication at work? Share tips in the comments.

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