Download Effective Communication for Employees

Effective Communication
for All Employees
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Session Objectives
You will be able to:
• Understand the benefits of effective workplace
communication
• Recognize obstacles to effective communication
• Enhance your communication skills
• Communicate more effectively on the job
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Session Outline
• Benefits of effective communication
• Why communication breaks down
• Basic techniques for effective communication
• Positive ways to communicate criticism and bad
news
• How to participate more effectively in meetings
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Benefits of Effective
Communication
• Better access to
information
• Enhanced teamwork
• Assured accountability
• More consistency
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Benefits of Effective
Communication (cont.)
• Better quality
• Improved productivity
• Greater safety
• Increased customer satisfaction
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
What Is Effective
Communication?
• Interactive
• Informative
• Positive
• Productive
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Why Communication
Breaks Down
• Too many links in the
chain
• Too many messages
• Lack of clarity
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Why Communication
Breaks Down (cont.)
• Undefined
expectations
• Inadequate listening
• Failure to target
audience
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Facts About
Communication
• Do you understand
what we’ve discussed?
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Get Your Message Across
• Think about what you
want to say
• Organize your
thoughts into a logical
sequence
• Consider your
expectations
• Keep it simple
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Get Your Message Across
(cont.)
• Be precise
• Be concise
• Demonstrate when
appropriate
• Repeat your message
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Consider Your Delivery
And Timing
• Communicate directly
to people whenever
possible
• Watch your tone of
voice
• Use written
communications
effectively
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Consider Your Delivery
And Timing (cont.)
• Time communications so they are delivered:
• When you have the person’s attention
• When the person is most receptive
• When you are prepared to answer questions
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Target Your Audience
• Whom are you addressing?
• What’s important to them?
• What are their concerns and responsibilities?
• What’s their stake in this communication?
• Are there any special issues?
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Establish Credibility
• Speak from experience
• Back up your statements with compelling evidence
• Speak with people, not to them
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Listen Actively
• Focus on the speaker
• Keep an open mind
• Tolerate silence
• Ask questions
• Repeat the speaker’s
thoughts
• Listen for facts and key
words
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Understand the Power of
Nonverbal Communication
• Body language gives
important clues about
the unspoken meaning
of a message
• Be aware of your own
body language
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Power of Nonverbal
Communication (cont.)
• Beware of certain
signals
• Interpret other people’s
body language
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Basic Techniques of
Effective Communication
• Do you understand
what we’ve discussed?
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
The Art of Criticism
• Do it in private
• Begin with a positive statement
• Criticize the work, not the worker
• Explain what needs to change, and how
• Be clear about your expectations
• End on a positive note
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Communicating Bad News
• Be straightforward
• Act promptly
• Take a personal
approach
• Give a reason
• Put the news in
perspective
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Overcoming Resistance
• Anticipate resistance
• Respect different views
• Incorporate opposing
arguments
• Point out problems
• Restate your position
• Agree to differ
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Participating Effectively
In Meetings
• Be on time
• Come prepared
• Listen carefully to others
• Take notes
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Participating Effectively
In Meetings (cont.)
• Speak briefly and to the point
• Stick to the agenda
• Criticize constructively
• Make a note of follow-up responsibilities
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501
Key Points to Remember
• Effective communication is the foundation of
positive working relationships
• Successful communication requires you to think
about your message, delivery, timing, and audience
• Good communication is interactive—you speak and
you listen
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1501