Nothing kills our enthusiasm to go to work more than having conflicts with colleagues and the lack of cooperation at the office. As in any relationship good communication is paramount.
We gathered 5 better communication tips for you:
People remember how you made them feel. What you say is not as important as how you say it and how the communication influences the other party. So pay extra attention to make people feel good when you talk to them. Just a smile on your face will do the trick. If you talk to somebody on the phone, put a smile on your face, too. They will notice the “smile in your voice”, they really do!
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Self-image to protect. We all have a certain image of ourselves in our heads (if it has anything to do with the reality is another question). What you need to know is that people will fight tooth and nail to cling to this image. Don’t attack their self-image if you don’t want them to seriously dislike you. On the other hand you don’t have to actively build a false self-image, either.
The magic of the name. People love being referred to by their name, there no doubt about this. It signals trust and friendship. Use the name of the person you talk to often – but not in every sentence as that feels phony. The best is to include their names at the beginning and at the end of the conversation.
The power of silence. Sometimes you just need to shut up. How many times do you have the feeling that your questions are not getting answers? Or you suspect that you only get part of the story? Use the power of silence! Just wait, don’t say anything but keep the eye contact with your partner. The silence will help them continue talking.
Feet talk attention. Do you want to know if your co-worker is actually paying attention to what you say? Just look at their feet. It might be that their torso is turned into your direction and you think they must be listening to you… but wait till you check out which direction their feet is facing. If the feet are facing in any other direction than you… well, their attention might be totally somewhere else. Want to know where? Just follow the direction of their feet….
Are you welcome? You can use the above feet direction test to see if you are welcome to join a conversation. If the people involved in the conversation only turn their torso but not their feet towards you, they don’t want you to join in. You’d better set up a separate meeting for a meaningful discussion.
Would you like to learn more about building better communication in the workplace? We recommend this classic: “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. There is even an updated version available for the digital age: “How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age” by Dale Carnegie & Associates. Both are available on Amazon.com.
Corporate yoga classes are also a great way to foster better cooperation in the workplace. Would you like to know how? Michelle will be happy to answer your questions! Just call 314-630-1677!
