Do you feel as though your business communication is lacking a little bit? If so, then now is the time for you to try and do something about that. This guide will show you what steps you can take to communicate more efficiently.
Use Active Listening
The first thing you need to do is make sure that you are using active listening. You need to learn how to put your thoughts into words, and you also need to try and share them more effectively. You also need to learn how to tune in to what other people are saying, while taking note of the message they are trying to convey. A lot of the time, people focus so much on what they want to say that they don’t absorb what the other person is trying to communicate. If you want to help yourself, then you need to take the time to eliminate distractions. You also need to focus on putting your phone down and maintaining eye contact. Don’t formulate a response while the other person is talking, either, as this is a good way for you to get the result you want. When it comes to email communication, you need to read the message slowly, rather than skimming over it and coming up with a response on the spot. If you can do this, then you will notice a huge difference in the way that you communicate with your team.
Use Effective Methods
Another thing you can do is try and use effective methods to get your point across. You need to try and make sure that you are using the right software and programs to suit your team. If you know that your team likes to communicate more over the phone, then this is great, but at the same time, you should also try and include other people. If some team members prefer to use chat, then include this if you can. This is a great way for you to make sure that you are not overlooking people and that you are also making sure that you are giving people what they need. Maintaining your communication software is also so important. If you use Telegram, for example, it helps to know how to get support, so you can deal with any issues as soon as they arise.
Clarify Everything
Another part of active listening would be for you to try and clarify the information that you hear. It may be that you interpret the message differently from what a person might have intended. If you can clarify it, then this will help you to understand the message more clearly, and it will also help you to communicate better. If you’re not sure, then it’s always worth asking, then it is trying to work around the issue and guess. Not only will this make your company more efficient, it will also make your team feel as though they are being listened to, and this can have a huge impact across your organisation.