Top tips for effective communication in the workplace -

According to a report by Grammarly, miscommunication costs businesses  US$12,506 per employee per year.  When communication in the workplace is effective, by contrast, employees tend to feel motivated and engaged. This reduces workplace conflict and drives up productivity.

But it can take some time and effort to achieve effective communication in the workplace. Nevertheless, it's worth it.

Check out this gallery for some tips on how to do it.

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Communicate in the right way -

The first piece of advice is to make sure you are communicating in the right way. Ask yourself what the goal is, who needs to hear the message, and how you should convey it.

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Communicate in the right way -

Do your best to make sure the communication purpose leads you to the right recipients, and try to use the communication channel most suited to that set of recipients.

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Communicate in the right way -

For example, some employees prefer email, whereas others prefer a physical interaction that allows them to read your body language as well as your words.

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Prioritize two-way communication -

For communication in the workplace to be effective, it must involve speaking, active listening, and feedback. Both parties must understand each other.

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Prioritize two-way communication -

When practicing active listening, make sure you listen in order to fully understand your colleague, rather than listening to be able to reply.

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Prioritize two-way communication -

It is a good idea to ask your colleagues for feedback on your communication style. Equally, you may like to offer feedback in a discreet and thoughtful way.

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Build your communication skills -

Now it’s time to build your communication skills. Firstly, it’s important to be clear. Try to use easy-to-understand language and avoid incomplete sentences.

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Build your communication skills -

It is vital, too, that you remain courteous. Even during more difficult conversations, aim to remain polite and avoid offensive words or body language.

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Build your communication skills -

Your colleagues and/or employees should always feel comfortable to come to you with their ideas. In order to ensure this, try to be as open-minded as possible and ready to listen.

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Embrace uniqueness -

One of the best ways to improve communication within your organization is to embrace each employee’s and each team's uniqueness.

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Embrace uniqueness -

Each person you work with has their own preferred channel and style of communication, and it’s important that you tailor your approach accordingly.

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Embrace uniqueness -

For example, you might have a sales team that thrives on constant data analytics, whereas your data analytics team won’t necessarily care for detailed stories about how to land clients.

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Have one-on-one interactions -

In order to have effective communication in the workplace, you need to have one-on-one interactions. Individual relationships with team members should be intentional and carefully nurtured.

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Have one-on-one interactions -

Try and schedule a one-on-one with your team members at least once a month. This will make employees feel valued and give them a chance to connect with you personally.

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Have one-on-one interactions -

An added benefit is that the more timid or shy team members are usually more willing to come forward in a one-on-one session than in a group environment.

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Schedule weekly team meetings -

Just as it is important to meet with individuals one-on-one, it's also important to meet with your whole team on a regular basis.

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Schedule weekly team meetings -

Aim to schedule a meeting at least once a week, during which employees can express their views and opinions. These are also a good chance to reflect on the week’s achievements and challenges.

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Schedule weekly team meetings -

You may want to go a step further by documenting the important conversations and sharing these with team members so as to help them remember action points.

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Make time for team building -

It is also important to make time for team building, i.e. activities that employees can enjoy outside of the formal work environment.

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Make time for team building -

There are a huge number of team building activities out there, so get creative. You may like to conduct a poll to find out what your team members would like to do most.

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Make time for team building -

If the right activity is chosen, you will likely find that your team members loosen up and improve their communication and collaboration with one another.

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Show appreciation - In any organization, it is very important that employees feel happy and engaged. One way that managers can ensure this is to show their appreciation.

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Show appreciation -

If you are a manager, you should consider that by appreciating your employees and showing you care, you can move closer to achieving your goals as an organization.

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Show appreciation -

Make an effort to thank your employees when they genuinely impress you; perhaps they performed a task very efficiently or came up with a brilliant idea.

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Get a team communication app -

If you haven’t done this already, another good idea is to introduce a team communication app. These allow teams to communicate efficiently, even if they are remote.

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Get a team communication app -

A communication app can be used to carry out tasks, share relevant information, and discuss upcoming tasks.

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Get a team communication app -

Some apps also have functionality for project management, video conferencing, and voice-over-internet protocol services.

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Organize communication training sessions -

Last but not least, it is a good idea to hold regular communication training sessions with both team leaders and employees.

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Organize communication training sessions -

Whether held physically or online, regular communication training sessions can help everyone learn the basic communication skills that foster great workplace communication.

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Organize communication training sessions -

You may like to use a webinar tool so that your training sessions are always accessible for both old and new employees.

See also: Top tips for writing a successful business plan

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