Many work-relationship issues stem from poor communication skills and without a doubt, I believe learning to effectively communicate will make work better for everyone. Seriously, think about it for a moment, do you have positive or negative relationships with your co-workers, bosses, clients, account managers, etc.?

Let’s examine through memes and GIFs, the basics of effective communication and determine how to apply those skills in today’s technologically advanced workplace.

1.What is effective communication?

Communicating effectively is more than just sending and receiving information and messages. It is about the sentiment behind the information being sent and the understanding of it by the receiver. A lack of effective communication skills at work can make it difficult, to near impossible, for work to get completed properly.

2.What is effective listening?

Effective listening is an important communication skill to have in the workplace. Ensuring that you are properly decoding a message in the way it was intended will save everyone time. It is pertinent to make sure that you have a complete understanding before moving on; otherwise, you are going to run into extra work. Don’t be afraid to double check with someone, ask questions, or set up a call or in-person meeting to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

3.The importance of nonverbal communication.

We all know that nonverbal communication is a way of sending messages or cues to others without the use of words. This can include facial expressions, gestures, body language or posture, tone of voice, and so on.

 Nonverbal cues can change someone’s understanding of a message entirely, so you should be aware of the signals that you are sending.

4.Working relationships and empathetic communication.

Having empathetic communication skills is extremely important. Learn how to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” or “see things through someone else’s eyes. Having empathy at work can help you avoid participation in unnecessary conflicts, while helping you build strong relationships that can aid excellence. Though you may still completely disagree with their point of view, you should acknowledge that you understand where they are coming from.

5.Communication skills and technology.

On one hand, technology can be very beneficial for communication, but you need to know how to use it while also maintaining basic effective communication skills. On the other hand, technology can be a hindrance if it completely replaces human interaction. It is important that good human communication skills not fall by the wayside of technology.

What do you think? Is technology aiding or hindering communication skills within the workplace?