People often assume that productivity is paramount to business success, which to an extent, it is. However, communication is vital to the success of productivity. Therefore, clear communication is crucial to business operations, even more than learning how to bypass Zoom virtual background requirements.
Learning how to communicate effectively as a team is not the easiest thing. Many people assume they know how to communicate because they can speak. Unfortunately, holding your own in a random conversation is not the same as communicating instructions or orders. When trying to learn effective communication, you should focus on five strategies.
1. Be Clear on the Objective
How often have you been in a meeting and walked away knowing nothing more than you knew when you went in? Communication is about ensuring the objective or meaning of the message is delivered and received. Many people forget about the reception aspect of communication. You cannot assume that because you said something in a way you understand it that everyone will also understand it.
For example, you may know how to use a virtual background for Google Meet, but can you explain the process to an entire team, to people with different technological literacies? Knowing how to communicate a message in multiple ways will help you ensure your message and its objective is clear.
2. Create Active Listening
Have you ever heard of active listening? It is the process of reciting what you heard after someone says something to you. For example, a coworker says they are frustrated because they cannot figure out how to set up a custom Zoom background with logo. You will empathize with their sentiment and explain how you interpreted it before offering your input and asking for a response.
For instance, you might say, โI understand how frustrating new applications can be, and I hear you are struggling with certain Zoom settings. I can help you create a custom background and logo. Would you like my help?โ
3. Don’t Speak for Other People
Overspeak is a problem in many professional settings, especially with an established hierarchy. It is common for managers to speak on behalf of team members or entire departments without first talking to the employees. To improve communication, you need to wrangle those moments of blanket answers in favor of more inclusive dialogue. For example, instead of volunteering your team for a new project, talk to them first. Give your team time to consider the implications of commitment. Speaking for others is a surefire way to alienate team progress and team building.
4. Encourage Questions
You are not a mind reader, and neither is your team. You cannot expect to know what they are thinking, and they cannot be expected to know your thoughts and feelings. Teams should get used to asking questions. Managers should encourage dialogue. Allow your team the opportunity to ask questions without worrying about consequences.
5. Share Your Perspective
Teams also need to understand how their managers feel about different situations. If you expect your team to be open and honest with you, you cannot be afraid to share your opinions.
Are you ready to improve communication with your team? Contact a local communications specialist to discuss more techniques and tools.
