Four strategies can help you improve communication, helping you to communicate for clarity and direction.
Being positive
What to do:
- be courteous
- make personal connections
- provide positive reinforcement
- discourage negativity
What not to do:
- tolerate negativity, including gossip
- be dismissive, disinterested, disrespectful, or oblivious
Seeking and providing feedback
What to do:
- solicit feedback
- provide feedback
What not to do:
- get defensive or angry
Keeping employees in the loop
What to do:
- explain changes and decisions
- be open, honest, and candid
- tell the truth
- share information
What not to do:
- be vague, evasive, or avoid answering questions
- fail to clearly explain changes and decisions
- share secret or discreet information
Listening actively
What to do:
- give your full attention
- check for understanding
- paraphrase or restate
- use open-ended questions
- listen for feelings
- summarize
What not to do:
- interrupt
- fail to pick up on nonverbal signs
- judge, dismiss, or ignore feelings