presentation on communication in the workplace

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Effective Communication in the Workplace

Source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/social-media-connections-networking-3846597/ is in the Public Domain at Pixabay.com. Retrieved 07.05.2022.

Effective workplace communication helps maintain the quality of working relationships and positively affects employees' well-being. This article discusses the benefits of practicing effective communication in the workplace and provides strategies for workers and organizational leaders to improve communication effectiveness.

Workplace Communication Matters

Effective workplace communication benefits employees' job satisfaction, organizational productivity, and customer service (Adu-Oppong & Agyin-Birikorang, 2014). We summarized Bosworth's (2016) and Adu-Oppong and Agyin-Birikorang's (2014) works below related to the benefits of practicing effective communication in the workplace.

• Reduces work-related conflicts
• Enhances interpersonal relationships
• Increases workers' performance and supervisors' expectations
• Increases workforce productivity through constructive feedback
• Increases employee engagement and job satisfaction
• Builds organizational loyalty and trust
• Reduces employees' turnover rate
• Facilitates the proper utilization of resources
• Uncovers new employees' talents

Strategies to Improve Communication Effectiveness

Effective communication is a two-way process that requires both sender and receiver efforts. We summarized research works and guidelines for good communication in the workplace proposed by Cheney (2011), Keyton (2011), Tourish (2010), and Lunenburg (2010).

Sender's strategies for communication planning

• Clearly define the idea of your message before sharing it.
• Identify the purpose of the message (obtain information, initiate action, or change another person's attitude)
• Be aware of the physical and emotional environment in which you communicate your message. Consider the tone you want to use, the configuration of the space, and the context.
• Consult with others when you do not feel confident or comfortable communicating your message.
• Be mindful of the primary content of the message.
• Follow-up previous communications to verify the information.
• Communicate on time, avoid postponing hard conversations, and be consistent.
• Be aware that your actions support your messages and be coherent in your verbal and behavioral communication style.
• Be a good listener, even when you are the primary sender.

Receiver's strategies during a conversation

• Show interest and attitude to listen.
• Listen more than talk.
• Pay attention to the talker and the message, avoiding distractions.
• Be patient and allow the talker time to transmit the message.
• Be respectful and avoid interrupting a talker.
• Hold your temper. An angry person takes the wrong meaning from words
• Go easy on argument and criticism.
• Engage in the conversation by asking questions. This attitude helps develop key points and keep a fluid conversation.

Effective communication practices are essential for any successful team and organization. Organizational communication helps to disseminate important information to employees and builds relationships of trust and commitment.

Key points to improve communication in the workplace

• Set clear goals and expectations
• Ask clarifying questions
• Schedule regular one-on-one meetings
• Praise in public, criticize in private
• Assume positive intent
• Repeat important messages
• Raise your words, not your voice
• Hold town hall meetings and cross-functional check-ins.

Adu-Oppong, A. A., & Agyin-Birikorang, E. (2014). Communication in the Workplace: Guidelines for improving effectiveness.  Global journal of commerce & management perspective ,  3 (5), 208–213.

Bosworth, P. (2021, May 19). The power of good communication in the workplace . Leadership Choice. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

Cheney, G. (2011). Organizational communication in an age of globalization: Issues, reflections, practices . Waveland Press.

Keyton, J. (2011). Communication and organizational culture: A key to understanding work experience . Sage.

Tourish, D. (2010). Auditing organizational communication: A handbook of research, theory, and practice . Routledge

Lunenburg, F. C. (2010). Communication: The process, barriers, and improving effectiveness.  Schooling ,  1 (1), 1-10.

• Adult leadership
• Volunteerism
• Volunteer management

You may also be interested in ...

Diferencias culturales en el ambiente laboral

Consejos Para Desarrollar una Filosofía Personal de Liderazgo

How to Become a Community Leader

Importance of Incorporating Local Culture into Community Development

Conducting Effective Surveys - 'Rules of the Road'

Conflict Styles, Outcomes, and Handling Strategies

Employee Disengagement and the Impact of Leadership

Dealing with Conflict

Developing Self-Leadership Competencies

Diversity Training in the Workplace

Personalize your experience with penn state extension and stay informed of the latest in agriculture..

.css-s5s6ko{margin-right:42px;color:#F5F4F3;}@media (max-width: 1120px){.css-s5s6ko{margin-right:12px;}} AI that works. Coming June 5, Asana redefines work management—again. .css-1ixh9fn{display:inline-block;}@media (max-width: 480px){.css-1ixh9fn{display:block;margin-top:12px;}} .css-1uaoevr-heading-6{font-size:14px;line-height:24px;font-weight:500;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;color:#F5F4F3;}.css-1uaoevr-heading-6:hover{color:#F5F4F3;} .css-ora5nu-heading-6{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;color:#0D0E10;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s;transition:all 0.3s;position:relative;font-size:16px;line-height:28px;padding:0;font-size:14px;line-height:24px;font-weight:500;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;color:#F5F4F3;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover{border-bottom:0;color:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover path{fill:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover div{border-color:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover div:before{border-left-color:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active{border-bottom:0;background-color:#EBE8E8;color:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active path{fill:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active div{border-color:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active div:before{border-left-color:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover{color:#F5F4F3;} Get early access .css-1k6cidy{width:11px;height:11px;margin-left:8px;}.css-1k6cidy path{fill:currentColor;}

• Collaboration |
• 12 tips for effective communication in ...

12 tips for effective communication in the workplace

Effective communication transcends simple information exchanges. Understanding the emotions and motives behind the given information is essential. In addition to successfully conveying messages, it's important to actively listen and fully understand the conversation, making the speaker feel heard and understood.

Today, we’re in almost constant contact with our coworkers. You might not put a lot of thought into saying “hi” to your coworker, grabbing virtual coffee with a remote team member, or sending a gif of a cat wearing pajamas to your team—and that’s ok. Even though you’re communicating at work, there’s a difference between these types of messages and communication in the workplace.

Communication in the workplace refers to the communication you do at work about work. Knowing when and how to effectively communicate at work can help you reduce miscommunication, increase team happiness, bolster collaboration, and foster trust. Teams that know how to communicate effectively about work are better prepared for difficult situations. But building good communication habits takes time and effort—and that’s where we come in. Here are 12 ways to take your workplace communication skills to the next level.

What is effective communication?

Effective communication is the exchange of ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and information so that the message is received and comprehended clearly and purposefully. When we communicate effectively, all stakeholders are fulfilled.

Developing effective communication skills requires a delicate balance of active listening, verbal communication, nonverbal cues, body language, and emotional intelligence to ensure messages are clearly transmitted and understood.

It's about more than just talking; effective communication involves listening skills and a deep understanding of interpersonal dynamics. Individuals can use these communication skills to bridge gaps, make informed decisions, and strengthen relationships. 

What does “workplace communication” mean?

Communication in the workplace can happen face-to-face, in writing, over a video conferencing platform, on social media, or in a group meeting. It can also happen in real time or asynchronously , which happens when you’re communicating about work over email, with recorded video, or on a platform like a project management tool . Some examples of workplace communication include:

Team meetings

1:1 feedback sessions

Receiving information

Communicating about project status or progress

Collaboration on cross-functional tasks

Nonverbal communication

Collaboration Report: How the most effective teams in the world collaborate

Explore key traits that have made the most effective teams in the world successful: their strategies, techniques, and tips for working well together.

What makes communication effective?

Now that you know what type of communication can be included in workplace communication, how do you start getting better at it? There are a few key tenets of effective communication that you can use, no matter what type of communication it is. In particular, good communication:

Aims for clarity. Whether you’re sending a Slack message, drafting an email, or giving an off-the-cuff reply, aim to be clear and concise with your communication.

Seeks to solve conflicts, not create them. In the workplace, we're often involved in problem solving and collaborating on projects or tasks. Good communication in the workplace can involve bringing up blockers or providing feedback—but make sure the goal is to get to a better place than where you are now.

Goes both ways. Every instance of effective communication in the workplace represents an exchange of information—even when the information is communicated solely through nonverbal cues.

Benefits of effective communication in the workplace

Clear, effective workplace communication can:

Boost employee engagement and belonging

Improve interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence

Encourage team buy-in

Increase productivity

Build a healthy workplace and organizational culture

Reduce conflict

Increase retention

7 tips for more effective communication in the workplace

Effective communication in the workplace is all about where, how, and when you’re communicating. Try these seven tips to develop better communication skills.

1. Know where to communicate—and about what

Communication happens in many different forms—face-to-face, over email, via instant messages, and in work management platforms. To be most effective, make sure you’re following communication guidelines and messaging about the right things in the right places.

Sometimes, knowing where to communicate is half the battle. Your company may have different communication tools , which makes knowing which tool to use all the more important. Which tool is appropriate for your question or comment? Do you need to communicate in real time, or is it ok to send an asynchronous message? If you’re not sure, ask a team member or manager where you should be sending different types of messages. It is important for everyone to be on the same page. For example, at Asana, we use:

2. Build collaboration skills

Collaboration is the bedrock of effective teamwork. In order to build strong team collaboration skills , you need to practice open and honest communication. This doesn’t necessarily mean always agreeing on things—knowing how to disagree and work through those differences is a key part of collaboration, too.

Collaboration and communication skills are kind of a “chicken and egg” scenario. You can build good collaboration by communicating effectively, but knowing how to collaborate is a key component of strong communication. Essentially, this just means you’ll have to practice improving both collaboration and communication skills over time. As you improve team collaboration, you’ll get better at conveying information and opinions in a work environment—and as a result, that honest communication will make collaboration feel more effortless.

3. Talk face-to-face when you can

Perhaps the most tried-and-true way to avoid miscommunication is to talk face-to-face. If your team is virtual, speaking via video conferencing also works. Eye contact is particularly important if you know a conversation is going to be hard. Tone can be difficult to communicate through writing so ideally, you want your team member to be able to see your facial expressions and body language.

If your team is remote or distributed, communicating via a phone call instead of a video conference could work as well. Video conferencing fatigue is real, and it can make collaboration and communication particularly difficult for remote teams. Communicating over the phone reduces some of the visual strain, while still giving you the ability to hear your team member’s voice and tone.

4. Watch your body language and tone of voice

Communication isn’t just about what you say—it’s also about how you say it. Make sure you aren’t crossing your arms or coming off as curt. Oftentimes, your body language may have nothing to do with the current situation—maybe you’re tired or stressed about something in your personal life. But your team members, who might not have that context, could see your actions and assume you’re angry or upset about something. Particularly for hard conversations, try to relax your body language and facial expressions to avoid giving off any unintentional cues.

5. Prioritize two-way communication

Listening skills are just as important to communication in the workplace as talking. Part of being a collaborative team member is listening to other people’s ideas instead of just trying to put your own ideas out there.

There are two common types of listening : listening to reply and listening to understand. When you listen to reply, you’re focusing on what you’re going to say next, rather than what the other person is saying. With this type of listening, you risk missing key information or even repeating what the other person just said.

Instead, try active listening—that is, listen to what the other person has to say without thinking about how you’re going to reply. If you do think of something you want to say, jot it down so you can go back to listening to understand , instead of trying to remember the thing you want to say next.

6. Stick to facts, not stories

“Facts vs. stories” is a technique recommended by the co-founder of the Conscious Leadership Group, Diana Chapman. In this case, “facts” are things that have actually happened—things that everyone in the room would easily agree on. A “story,” on the other hand, is your interpretation of the situation.

For example, say your manager gives you live feedback during a small team meeting. That is a fact. You weren’t expecting the feedback, and you feel like your manager shared the feedback—instead of saving it for your 1:1—because they’re dissatisfied with your work. This is a “story” because you have no way of knowing if it is true or not.

Stories are inevitable—we all create stories from facts. But try to separate stories from facts, and avoid acting on stories until you’re able to validate them. For example, in this case, you might want to talk to your manager during your next 1:1 and ask why they shared feedback in a team meeting.

7. Make sure you’re speaking to the right person

Effective workplace communication is as much about who you’re talking to as it is about what you’re saying. Poor communication often occurs when you’re talking to the wrong people or trying to share information in the wrong setting.

To avoid this, make sure the right people are in the room or receiving the message. If you aren’t sure who that would be, go through an exercise to identify any important project stakeholders who might be missing.

5 tips to build effective communication skills in the workplace

If you’re a leader, you have the power to set and establish communication conventions on your team. Effective communication skills can build healthy company culture , foster trust among your employees, and break down silos between cross-functional teams. Here’s how:

1. Address any underlying changes

Before you start improving your team’s communication skills, ensure there are no underlying issues that keep everyone from communicating honestly. Does everyone feel comfortable talking openly? Is there anything that might make a team member feel like they can’t be their full selves?

One of the most valuable things you can do as a leader is to make sure your employees feel comfortable showing up to work as their whole selves (or as much of themselves as they want to bring). Whether that means voicing disagreements, talking about their passions outside of work, or being honest about what type of communication works best for them, make sure to understand each team member’s needs and ensure they’re being met in the team environment.

One theme that kept coming up in our employee engagement surveys was that we could improve information sharing and communication across the organization, so we looked for a way to do that.”

2. Frequently ask for feedback

If you don’t ask for feedback on your communication style, you may never get it. Even though communication in the workplace impacts every other interaction, team members might not immediately think of it as something to provide feedback on. By asking your employees for feedback on your communication style, you can continue to improve and develop clear communication strategies for your team.

3. Understand team communication styles

Another effective way to communicate with your team is to ask them how they want to communicate. Communication preferences shouldn’t be a secret—or a guessing game—and knowing off the bat if your team members prefer video conferences or phone calls, early morning meetings, or afternoon jam sessions can help you create an environment where they can thrive.

Important questions to ask include:

Are they an early bird or a night owl?

Do they like structured meetings or prefer free-flow brainstorming sessions?

Do they do their best thinking out loud, on the spot, or on paper?

What personality type do they identify with: introvert, extrovert, or ambivert?

Do they feel like they know their team members, or would they prefer more team bonding activities?

What types of meetings or tasks are most energizing for them?

4. Make time for team building or icebreakers

Getting to know your team is critical to developing good communication skills. It’s particularly important to make time to get to know your team outside of a workplace setting. Icebreaker questions can help bring an element of personality and fun to every meeting, so consider starting with a light chat before diving into your meeting agenda.

5. Set the tone

Remember: the way you communicate and collaborate will impact your entire team. It’s up to you to set the standard for open and clear communication in the workplace. Once you establish this standard, your team will follow suit.

Every few months, make a note to follow up with how everyone is feeling about team communication. Are there any habits that have cropped up in the last few months that you want to cull or encourage? Regularly thinking about how your team communicates—instead of “setting and forgetting” your team practices—can help you be more intentional about your communication methods.

As an organization grows, communication starts to bottleneck. At Hope for Haiti, we’ve seen those inefficiencies hurt us: when we can’t run like a well-oiled machine, we’re not serving as many people as we could be—and it’s our responsibility to improve upon that.”

More types of workplace communication

Most discussions about communication in the workplace assume the “workplace” is in person. But there are various forms of communication across different locations—from global offices to remote teams. Most effective communication best practices still apply to any type of team, but there are a few additional considerations and best practices you can use to help team members truly connect.

Distributed teams

Distributed teams work across multiple national or global offices. These teams might span different time zones and languages, and each office will have its own culture and habits. Don’t expect each distributed team to communicate in the same way—in fact, one of the advantages of distributed teams is the variety of thought you’re exposed to by working with teammates from all over the world.

If you work on a distributed team, it’s critical to over-communicate so that team members in different time zones and offices stay in the loop. Make sure to document everything in a central source of truth that team members can access when they’re online, and look for a tool that updates in real-time so no one has to slow down due to information lag.

Keep in mind that time zones might affect how people come to a conversation. Try to schedule meetings when everyone is available, or offer recordings and notes if team members can’t make it. It’s also critical to double check that the right people are in the loop, and that they aren’t just being left out because they’re in a different office than the majority of your team.

Online coworkers

If you’re working with a virtual team, it’s critical to establish where you’re going to communicate and how frequently. Knowing exactly what each communication tool should be used for can help team members feel connected—even while they’re remote.

While working remotely, we’ve had to re-learn how to communicate in many ways. Slack, Asana, and integrations between these tools has replaced or supplemented a lot of in-person ways we used to communicate.”

Remote team members can feel isolated and disconnected from one another, so consider doing an exercise with your entire team about preferred business communication habits. Some team members might love cold calls, while others might prefer scheduled meetings with concise agendas. Because team members have fewer chances to interact in person, it’s critical to establish these forms of communication as a team so you can keep the communication channels open.

Finally, make sure to bring team members in for regular team bonding events. Whether you’re doing icebreaker activities at the beginning of every meeting or scheduling some time to just chat at the end of each week, dedicated team time can help team members connect, no matter where they’re dialing in from.

The cherry on top of effective workplace communication

The last component of great communication is having a central source of truth for all of your communication and work information. Using a centralized system like a work management tool can help you coordinate work across all levels of your team. Learn more about how work management makes project coordination and communication easier in our introduction to work management article .

FAQ: Effective communication in the workplace

What are the best ways of communicating with your work colleagues.

The best ways of communicating with your work colleagues involve concise, respectful, and timely exchanges. This can be achieved through various channels, such as emails, instant messaging, face-to-face meetings, and video calls. Selecting the right medium based on the context of your communication (e.g., using emails for formal requests or Slack for quick queries) and ensuring you're concise and to the point can enhance the effectiveness of your communication.

Why is effective communication important?

Effective communication ensures that information is accurately conveyed and understood, resulting in improved efficiency, fewer misunderstandings, and better working relationships. It promotes teamwork, decision-making, and problem solving, which makes effective communication a cornerstone of successful operations and a positive work environment.

What constitutes effective communication?

Effective communication is characterized by clarity, conciseness, coherence, and considerateness, also known as the 5 Cs of communication. It means the message is delivered in a clear and understandable manner, is direct and to the point, logically organized, and sensitive to the receiver's needs and perspectives. It also involves active listening, openness to feedback, and the ability to adjust or paraphrase the message according to the audience and context.

How can you become an effective communicator?

To become an effective communicator, focus on clarity and brevity in your messages, actively listen to others, and provide constructive feedback. Pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues, such as body language and tone, to ensure your message is received as intended. Practice empathy by considering the receiver's perspective, and be open to feedback to continuously improve your public speaking skills.

Related resources

Smooth product launches are simpler than you think

Fix these common onboarding challenges to boost productivity

How Asana uses work management to optimize resource planning

How Asana uses work management for organizational planning

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

Partner Center

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

• What is coaching?

Learn how 1:1 coaching works, who its for, and if it's right for you.

Accelerate your personal and professional growth with the expert guidance of a BetterUp Coach.

Types of Coaching

Navigate career transitions, accelerate your professional growth, and achieve your career goals with expert coaching.

Enhance your communication skills for better personal and professional relationships, with tailored coaching that focuses on your needs.

Find balance, resilience, and well-being in all areas of your life with holistic coaching designed to empower you.

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Research, expert insights, and resources to develop courageous leaders within your organization.

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

• BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

Communication is key in the workplace. Here's how to improve

Jump to section

Why is communication important in the workplace?

7 common types of communication in the workplace

The benefits of good communication in the workplace

8 reasons to work on your communication skills

8 ways to develop communication skills at work

How to improve communication when working remotely.

Communication, communication, communication. We all know it’s important, but communication skills can be challenging to develop and implement at work. The rise of remote and hybrid work hasn’t made it any easier, either. 

Yet, effective communication at work can be transformative for individuals, teams, and businesses. We’re here to show you why communication is important in the workplace and how to start building your and your team’s communication skills today. 

Why is effective communication important in the workplace?

Communication in the workplace is important because it boosts employee morale, engagement, productivity, and satisfaction. Communication is also key for better team collaboration and cooperation. Ultimately, effective workplace communication helps drive better results for individuals, teams, and organizations. 

To take it a step further, specifically as a manager, building good communication skills has profound short- and long-term benefits for your organization. An effective communicator is able to motivate their team to get more done with better results and fewer misunderstandings. And who doesn’t want fewer misunderstandings?

All of these things can contribute to the company’s success — and to your own personal success as a leader.

Not all work communication is made equal. We’ve all had the experience of sitting through a boring, lengthy meeting with the thought, “This should have been an email.” 

Different communication channels are ideal for different types of communication. Depending on the type of information being conveyed, those different channels can enhance — or detract — from how it is received. An effective communicator will develop different skills and tools to match the type of communication needed.

1. Leadership communication 

Leaders often deliver one-way communications to their teams. The goal may be to inform or update, such as a memo about a new company policy or a change in direction. Leaders also often communicate to persuade, encourage, and inspire commitment. They often communicate through stories more than data.

2. Upward communication 

Managers (and team members) often have to communicate with their own managers and with other leaders who are not in their direct chain of command. These may take the form of memos/emails, reports, or a slot in a standing meeting. Regardless of the format, these types of communications should be considered more formal. 

3. Updates 

Since they’re brief by nature, updates often fall short of being a type of strong communication. Use a visual tracker or dashboard to carry the load, and save your verbal or written commentary for drawing the audience’s attention to what is most important — typically, what requires action or further involvement from them. This might include surprises, obstacles, and potential risks, as well as wins.

4. Presentations

These formal communication events tend to receive the lion’s share of attention, for good reason. Presentations are communication tools that are typically aimed at a larger audience with higher stakes. They have objectives like informing, influencing, and persuading. In addition, many people fear public speaking , and thanks to TED and other series, we have a high expectation for entertainment as well as insight. 

5. Meetings 

Meetings, whether large or small, are a critical part of a workplace’s internal communication strategy . They’re also one of the least understood and most overused types of communication. Effective meetings build synergy between teams and quickly communicate information that would have a high potential to be misunderstood in another format (like email). The best meetings are highly collaborative and leave participants feeling energized, not drained.

6. Customer communications 

Communicating with customers can run the entire gamut discussed above, from one-offs to face-to-face , virtual, spoken, or written, formal to ad hoc. In general, all of the considerations of communication among employees go double for customers. Be deliberate and plan your messages to provide what your customer needs, in the way they prefer, and create a positive impression for the company and the product.

7. Informal interactions 

Informal communications include the emails and chats you engage in all day: making requests, asking for information, responding to requests, and giving or receiving support and guidance. In addition to moving the work of the organization forward, these informal communications have secondary objectives of forming social connections , building culture, establishing trust , and finding common ground.

When employees are directly involved in work products and initiatives, it helps to foster a sense of ownership in the company’s future. It also makes them want to work to improve things like the company’s profitability, customer satisfaction, and brand.

Let’s take a look at some ways that building your communication skills cascades down through your organization — and directly impacts its bottom line.

1. Better engagement

Better communication results in greater employee engagement , which is a key metric for employee productivity and potential retention. It reinforces that your people are key contributors and people who the company values for their unique skills and experience. In other words, their contribution — and input — truly make a difference. 

2. Increased morale

Team members with low job satisfaction take more time off of work, are less productive when in-office, and often negatively impact the productivity of other employees when they are present. However, when an employee has an understanding of the work that they have to do and how it connects to the overall success of the team, they bring more energy and pride to their work. 

3. Improved productivity

Better communication techniques help employees to better comprehend their roles, which in turn helps employees perform their assigned duties better. Resources and time can be saved through these techniques, therefore getting more work done and reducing stress .

4. Reduced churn

From customer support representatives to senior technical staff, experience equals value to customers and to the company. And no organization wants to waste the huge costs of recruiting and training good employees by having them leave quickly. As a key factor in employee satisfaction and engagement, communication adds value to the organization by reducing the turnover of skilled and seasoned staff members. 

5. Greater loyalty

Longer-term, keeping employees for many years can add strength to the company and impact the bottom line. Many jobs require years of experience before an employee has sufficient expertise to drive innovation, solve critical problems , and lead others. How an employee feels toward the company — based on how they feel they are treated and valued as individuals — impacts how loyal they will be.

6. Better collaboration

Most companies today use technologies that don’t require team members to be in the same room, the same building, or even the same country. This shift presents new communication challenges, which means managers can facilitate collaboration by helping groups communicate effectively when using the latest technologies. 

7. Fewer workplace conflicts

Many conflicts originate with miscommunication . Poor communication can create negative relationships or even toxic or hostile work environments . Building clear communication can improve company culture and prevent misunderstandings between managers and employees . This includes honing and refining communication styles that focus on listening to others, having empathy, and considering individual differences. 

8. Greater motivation

Psychologists have found that unless people understand the “why” of a concept, they will be less likely to understand or remember it. The same goes for many aspects of people’s work lives. As a manager, one key communication skill is hearing the “why” and following up with a “because.” This approach will help you motivate employees .

Now that you understand the importance of good communication at work, you need to know how to develop those skills. Remember: effective communication is about active listening — while it may seem counter-intuitive, a “listener-first” approach will often help you structure the delivery of your message. 

Here are 8 more tips for developing your communication skills .

1. Think it through

There are many communications frameworks, but if you want to improve your communication skills, start by getting in the habit of thinking through these 5 questions for any communication you create:

• Why are you communicating?
• Who is the receiver, audience, or participant? 
• What is your goal or objective? 
• What do you want the recipient to do as a result of the communication? 
• What format will best accomplish your goal? 

If you struggle to answer these five questions, you should spend some additional time thinking about how and why you’re communicating. Then, test your understanding with co-workers or your manager.   

2. Give it time

Plan what you want to say and review your communication to make sure it’s actually doing the job you need it to. For written communications, especially, this means: revise, revise, revise. Remember, great communication might seem effortless, but it rarely is.

3. Make it easy

Workplace communication almost always has a larger goal. People are busy. Don’t make them work too hard to understand what you are saying and what you need them to do. State your objective and main point from the beginning of a presentation or written communication so that your audience knows where you’re going. Then fill in the details.

4. Simplify

While you don’t want to condescend or “dumb it down,” in everyday work communications, be mindful of not making the other party work too hard to understand. Find a clear, simple phrasing to encapsulate your point. Repeat it at the beginning, middle, and end, and consider using a simple visual or metaphor to make your point clear and memorable.

5. Experiment and diversify

Work on developing different tactics for different communication needs. Focus on experimenting with one aspect of your communication at a time. For example, spend a week paying extra attention to how you structure informal communications. Then spend a week trying different structures for formal meetings or updates.

6. Practice and reflect

Be deliberate about reflecting on what goes well and what doesn’t in your day-to-day communications. Maybe an email to your manager didn’t go well. Can you see how it might have been misinterpreted? What would you do differently next time? Similarly, if a conversation with a co-worker didn’t yield the expected results, try to identify whether you clearly communicated what you needed. 

7. Consider the full package

Consider recording yourself through a few interactions to gain insight into what your full package is communicating in your daily interactions with your team. Do you make eye contact? Is your facial expression relaxed and confident, or tense? How’s your body language? Do you leave time for questions and clarification? 

8. Seek feedback

Ask a few trusted co-workers and your manager to rate your communication skills. Start by asking them to rate (i.e., on a scale of 1-10) your written and spoken communication separately. Then ask these 3 questions: 

• What one thing should I start doing to communicate better with you?
• What one thing should I stop doing in my communications with you?
• What one area or skill should I work on to improve how I communicate in this organization?

Communicating well is even more important for leaders and managers during remote work . Doing it well can help build trust and connection with your team and avoid some of the frustrations that come from miscommunication. 

Here are a few areas to consider to improve remote communication:

1. Clarify expectations 

State expectations upfront and repeat them at the end of a communication . Even better, ask the other person to restate their understanding of your expectations. 

2. Engage in 2-way flow 

Being remote can make it easier for employees to check out and disengage. Be deliberate and creative about giving others a role in communication. Ask questions, use polling and ranking tools, and solicit responses in the form of emojis, gifs, or one-word descriptors.   

3. Remember the power of in-person 

A lot can be misinterpreted in the flat space of text without additional cues like tone of voice and facial expression. Don’t default to communicating solely through text or chat. A well-crafted team Zoom call or in-person meeting can establish a better connection and shared understanding, giving others a chance to surface areas of misalignment.

4. Focus on quality 

People may feel protective of their time when working remotely, so make sure that live events are well-thought-out. Send agendas, meeting objectives, or background reading ahead of time to help people prepare to have productive conversations.

5. Create an informal space 

Assuming good intentions and a sharing culture are both foundational for effective day-to-day communication at work. That said, they’re hard to build and maintain without opportunities for casual interaction like happy hours or non-work Slack channels . 

6. Show you care 

You don’t have to spend a lot of time checking in with people and asking about their personal lives. But, now more than ever, it’s worth reminding yourself that the recipients of your communications are real people who have their own challenges, distractions, hopes, and fears. Before getting on a video call or firing off an email, try picturing that person on the other end.

Start communicating better today

Every year communication tops the list of skills in demand by employers. There's a reason. Communication is what makes our professional and personal relationships go smoothly. It's how we show care, catalyze change, and get things done. Business coaching for your team and yourself can help with this skill.

That's reason enough to improve — and keep improving — these important skills. Luckily, we can all learn to communicate better.

Thrive in your workplace

Connect with our Coaches to build stronger workplace relationships and cultivate a culture that drives success.

Allaya Cooks-Campbell

With over 15 years of content experience, Allaya Cooks Campbell has written for outlets such as ScaryMommy, HRzone, and HuffPost. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and is a certified yoga instructor as well as a certified Integrative Wellness & Life Coach. Allaya is passionate about whole-person wellness, yoga, and mental health.

How to handle gossip in the workplace and encourage communication

What is nonverbal communication 10 different types (with examples), leverage love languages at work to improve your office culture, foster strong communication skills to enjoy professional success, why face-to-face communication matters (even with remote work), 10 essential workplace skills for success, improve your interpersonal communication skills with these 6 tips, team collaboration 101: learning the art of working together, nonverbal communication in the workplace: the secret to team trust, similar articles, 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills, if expectations are falling short, re-examine your communication, why workplace flexibility matters and 4 ways to offer it, 6 proven ways to create a culture of engagement, feedback in communication: 5 areas to become a better communicator, 8 types of internal communication (and 4 factors that matter most), stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform Overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care™
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case Studies
• Why BetterUp?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Life Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Labs
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

Got any suggestions?

We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo

Top searches

Trending searches

68 templates

cybersecurity

6 templates

19 templates

58 templates

18 templates

physiotherapy

14 templates

Effective Communication Workshop

Effective communication workshop presentation, free google slides theme and powerpoint template.

Communication is the nexus we have with other people, it’s what helps us build healthy and stable relationships and has a lot of impact in our lives. How can we improve it? We must take into account the rule of the seven C’s: clearness, concretion, coherence, commitment, consistency, completeness and courteousness. If you plan on giving a workshop on effective communication, this template is the perfect fit. The modern design appeals to both young and old generations and the resources included will help you speak about statistics and data in a botch clear and entertaining way. Download it now and start preparing your workshop!

Features of this template

• 100% editable and easy to modify
• 30 different slides to impress your audience
• Contains easy-to-edit graphics such as graphs, maps, tables, timelines and mockups
• Includes 500+ icons and Flaticon’s extension for customizing your slides
• Designed to be used in Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens
• Includes information about fonts, colors, and credits of the free resources used

How can I use the template?

Am I free to use the templates?

How to attribute?

Attribution required If you are a free user, you must attribute Slidesgo by keeping the slide where the credits appear. How to attribute?

Related posts on our blog.

How to Add, Duplicate, Move, Delete or Hide Slides in Google Slides

How to Change Layouts in PowerPoint

How to Change the Slide Size in Google Slides

Related presentations.

Premium template

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

Finally see how to stop getting stuck in a project management tool

20 min. personalized consultation with a project management expert

How to: Effective Communication in the Workplace

A key ingredient for success in business

In the dynamic and digital-centric modern workplace, adept communication transcends a mere soft skill – it becomes a fundamental component for the prosperity of any organization.

It facilitates the smoothing of daily workflows and fortifies team resilience, turning potential obstacles into catalysts for development and creativity.

In this article we explore the subtleties of communication within the workplace, providing practical advice and strategic insights to improve interaction and cooperation. 

This article will give you:

✅ an idea of the core skills for effective communication

✅ strategies to improve communication in the workplace

✅ ways to adapt to different communication situations

Importance of communication in the workplace

Communication in the workplace transcends the simple exchange of information between colleagues. It is about building relationships, ensuring everyone is on the same page, and fostering an atmosphere where ideas and feedback can flow freely. Effective communication is not just beneficial but essential across various facets of a professional environment, including:

• Leadership and management: Effective leaders use communication to inspire and guide their teams . Clear directives and open feedback channels enhance performance and align goals.
• Team collaboration: In an era where teamwork is paramount across most sectors, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively determines the success of collaborative efforts.
• Customer relations: The quality of communication can directly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty. Transparent and effective communication ensures that customer needs are met promptly and efficiently.
• Conflict resolution: Effective communication is key to resolving disputes and preventing potential issues from escalating, maintaining a harmonious work environment.

The effectiveness of communication in successful companies

The correlation between effective communication and business success is well-documented through various studies and research findings. The following statistics underscore the value of good communication practices:

• Increased productivity: According to a study by Towers Watson , companies with highly effective communication practices see 47% higher returns to shareholders compared to those with less effective communication.
• Employee engagement: Gallup reports that businesses with effective communication are 3.5 times more likely to outperform their competitors. Furthermore, their research indicates that clear communication is one of the key drivers of employee engagement.
• Reduction in errors: A study from the Holmes Report found that poor communication can cost large companies an average of $62.4 million per year due to misunderstandings and information gaps.
• Improved project outcomes: The Project Management Institute (PMI) reveals that ineffective communication is a primary contributor to project failure one-third of the time and had a negative impact on project success more than half the time.

Fundamentals of workplace communication

Effective communication in the workplace is a critical business tool that facilitates clear understanding and fosters a productive work environment. We now delve into the essence of what makes communication effective and explore the different types that are pivotal in any professional setting.

Definition of effective communication

Effective communication occurs when the sender and the receiver of a message understand the message and its intent in the way it was intended . This process is successful only when both the transmitter of the message and the recipient understand the meanings of the message similarly. Here are the key components that constitute effective communication:

• Clarity and conciseness: The message should be clear and to the point, without unnecessary jargon or complex language that might confuse the receiver.
• Accuracy: Information provided should be accurate and factual, avoiding misunderstandings or the spread of misinformation.
• Feedback: Effective communication involves not just sending but also receiving feedback to ensure the message has been understood correctly and to foster ongoing dialogue.
• Empathy: Communicators should consider the emotions and perspectives of the receiver, adapting their messages to be received more positively.
• Engagement: The communication should be engaging and attention-catching, making it more likely that the information will be remembered and acted upon.

Types of Communication

Understanding the various forms of communication is essential to apply them effectively in professional settings. There are three primary types of communication that play a vital role in the workplace:

1. Verbal communication

• In-Person meetings: Allows for immediate feedback and adjustment of the message based on verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Phone calls and video conferences: Useful for remote communication , relying heavily on tone and clarity of voice.

2. Non-Verbal communication

• Body language: Includes facial expressions, body posture, and gestures, which can convey confidence, openness, or, conversely, disinterest or disagreement.
• Eye contact: Maintaining appropriate eye contact improves the connection between communicators and signals attention and respect.
• Physical distance (Proxemics): The space between communicators can affect how the message is received, influencing perceptions of authority or intimacy.

3. Written communication

• Emails: Common in nearly all business settings, effective for delivering clear and concise messages and for documentation.
• Reports and documents: Essential for detailed and formal communication that requires record-keeping and thorough review.
• Instant Messaging and texts: Useful for quick, informal communication that requires immediate attention or response.

Core skills for effective communication

Effective communication in the workplace is built on several foundational skills. Among these, active listening, clarity and conciseness in verbal exchanges, and the ability to empathize are paramount.

The importance of active listening

Active listening is more than just hearing the words spoken by others; it is about fully comprehending the information being shared, engaging with it, and responding thoughtfully. Active listening is essential because it:

• Builds trust: Demonstrates respect and value for the speaker, fostering a supportive communication environment.
• Enhances understanding: Helps in accurately receiving and interpreting messages, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings.
• Facilitates conflict resolution: By truly understanding all sides of a conversation, more effective solutions can be found.

Tips for improving active listening:

• Maintain eye contact: Shows attentiveness and interest.
• Avoid interrupting: Allow the speaker to finish their thoughts without interjection.
• Ask clarifying questions: Ensures understanding and shows engagement.
• Repeat back what you heard: Offers a chance to confirm that your understanding is correct.
• Mind your body language: Adopt an open posture and nod where appropriate to show attentiveness.

Clarity and conciseness in verbal communication

Clear and concise communication is essential to efficiency in the workplace. It helps in minimizing errors and ensures that messages are not only received but understood and acted upon correctly.

Why it matters:

• Saves time: Direct and straightforward communication takes less time than overly complex or vague messaging.
• Reduces errors: When instructions are clear, the chance of mistakes is lowered.

Strategies to enhance clarity and conciseness:

• Plan your message: Think about what you need to communicate before you speak.
• Be direct: Avoid roundabout phrasing and get to the point quickly.
• Use simple language: Avoid jargon and technical terms unless absolutely necessary.
• Employ visuals: Where possible, use diagrams, charts, or images to clarify complex points.

Empathy: Understanding Emotional Undertones

Empathy in communication involves recognizing, understanding, and appropriately responding to the emotions of others. It’s crucial for:

• Promoting teamwork: Helps in building stronger, more collaborative teams .
• Enhancing leadership: Leaders who show empathy are typically more respected and effective.
• Improving Customer Relations: Empathy leads to better service and customer satisfaction.

Ways to Develop Empathy:

• Active listening: As noted above, listen to understand, not just to respond.
• Acknowledge feelings: Recognize and validate the emotions of others in your responses.
• Practice perspective-taking: Try to see situations from the point of view of your colleagues or clients.
• Respond appropriately: Tailor your responses based on the emotional cues you have gathered.

Strategies to improve communication

Improving communication in the workplace is crucial for enhancing productivity and building a more engaged team. This section outlines strategies that can be employed to enhance communication skills within an organization, including training, effective feedback mechanisms, and leveraging technology.

Training and workshops on communication skills

Investing in communication training and workshops is a direct approach to enhancing interpersonal skills among employees. These training sessions can cover various aspects of communication:

• Active listening: Workshops can provide exercises that improve listening skills, essential for understanding and cooperation.
• Conflict resolution: Teaching employees how to handle conflicts gracefully can prevent minor disagreements from escalating into bigger problems.
• Public speaking and presentation skills: Enhancing these skills helps in delivering clearer and more effective messages in meetings and presentations.

Benefits of communication training:

• Improved employee efficiency: Clear communicators can relay their ideas and instructions more effectively, reducing the time needed to complete tasks.
• Enhanced team collaboration: Teams that communicate effectively are more likely to achieve their goals smoothly and efficiently.
• Increased job satisfaction: Employees who feel heard and understood are generally happier and more content in their jobs.

The role of feedback: Giving and receiving

Feedback is a cornerstone of effective communication and plays a vital role in personal and organizational growth. Here’s how feedback should be approached:

• Constructive feedback: Focus on providing feedback that is constructive and aimed at helping the recipient improve, rather than just critiquing.
• Timeliness: Offer feedback soon after the relevant event to ensure it is relevant and meaningful.
• Regular reviews: Implementing regular one-on-one meetings between employees and their managers can help maintain open lines of communication and provide regular opportunities for feedback.

Creating a feedback-rich environment:

• Encourage a Two-Way Street: Promote an environment where employees feel comfortable giving feedback to their peers and superiors (easily done with online forms apps ).
• Training on feedback techniques: Provide training that teaches employees how to give and receive feedback effectively and respectfully.
• Recognize and reward: Acknowledge employees who use feedback constructively to improve their performance or the workplace environment.

Using technology to foster effective communication

Technology, when used correctly, can greatly enhance communication within a workplace. Here are some ways to integrate technology into daily communications:

• Project Management software to track progress and communicate updates ensures everyone is aligned on project goals and deadlines.
• Chat Apps can help maintain personal connections, especially in remote or hybrid work environments .

Best Practices for using technology:

• Training on tools: Ensure all employees are trained on how to use communication technologies effectively.
• Establish clear protocols: Set guidelines for when and how different communication tools should be used.
• Evaluate and adapt: Regularly assess the effectiveness of communication tools and make adjustments as necessary to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Adapting to different communication situations

Effective communication in the workplace requires adaptability to various contexts and scenarios. Whether it’s through team meetings , one-on-one interactions, or digital channels, each situation demands specific strategies to enhance clarity and effectiveness.

Team communication: Meetings and group work

Meetings and group projects are fundamental for team collaboration. Here’s how to ensure communication is effective in these settings:

• Preparation: Provide an agenda before meetings to give participants an overview of topics to be discussed. This allows everyone to prepare and contribute meaningfully.
• Roles assignment: Assign roles such as timekeeper, note-taker, and facilitator to keep the meeting structured and efficient.
• Inclusive participation: Encourage participation from all members, ensuring a diversity of perspectives and ideas.
• Follow-up: Distribute meeting minutes and action items afterward to reinforce responsibilities and deadlines.

Tips for effective group communication:

• Use round-robin techniques to ensure everyone has a chance to speak.
• Establish ground rules for discussions to prevent domination by more vocal members.
• Utilize visual aids like charts or slides to clarify complex points.

Bring the group communication at your workplace to the next level. Get started for free now.

One-on-one interactions: Employee reviews and feedback sessions

Personal interactions such as performance reviews or feedback sessions are crucial for individual development and maintaining open lines of communication between supervisors and their teams.

• Structured format: Use a consistent format for reviews to ensure that all necessary topics are covered and that the employee knows what to expect.
• Goal-oriented discussions: Focus on specific goals and objectives, providing clear examples and actionable feedback.
• Two-way dialogue: Encourage employees to share their thoughts and concerns, making the session a two-way conversation.

Enhancing one-on-one communication:

• Prepare in advance, noting key points you want to discuss.
• Be empathetic and open to understanding the employee’s perspective.
• Set follow-up meetings to review progress on discussed points.

Digital communication: Emails, Messaging tools

Digital tools are integral to modern business communication, facilitating rapid information exchange. However, it’s essential to use them appropriately to maintain professionalism and effectiveness.

• Clarity and brevity: Keep emails concise and to the point. Long, rambling emails can dilute the message and lead to confusion.
• Subject lines: Use informative subject lines that clearly state the purpose of the email.
• Professional tone: Maintain a professional tone, even in quick replies.
• Immediate needs: Reserve instant messaging for conversations that require quick responses or for informal communication.
• Status updates: Use tools like Zenchat for quick updates or informal check-ins that don’t require a full email.

Best Practices for digital communication:

• Choose the right medium for the message – don’t discuss sensitive issues over casual platforms.
• Regularly update communication protocols to reflect new digital tools and uses.
• Train employees on digital etiquette, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful and respectful online interactions.

Final Thoughts

Mastering effective communication in the modern workplace is not just about exchanging information, but about cultivating a rich, productive environment where ideas can thrive and relationships can flourish.

Whether through improving active listening, embracing empathy, or harnessing technology, each strategy discussed provides a stepping stone towards transforming everyday interactions into a powerful tool for business success.

As we move forward, let us remember that the quality of our communication profoundly influences our collective and individual achievements. By applying these insights, we can all contribute to a more engaged, efficient, and understanding workplace.

What are your ways of improving communication in the workplace? As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time, Jessica and the Zenkit team 

FREE 20 MIN. CONSULTATION WITH A PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERT

Wanna see how to simplify your workflow with Zenkit in less than a day?

• collaboration tool
• communication at work
• communication in the workplace
• communication skills in the workplace
• communication tool
• effective communication
• good communication
• how to communicate better at work
• importance of communication
• organizational communication
• Project Management Tool
• team communication
• why is communication important

More from Pratik Shinde

35 Best Online Collaboration Tools for Teams in 2024

More from Alex Williams

What Are Flextime Policies?

Keep Your Team Connected with Virtual Team Bonding

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Zenkit Comment Policy

At Zenkit, we strive to post helpful, informative, and timely content. We want you to feel welcome to comment with your own thoughts, feedback, and critiques, however we do not welcome inappropriate or rude comments. We reserve the right to delete comments or ban users from commenting as needed to keep our comments section relevant and respectful.

What we encourage:

• Smart, informed, and helpful comments that contribute to the topic. Funny commentary is also thoroughly encouraged.
• Constructive criticism, either of the article itself or the ideas contained in it.
• Found technical issues with the site? Send an email to [email protected] and specify the issue and what kind of device, operating system, and OS version you are using.
• Noticed spam or inappropriate behaviour that we haven’t yet sorted out? Flag the comment or report the offending post to [email protected] .

What we’d rather you avoid:

Rude or inappropriate comments.

We welcome heated discourse, and we’re aware that some topics cover things people feel passionately about. We encourage you to voice your opinions, however in order for discussions to remain constructive, we ask that you remember to criticize ideas, not people.

Please avoid:

• name-calling
• ad hominem attacks
• responding to a post’s tone instead of its actual content
• knee-jerk contradiction

Comments that we find to be hateful, inflammatory, threatening, or harassing may be removed. This includes racist, gendered, ableist, ageist, homophobic, and transphobic slurs and language of any sort. If you don’t have something nice to say about another user, don't say it. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

Trolling or generally unkind behaviour

If you’re just here to wreak havoc and have some fun, and you’re not contributing meaningfully to the discussions, we will take actions to remove you from the conversation. Please also avoid flagging or downvoting other users’ comments just because you disagree with them.

Every interpretation of spamming is prohibited. This means no unauthorized promotion of your own brand, product, or blog, unauthorized advertisements, links to any kind of online gambling, malicious sites, or otherwise inappropriate material.

Comments that are irrelevant or that show you haven’t read the article

We know that some comments can veer into different topics at times, but remain related to the original topic. Be polite, and please avoid promoting off-topic commentary. Ditto avoid complaining we failed to mention certain topics when they were clearly covered in the piece. Make sure you read through the whole piece before saying your piece!

Breaches of privacy

This should really go without saying, but please do not post personal information that may be used by others for malicious purposes. Please also do not impersonate authors of this blog, or other commenters (that’s just weird).

Effective Communication in the Workplace

Navigating the Nuances of Language

Language is powerful. It can shape workplace dynamics, particularly during difficult conversations that make or break team cohesion. Words can build bridges or walls, influencing not just the outcome of specific interactions but the overall culture of an organization.

In professional settings, where trust and a sense of belonging are the bedrock of productivity and innovation, carefully selecting words can foster a supportive environment or contribute to feelings of isolation. Understanding this delicate balance is essential for anyone looking to lead, collaborate, and thrive.

Enter mindful communication—a balanced approach emphasizing awareness and intentionality in our interactions without veering into hypersensitivity or rigid dogmatism. This nuanced form of communication invites us to consider what we say and how we say it, recognizing that every word and phrase carries weight. This article explores several concepts of mindful communication so that our messages are understood in the spirit they were intended.

What You Say Matters

When it comes to being more mindful in our communication, a good place to start is by paying attention to the effectiveness of the words we use. Words can greatly impact the dynamics and outcomes of interactions—some are more effective than others at helping us communicate clearly and inclusively.

Effective words act as clarity enhancers. They are the tools that help reduce ambiguity so all team members have a shared understanding of tasks, goals, and expectations. Precision in language is crucial in complex or fast-paced environments where misinterpretation can lead to costly mistakes or delays. Moreover, words that promote a sense of unity are invaluable in fostering a sense of belonging and respect among teams. These words acknowledge contributions, encourage inclusivity, and celebrate team achievements, ultimately enhancing cohesion and morale.

Conversely, non-effective words can undermine workplace harmony and productivity. Divisive language, whether intentional or not, can create rifts between colleagues, bringing about feelings of exclusion or bias. These terms can detract from the collective goal of unity and shared success.

Similarly, confusion-makers—vague words with multiple interpretations—can be just as detrimental. They sow seeds of uncertainty, as team members may find themselves working based on assumptions that diverge from the intended direction or outcome.

The Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership at the Haas School of Business has developed several guides on mindful communication highlighting the adoption of more inclusive language. In their language glossary, they list four guiding principles that define inclusive language:

• Conveys respect to all people
• Communicates a message effectively through precise language
• Acknowledges diversity
• Involves continual improvement (1)

Being mindful of our words and language can increase the effectiveness of our communication and bridge divides—whether racial, gender, cultural, or any other. These mindful communication strategies are essential for fostering an environment where clarity, unity, and mutual respect prevail.

The Language Playbook

From casual encounters to heartfelt family conversations to critical workplace interactions, effective communication is less about rigid rules to be followed and more about the art of connection and expression.

That said, even the best communicators use specific principles to help them make the most of their words. The following guide offers insights and strategies not to constrain but to inspire the creation of more effective, universally resonant communication.

For Individuals

• Bilateral Communication: Recognize the importance of dialogue. Communication should be a two-way street where listening is as crucial as speaking. This approach fosters mutual understanding and respect. 
• Self-Reflection Over Judgement: Focus on refining your communication style rather than critiquing how others express themselves. This introspective approach can lead to more effective and respectful interactions.
• Inclusive Communication Practices: Use strategies that ensure all team members feel valued and heard. This can include using inclusive language and encouraging participation from everyone.
• The Power of Inquiry: Embrace asking questions to gain deeper understanding and clarify misconceptions. Thoughtful inquiries can open the door to meaningful conversations and insights.

For Organizations

• Linguistic Diversity Policies: Develop and implement policies that respect and celebrate linguistic differences among employees. This can help ensure all team members feel welcome. 
• Evolving Language: Commit to regularly revisiting and updating the organization's language use to stay aligned with changing norms and terminologies. This ensures that communication remains relevant and respectful.
• Seeking Clarification: Encourage asking for more information to provide opportunities for corrective action in a non-confrontational manner. This can prevent misunderstandings and foster a culture of open communication.
• Impact Awareness: Teach the importance of distinguishing between intent and impact. This awareness allows for constructive feedback and personal growth, acknowledging that words can have unintended effects.
• Commitment to Learning: Establish a culture of continuous education on effective communication practices. Emphasize the benefits of workshops, training sessions, and other learning opportunities to enhance communication skills across the organization.

The journey to mindful communication underscores its pivotal role in fostering a harmonious and productive workplace. By embracing clarity enhancers, unity promoters, and steering clear of divisive language and confusion-makers, we pave the way for more inclusive and effective interactions among team members. Such dedication not only enriches the work environment but also strengthens our professional relationships.

• Inclusive Terms Glossary, Berkeley Haas Center for Equity Gender & Leadership
• Language Playbook, Berkeley Haas Center for Equity Gender & Leadership
• Guide for having difficult discussions about race and identity, Berkeley Haas Center for Equity Gender & Leadership  

Dive Deeper

Take a deep-dive into this topic and gain expert, working knowledge by joining us for the programs that inspired it!

Equity Fluent Leadership Program

Learn why diversity & inclusion matter, how to drive impactful change, and research-driven methods to expand equity within your company.

Related Insights

How to Have Difficult Conversations

Mastering the art of difficult conversations has become an indispensable skill for leaders and employees alike. Whether it's navigating conflicts..

Cross-Cultural Communication

In today's globalized business environment, effectively communicating across cultures is not just an asset but a necessity. Multicultural teams are..

Enhancing Intergenerational Communication

Bridging geographical divides is a familiar hurdle for global and dispersed teams. However, an equally pressing yet often less addressed challenge..

• Online Degree Explore Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees
• MasterTrack™ Earn credit towards a Master’s degree
• University Certificates Advance your career with graduate-level learning
• Top Courses
• Join for Free

Verbal Communications and Presentation Skills

Taught in English

Financial aid available

3,402 already enrolled

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

Instructor: Tj Walker

Included with Coursera Plus

(19 reviews)

Recommended experience

Beginner level

To be successful in this course, no specific skills are required. The course is open to anyone looking to improve verbal communication skills.

What you'll learn

Express ideas clearly and persuasively

Engage audiences effectively

Deliver impactful presentations 

Develop effective speaking skills

Skills you'll gain

• Communication
• verbal communication
• Public Speaking

Details to know

Add to your LinkedIn profile

5 quizzes, 1 assignment

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

There is 1 module in this course

Welcome to the " Verbal Communications and Presentation Skills" course! Effective communication skills are vital in both professional and personal spheres. Imagine the confidence and comfort you would feel when communicating with colleagues, bosses, customers, prospects, or clients. This course empowers you to develop the necessary skills to become a proficient communicator.

Designed with hyper-efficient methods, this course equips you with all the essential tools to interact confidently with customers, clients, colleagues, and bosses in today's modern workplace. Within just 90 minutes, you will grasp the basics of communication skills, ensuring that you never feel awkward or uncomfortable in professional settings again. Whether you are conducting a meeting on Skype video or delivering a keynote presentation, this course enables you to exude confidence and ease, as if you were conversing with your best friend. It is designed for anyone seeking to communicate confidently and clearly in all business and personal situations. To fully participate in this course, you will need a cell phone, tablet, or computer with a webcam. Additionally, a willingness to practice speaking and communicating via video is crucial for enhancing your verbal communication skills. Embrace this opportunity to become a compelling and influential communicator in every aspect of your life.

Verbal Communication and Presentation Skills

Communication skills are essential in business and in life. Imagine yourself feeling comfortable and confident anytime you have to communicate with colleagues, bosses, customers, prospects, or clients. You can quickly walk and talk like someone who has experienced communication skills. This verbal communication course will give you all the tools you need to interact with customers, clients, colleagues, and bosses in the modern workplace. The course is designed with hyper-efficient methods so that you can learn all communication skills basics in 90min.

What's included

19 videos 3 readings 5 quizzes 1 assignment

19 videos • Total 79 minutes

• Introduction to the course and the instructor • 0 minutes • Preview module
• Quick Wins! The Secret to Using Speaker Notes Effectively • 1 minute
• You Are In Great Company - Find Out Who • 2 minutes
• Never Waste Time Starting a Presentation Again • 1 minute
• You Will Be Motivating, Not Data Dumping • 4 minutes
• Good news, the problems we think we have, aren't real • 5 minutes
• Direct versus indirect communication • 2 minutes
• Your Stories Will Make Your Ideas Unforgettable • 6 minutes
• Your PowerPoint Will Create Engagement, Not Slumber • 6 minutes
• Building an Ethical Cheat Sheet Just for You • 5 minutes
• This Is The Do Or Die Moment For Your Speaking Improvement • 5 minutes
• There Is a Perfect Test for Your Speech Or Presentation • 4 minutes
• It's Easy to pass a Test when the Answer Is right in front of you • 4 minutes
• You Are Normal to Fear Communicating In Some Circumstances • 3 minutes
• The Power of the Positive • 5 minutes
• Debunking the Myth of Charisma • 2 minutes
• Never Fall for These Communication Gimmicks Again! • 5 minutes
• Tips on how to Get Over Nervousness and Being Scared • 8 minutes
• You have Now Mastered Basic and Beyond Communication Skills • 1 minute

3 readings • Total 30 minutes

• Welcome to the Course • 10 minutes
• Public Speaking Success by TJ Walker • 10 minutes
• Secret to Foolproof Presentations by TJ Walker • 10 minutes

5 quizzes • Total 150 minutes

• Beginning your communication skills journey • 30 minutes
• Refining and testing your verbal skills • 30 minutes
• Speech, presentation and testing • 30 minutes
• More fundamentals, power of positive and myths • 30 minutes
• Overcoming nervousness and beyond communication skills • 30 minutes

1 assignment • Total 60 minutes

• Final Assessment • 60 minutes

Instructor ratings

We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

Our purpose at Starweaver is to empower individuals and organizations with practical knowledge and skills for a rapidly transforming world. By collaborating with an extensive, global network of proven expert educators, we deliver engaging, information-rich learning experiences that work to revolutionize lives and careers. Committed to our belief that people are the most valuable asset, we focus on building capabilities to navigate ever evolving challenges in technology, business, and design.

Recommended if you're interested in Business Essentials

Alfaisal University | KLD

الاعتراف بالإيراد | Revenue Recognition

University of California San Diego

Communicating with the Public

تقييم واستحواذ الشركات | Valuing and Acquiring a Business

البطالة | Unemployment

Why people choose coursera for their career.

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 19

Reviewed on Nov 3, 2023

I really have a lot of him I hope I will attend another course with him also I will be grateful if he receive my comment.

Reviewed on Sep 21, 2023

T J Walker is a master. Course developed by him is to the point and uncovers the common misunderstanding we have about preparation for a good presentation.

Reviewed on Nov 17, 2023

GENIUS EXCELLENT TEACHER AND CLASS! you will gain confidence!

New to Business Essentials? Start here.

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions

When will i have access to the lectures and assignments.

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

What is the refund policy?

You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy Opens in a new tab .

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions

• Choosing Workplace
• Customer Stories
• Workplace for Good
• Getting Started
• Why Workplace
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Future of Work
• How can Workplace help you?
• Business Communication
• Employee Engagement
• Strengthen Culture
• Getting Connected
• Frontline Workers
• Remote and Hybrid Working
• Integrations
• Interactive Demo
• Features at a Glance
• Connect to all your tools
• Workplace & Microsoft
• Integrations directory
• Knowledge Library
• Key Updates
• Auto-Translate
• Safety Center
• Access Codes
• Pricing Plans
• Forrester ROI Study
• Events & Webinars
• Ebooks & Guides
• Employee Experience
• Remote Working
• Team Collaboration
• Productivity
• Become A Partner
• Service & Reseller Partners
• Integrations Partners
• Start Using Workplace
• Mastering Workplace Features
• Workplace Use Cases
• Technical Resources
• Work Academy
• Help Center
• Customer Communities
• What's New in Workplace
• Set up Guides
• Domain Management
• Workplace Integrations
• Account Management
• Authentication
• IT Configuration
• Account Lifecycle
• Security and Governance
• Workplace API
• Getting started
• Using Workplace
• Managing Workplace
• IT and Developer Support
• Get in touch

The 8 most powerful presentation styles

Whatever you’re presenting - a business pitch, a company-wide message, a training course - you’ll want to make the maximum impact. We’ve got tips from the experts on delivering presentations that pack a punch.

Untangle work with Workplace

From informing everyone about the return to the office to adopting a hybrid way of working, Workplace makes work more simple.

Types of presentation styles

There’s a lot of theory around presentation styles. Which is unsurprising given they're still such a critical part of business communication . So whether you're using multiple, quick-fire slides to data-driven presentations packed with facts and figures, or taking a storytelling approach using anecdotes to capture your audience - there are all kinds of techniques you can use to present.

But while it’s helpful to know about different presentation types, most of us will have the same questions about how to make presenting work for us. How can we achieve what we want to with our presentations? How can we connect with people? And how can we make sure we’re engaging - not boring - our audience? Here’s what the experts think.

1. Know why you’re presenting

Before you get into creating beautiful slides and rehearsing your script in front of the mirror, it’s worth stepping back and thinking about what you want your presentation to do.

A person who knows plenty about this is Jesse Evans, self-described Customer Education and Training Geek at Workplace . “Whether you're presenting or you're teaching, you're always in the position of persuading people,” he says. “You're trying to change a behavior. That's always the goal. There's something you want somebody to do differently, or to think differently afterwards.”

David Bliss, founder of training and coaching company Brunel Harper , agrees. “You need to know your story journey,” he says. “What is it you want to achieve? What do you want your audience to feel? What do you want them to do at the end of this, and how will you know they’re going to do it?”

Once you know the answers to these questions, you can start shaping your presentation.

2. Presenting is not about you

Every presenter worries about them - how should they introduce themselves? How are they coming across? What presentation technique should they use? But getting too hung up on these things is a mistake, according to the experts.

Long intros, for example, are a no-no. People just aren’t interested. “Establish just enough about yourself that you seem credible, that you’re worth listening to - and then convince them with the things you say and the way you say them, that you are, in fact, credible,” says Jesse.

“A presentation is only about the audience,” David agrees. “Too often, presentations become about that person's experience or that company's experience and knowledge. But, in fact, if you're presenting to a group of people, they're only interested in what they need to understand. It is a given that you have the expertise and the skill.”

3. Presenting techniques: Question. Listen. Respond

“‘Never tell somebody something that they can tell you’ is the most important rule you’ll ever learn,” Jesse says. To get people to tell you things, you need to ask questions, but you first need to create a safe space for people to participate. Encourage people to speak and be brave enough to wait for responses. “Follow the seven-second rule,” Jesse instructs. “Ask a question, always repeat it, but give them at least seven seconds to respond. And don't respond to the first thing that comes in out of sheer relief.”

If people are very reluctant and you’re presenting virtually, private chat can be your friend - talking about questions you see there (even if there aren’t any yet) can encourage people to join in.

Once they start talking, validate what people say. "Always answer and acknowledge by name,” Jesse tells us. “Build up enough of this and people will feel pretty good and be willing to take risks.”

Also, think about how you respond. “Heighten your listening skills, but, most importantly, only use the language that your audience uses,” says David. “Don't reinterpret it. When you use their language it informs the person who’s asked the question that you’ve listened to them fully.”

4. Be flexible when presenting

It’s the day of the big pitch. Your team collaboration has been slick and put in hours of rehearsals. But just when you think things are running smoothly, the prospective client throws a curveball of a question. Problem? Not necessarily, says David. Dealing with changes of direction can be crucial to success.

“I always say get interaction very early on and your audience will tell you what they really want to know, and it might not be what you've prepared,” he says.

“The teams who actually listen out for any kind of verbal cue from people, where they think, ‘Actually, they're also asking about this. How do we adapt in the moment?’ are often the ones that get the work because they're deemed to be flexible. They listen. They're all about what they're hearing rather than about what their agenda is.”

5. PowerPoint is not your presentation podium

At some point, all presenters will think - a lot - about their slides. So how do you make sure they work to make your presentation better rather than bog it down?

“PowerPoint is there to give you some visuals and help people remember core concepts. It's not there to be your script.” Jesse insists. “PowerPoints are like podiums. Having one - if you use it well, can be great - but many people end up hanging on it, and they’re static. That means you’re not using your space, and you’re not really engaging. But PowerPoint’s not really the problem, it’s the way people use it.”

The key is not to overload people with super-complicated slides.

“Use slides to punctuate points in time and tee up questions,” Jesse explains. “Visual clutter is obviously a legitimate problem, so for visuals, have just a few, especially when it comes to words - only a few words on a slide, and a relatively clean space so that the brain only has to focus on the important stuff.”

6. Think presentation techniques

Whatever your overall approach, there are a few tried and trusted techniques for getting your messages across.

For demonstrating decision-making, for example, Jesse advocates the ‘I do, we do, you do’ format. Demonstrate the process and the line of thinking, then work on an applied situation together that mirrors the decision making process. Finally, you give the audience a chance to figure out a second scenario on their own and then use questions make sure they came to the right conclusion for the right reasons.

Or try problem-solution:

• Think of the things you want people to do differently
• Encourage audiences to tell you about the problem they're trying to solve
• Position what you want them to do as the solution

Jesse explains: “For example, in my presentation skills class, I'll say, ‘What makes a presentation boring?' Think about virtual presentations you've joined before, and consider the things speakers did that made it a bad experience."

“They’ve told you that these things are problems, so everyone's on the same page. Now when you give them this new behavior change, you position it as a solution to a problem that they've decided is a legitimate problem.”

7. Virtual works for presentations

The pandemic has transformed how we do presentations . Suddenly, we’re in front of a screen rather than a training or conference room. And that’s not just different - it can be better.

“Everybody can talk,” says Jesse. “You have a chatbox. Everybody can jump in and ask a question to get help. That gives you more ability to engage people, but it means that you have to do it differently.

“I think the biggest sin that you could ever commit in virtual - and everybody does it - is to say that you're going to have an open Q and A at the end, and ask viewers to hold their questions until then."

To stop this happening, you need help - someone to pick up questions in chat. “You want one volunteer per 50 people,” says Jesse. “I've presented to thousands of people, and had a small army of specialists who take questions as they come in - you can still make sure everyone's got this amazing experience even though there are literally thousands of them.”

When you’re presenting virtually , you’re the Director - so get the staging right. “Your eye levels and head levels should match the audience,” says David. “You should be able to look directly into the camera. It’s very important that you’re lit from two directions so there are no shadows. And your background should be neutral so people aren’t wondering what the book in the background is or thinking that your plant needs watering."

“Raise your gestures slightly higher than you normally would. Use them to create emphasis and be aware that they need to be clearly seen.”

8. Be yourself when you present

Whatever techniques you use, success will partly hinge on how real and credible you seem as a person. So how do you find your unique presentation style?

“One of the key things about presentations is that we need to trust the person speaking to us,” says David. “If we see someone with all their foibles, we trust it more than if we feel someone's trying to perform something.

“Communicating and presenting is not rocket science,” he continues. “You can do technical things that enable you to get better and more fluid - but they're just disciplines, and it's not too different from driving a car.

“The key is not the technical ability - to move and to gesture and to have a strong voice. What you have to overcome first is, ‘Do I believe I should be there?’ If you don't, or if there's any element of imposter syndrome or insecurity, you have to tackle that first.”

“I think there's always this weird tension between the things that you know are effective and the things that are authentic to you,” says Jesse. “If you're really lucky, it turns out they're very similar things. Before you can develop your style - and it's important because audiences can smell a lack of authenticity - you have to learn what does, in fact, work.

“Too often we say, ‘All options are equally valid.’ They're actually not. There are some things that work, there are some things that don't work, some things that will work for you that might not work for someone else, but there is actually a mechanical series of things to learn.

“So first you have to figure out what actually works, then you figure out how you can put your personality into it.”

You might also be interested in:

• Effective meeting strategies
• Business communication strategies and why organizations need them
• Corporate communication and how to get it right

Let's Stay Connected

Get the latest news and insights from the frontline of work.

By submitting this form, you agree to receive marketing-related electronic communications from Facebook, including news, events, updates and promotional emails. You may withdraw your consent and unsubscribe from such emails at any time. You also acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Workplace Privacy terms.

How to solve your business communication problems

Download a free guide to discover post-covid strategies from world-class communication leaders., recent posts.

Business Communication | 8 minute read

Tips for effective meeting strategies

A guide to getting the most out of meetings in a work-from-anywhere world.

Business Communication | 10 minute read

Business communication strategies and why organizations need them.

Organizations had to rethink their communication strategies when people started working remotely during lockdown. Now, as some people begin returning to the workplace, businesses need to think again. Learn how to get started.

Business Communication | 7 minute read

What is corporate communication and how can you get it right?

In the new work-from-anywhere world, good corporate communication can bring employees together wherever they are. Here’s how to get it right.

15 Tips for Effective Communication in the Workplace

Posted: March 20, 2024 | Last updated: March 20, 2024

Continuously Improve

Stay Positive

Foster a Feedback Culture

Use Non-Verbal Cues

Practice Diplomacy

Respect Differences

Encourage Open Dialogue

Clarify Expectations

Provide Constructive Feedback

Practice Empathy

Be Approachable

Choose the Right Medium

Clear and Concise Messages

Active Listening

More for you.

Megan Fox Signs With UTA

19 Things That Will Happen When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

Here's No. 1 thing mentally strong couples 'never' do, says relationship therapist of 20 years

12 Secret Ingredients Grandma Used in Her Meatloaf

I Am Doing a PhD at 16—My Mother's Death Is the Reason

A woman said her tattoos got her rejected for a job, but experts say personality is far more important

'Office' actress Angela Kinsey reveals she once asked a producer to remove a judgmental joke about Christians

Ghosts of the USA: The Most Haunted Places in America

If you and your partner use any of these 5 phrases regularly, your relationship is stronger than most

30 Random Bits of Trivia We Cooked Up With a Secret Ingredient (Factual Accuracy)

Starbucks’ ‘best drink ever’ is back – and 5 more items are joining the summer menu

Therapists Say These Are Red Flags That You’re Actually *Too* Independent

17 Phrases Older People Use That No One Else Gets

Democrats won't back Johnson's resignation, congressman says

30 food items that you might not know are banned in America

Martin Freeman reflects on age-gap controversy with Jenna Ortega in 'Miller's Girl'

Barack Obama shares his No. 1 piece of advice for his own daughters: Don't let your hunger for success ruin your happiness

Marriage counsellor shares one sign your relationship is really over

Broncos beat 3 teams (including the Raiders) to sign Jaylon Allen

We Ordered 7 Fast-Food Breakfast Sandwiches to Find the Best One

Communication in the Workplace

Mar 03, 2012

5.86k likes | 14.32k Views

Communication in the Workplace. Ma. Lourdes V. Rodriguez, MBA. SEMINAR Objectives:. To be able to define Communication. To be able to i dentify the two types of C ommunication (verbal and non-verbal). To be able to give suggestions and tips on how to communicate in the workplace.

Share Presentation

• clinic registrar security guard
• school college university
• student services discipline
• your school
• team communication

Presentation Transcript

Communication in the Workplace Ma. Lourdes V. Rodriguez, MBA MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

SEMINAR Objectives: • To be able to define Communication. • To be able to identify the two types of Communication (verbal and non-verbal). • To be able to give suggestions and tips on how to communicate in the workplace. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Good communication is a key part of success in the workplace. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Without communication skills we are unable to let others know what we think, feel, or want to accomplish. We are unable to build partnerships, motivate others, or resolve conflict.  MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

ACTIVITY • GROUP YOURSELVES • GIVE A NAME FOR YOUR GROUP – NAME SHOULD RELATE TO COMMUNICATION. Example: Bloggers • WRITE DOWN THE DIFFERENT WORKPLACES THAT YOU CAN THINK OF IN YOUR SCHOOL/COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

What is a workplace? Dictionary definition - A place, such as an office or factory, where people are employed. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Administration office Accounting office Human Resources Office Bookstore Maintenance office Engineering office General Services Clinic Registrar Security Guard office Student Services Discipline office Campus Ministry office Others What is our workplace? MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Communication • The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior. • The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas. • Acceptable communication differs from company to company, but many aspects are universal. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Tips to help us communicate effectively in the workplace Listen - When you listen to others attentively it makes them feel good. It also makes for a deeper and more positive connection with others. In turn, you form an understanding and they will listen to you when it’s your turn to speak. Poor listening happens often and resultsin misunderstandings andmiscommunications. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

ACTIVITY • HOW GOOD A LISTENER ARE YOU? MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

     A well-liked college teacher had just completed making up the final examinations and had turned off the lights in the office.  Just then a tall, dark, broad figure appeared and demanded the examination.  The professor opened the drawer.   Everything in the drawer was picked up and the individual ran down the corridor.  The Dean was notified immediately. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Answer the Questions • 1.  The thief was tall, dark, and broad.                • 2.  The professor turned off the lights.           • 3.  A tall figure demanded the examination.          • 4.  The examination was picked up by someone           • 5.  The examination was picked up by the professor.      MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Answer True or False • 6.   A tall, dark figure appeared after the professor • turned off the lights in the office.                           • 7.  The man who opened the drawer was the professor.     • 8.  The professor ran down the corridor.              • 9.  The drawer was never actually opened.          • 10. In this report three persons are referred to. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

T T T T F 6. F 7. T 8. F 9. F 10. T ANSWERS MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

INTERPRETATION OF SCORES • 8PTS – 10 PTS - ACTIVE LISTENER • 5 PTS- 7 PTS – AVERAGE • BELOW 5 PTS – NEEDS TO BE MORE ATTENTIVE. • 1 POINT PER CORRECT ANSWER MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE? • Have Intention - Ask yourself what your intention is before starting a project, going to a meeting, or speaking to someone. • You can also ask others what their intentionsare in similar situations. Knowing your intention will help you be more conscious of what you’re doing or saying. • which means you’ll be able to be moreeffective and skillful. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Speak Clearly - Take a deepbreath and remain positive whentalking to people. Try to cut outthe “ums,” “uh-hmms” and “ahhs;”these make it difficult for peopleto understand what you’re tryingto communicate. Try to keep yourvoice steady and don’t talk tooquickly or too quietly. Be confident in what you’re sayingand others will feel yourconfidence too. SPEAK CLEARLY MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

BE GENUINE • Be Genuine - Being genuine can includespeaking honestly, expressing excitementor sadness when you feel like it, and beingfriendly. • There is nothing wrong withsaying, “no, I don’t really agree with that,”or “you know, I think you’ve changed mymind!” However, don’t be rude. “I wasjust being honest” is not a good excusefor being harsh. • Being genuine builds yourconfidence. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Be Receptive • Be open to whatothers are saying or offering. • Often, people restrict the flow ofideas or communication becausethey’re making too manyassumptions or are being too quickto judge and criticize. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

GROUP ACTIVITY • LOOK AT THE LIST OF WORKPLACES IN YOUR SCHOOL. RATE THEM FROM THE LEAST TO THE MOST NUMBER OF TIMES IN A DAY THAT YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THAT DEPARTMENT. • EX: VPA- 2X, ACCTG- 5X, HR- 4 X, ETC. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

CommunicationFlow MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Downward communication, Upward communication, Lateral communication, and the Grapevine. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Downward Workplace Communication: Enabling • Let's focus first on downward communication in the workplace, and a couple of its important characteristics. Consider these common, downward forms of workplace communication: • A manager explains a task to an employee • A customer gives an order to a supplier • Shareholders instruct management. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Enabling • These forms have more than direction in common. Each one also provides enabling information in the workplace. When a manager instructs an employee, she enables the employee to do his job, and makes it possible for him to earn a living by doing something that has value for the employer. • Another example: senior management finds out from shareholders, or the board of directors, how owners want to apply the money they've invested. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

And, as information moves downward in the workplace, it grows increasingly detailed. Make a Budget report Make a Budget report for the month to include the following Make sure the report includes the exact amount and the qty. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

All organizations of more than one person must use workplace communication in one way or another. • One person must give another instructions before any activity can occur. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

At each stage in the downward flow of communication, people in the organization receive information to help them do their jobs. And, at each stage the information become less abstract, more specific, and more detailed. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

GROUP ACTIVITY • ILLUSTRATE AN EXAMPLE OF A DOWNWARD COMMUNICATION THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. • SHOW THAT IT BECOMES MORE DETAILED AS IT GOES DOWN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Upward Communication: Compliance • A second major flow of communication is upward, from employee to supervisor, supervisor to department head, department head to vice president, and so on. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Less detail • Now, turning to upward communication, we know that the staff at the registrar or accounting department will report back to the section head on their number of enrolees. • The college account, in turn, will report, in less detail, to the VPAA about enrollment figures. • Finally, VPAA will report to the President on how well the College is doing for SY 2008-2009. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Group activity • ILLUSTRATE AN EXAMPLE OF UPWARD COMMUNICATION THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. • SHOW THAT IT BECOMES LESS DETAILED AS IT GOES UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Lateral communication: Coordination • Now, think of the information that flows back and forth between you and your peers, whether you're a front-line worker, a manager, or a member of the board of directors. This is lateral communication. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Characteristics • First, no superior/subordinate relationship exists here; it's strictly a case of two people with roughly equal amounts of power and prestige. That makes this form of communication voluntary and discretionary. • Yes, the boss may tell us to communicate with each other, but unless we both want to do it, we're not going to exchange much information of value. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

That takes us to the second aspect, the idea of reciprocating. • The quality and quantity of information we provide to our peers generally reflects what we get back from them. I may provide good information to you when we start working together, but I won't continue to provide it unless you reciprocate in kind. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Team Communication • Team communication is a special form of lateral communication, and an essential one. • For teamwork in the workplace, members must not only communicate with each other, but will often need to communicate with peers outside their immediate group. • Leaders will need to keep these communication flows in mind, as well as the upward and downward flows that connect them directly to their co-employees. • Communication for team building and just plain teamwork and is many-faceted and requires consistent attention. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

The Grapevine: Filling the Gaps • It’s Tuesday morning, and John down the hall just emptied out his desk and left the building. Apparently for good. • Everyone wants an answer to the same question: "Why?" If there's no official answer, and sometimes even if there is one, the people around him begin speculating about possible reasons. • This is a communication channel that no one owns and no one controls. And while we might complain about gossips and busybodies, we all use it sooner or later. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

It has a function • Despite its many faults, though, the grapevine does have a place, a function, in all organizations. It fills in gaps left behind by conventional and official communication. • As I've said, downward communication delivers enabling information from superior to subordinate, while upward communication involves compliance information reported back to the superior by the subordinate. And, lateral communication takes place between peers, helping us coordinate with each other. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

New tools • Traditionally, the grapevine revolved around mouth-to-mouth communication, with only occasional bits of information written down or put on paper. • But, new technologies mean change. The Internet opened up all kinds of new opportunities for unofficial communication. Email, it's true, may be monitored, but that's easily circumvented. For example, free, anonymous email accounts offered all over the Net. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Then, there are photocopiers and fax machines, both of which can be used to surreptitiously maintain the grapevine. And how about cell phones, which provide an alternate means of mouth-to-mouth communication, even when you're at the office. • While technologies enabling the grapevine may change, the same human traits continue to fuel this communication channel. They include our natural curiosity and our desire to influence the way others think and behave. Don't forget, either, about the need to get even or to belittle, which fuel many rumors that course through grapevines. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Speed • Where downward, upward, and lateral communication are structured and flow formally through specific channels, the grapevine goes through multiple channels and even multiple versions. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Communication Flow • downward, or enabling, communication that moves instructions and other directive information down or through a hierarchy • upward, or compliance, communication that provides feedback to the people who originate downward communication • lateral, or coordinating, communication that moves between peers to maintain or improve operational efficiency • the grapevine, which fills in gaps in official communication and provides answers to unaddressed questions. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Why is effective communication essential in the workplace? • Communication: we are constantly bombarded by it. It may be in the form of spoken or written words, pictures, gestures, symbols and (for an interesting few) telepathic messages from a variety of intriguing sources. But in the workplace, effective communication is essential to our progress and well being. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

What is your communicating style? • Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. Understanding your personal style of communicating will go a long way toward helping you to create good and lasting impressions on others MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

By becoming more aware of how others perceive you, you can adapt more readily to their styles of communicating. MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Three basic communication styles: • Aggressive • Passive • Assertive MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Beliefs "Everyone should be like me." "I am never wrong." "I've got rights, but you don't." Communication Style Close minded Poor listener Has difficulty seeing the other person's point of view Interrupts Monopolizing Elements of the Aggressive Style MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Characteristics Achieves goals, often at others' expense Domineering, bullying Patronizing Condescending, sarcastic Behavior Puts others down Doesn't ever think they are wrong Bossy Moves into people's space, overpowers Jumps on others, pushes people around Know-it-all attitude Doesn't show appreciation MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Nonverbal Cues Points, shakes finger Frowns Squints eyes critically Glares Stares Rigid posture Critical, loud, yelling tone of voice Fast, clipped speech Verbal Cues "You must (should, ought better)." "Don't ask why. Just do it." Verbal abuse Confrontation and Problem Solving Must win arguments, threatens, attacks Operates from win/lose position MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Feelings Felt Anger Hostility Frustration Impatience Effects Provokes counteraggression, alienation from others, ill health Wastes time and energy oversupervising others Pays high price in human relationships Fosters resistance, defiance, sabotaging, striking back, forming alliances, lying, covering up Forces compliance with resentment MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

Elements of the Passive Style • Beliefs • "Don't express your true feelings." • "Don't make waves." • "Don't disagree." • "Others have more rights than I do." • Communication Style • Indirect • Always agrees • Doesn't speak up - Hesitant MLVR-OCTOBER 24, 2008

• More by User

Effective Communication in the Workplace

Effective Communication in the Workplace. About your facilitators. Brenda Watkins, Trainer, Special Projects

2.24k views • 54 slides

Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace

Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace. Based on Chapter 7, Goodall and Goodall Lynne Dahmen. COM 2301: Advanced Speech. How do we make first impressions?. Perceptions (appearance, voice, language use) Schemata Person Prototypes Personql Constructs Scripts/phatic communication.

2.45k views • 34 slides

Intercultural Communication in the Workplace

Culture. Learned patterns of behavior and attitudes shared by a group of people - languages, practices, beliefs, values, rituals, and relationships. Learned Behavior. Cultural Identities. Who are we?How are we influenced by cultures we belong to?. Personal Space. Bubble size depends on your cultur

689 views • 15 slides

Unit 4. Communication in the Workplace . Facilitator Support Materials for Communication in the Workplace . Unit Aim. The aim of this unit is for learners to develop knowledge, understanding and the skills required for effective communication in the workplace. .

893 views • 16 slides

Showdown: Conflict communication in the workplace

475 views • 21 slides

Intercultural Communication in the Workplace. Intercultural Communication Challenges. Communication dependant on cultural upbringing On autopilot Use symbolic systems learned as children to understand messages Use their own cultural norms. Intercultural Communication Challenges.

1.89k views • 32 slides

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE (2D)

NEW. COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE (2D). Date : 3 rd – 4 th March 2014 Venue : Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya. PROGRAM OUTCOME. PROGRAM OVERVIEW .

206 views • 4 slides

Emotional Communication in the workplace

Emotional Communication in the workplace. Com 3068 - Medved. Rational/logical and emotional. What assumptions do you make about how people act and/or interact in the workplace? Do you assume that workers behave logically and/or rationally in the workplace?

402 views • 8 slides

Workplace communication

KHALIL BAHAD. Workplace communication. INTRODUCTION. The importance of the relationship in a work place Conflicts in a workplace Improving work place relationship. The importance of the relationship. Good relationship is the heart of management

626 views • 7 slides

COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE

COMMUNICATION AT WORKPLACE. I ntroduction.

408 views • 17 slides

CHAPTER 10 Communication in the Workplace

CHAPTER 10 Communication in the Workplace. Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology by Ronald E. Riggio. The Communication Process: A Definition and Model. Communication is the passage of information between one person or group to another person or group.

2.24k views • 25 slides

Communication Skills in the Workplace

Communication Skills in the Workplace. What Does “Communication Skills” Actually Mean?. Non-verbal communication skills (NVCS) refers to the ability to convey a message without words through facial expressions, body language, eye contact, etc. http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfDWQG47pAQ

2.68k views • 26 slides

Communication in the Workplace. Susan Hays, MA/HRM Mariposa Consulting NCMA Winter Education Conference February 23, 2007. Miscommunication is the Norm.

1.64k views • 30 slides

Communication in the Workplace. Good communication is a key part of success in the workplace. Without communication skills we are unable to let others know what we think, feel, or want to accomplish. We are unable to build partnerships, motivate others, or resolve conflict. .

6.9k views • 59 slides

Engineering Improved Communication in the Workplace

Engineering Improved Communication in the Workplace. Tracey Derwing Dept. of Educational Psychology, U of A PMC Research Symposium, Edmonton, January 23, 2009. Acknowledgements. Murray Munro Ron Thomson Jacqui Dumas Anna DeLuca Paul Holmes Participants & their employers SSHRC.

732 views • 59 slides

Communication in the Workplace. Ms. Smith. What is Communication?. Communication is the process of exchanging messages between a sender and receiver. In order to have communication skills, you must be able to: Listen Read Speak Write. Channels vs. Media….

838 views • 19 slides

Ways to Improve Communication in the Workplace

https://www.paramountplus.com.au/training/communication-training/ - Effective соmmunісаtіоn іn thе wоrkрlасе іѕ a vіtаl соg in a smoothly running рrоfеѕѕіоnаl mасhіnе. This іѕ truе fоr a number оf reasons. Fоr one, іt keeps everybody оn thе ѕаmе page and аllоwѕ fоr a steady flow оf рrоduсtіоn.

118 views • 2 slides

Workplace Communication Challenges

Workplace Communication Challenges. Employers clearly want employees who communicate well: 40 million people in the U.S. alone have limited literacy skills, including some college graduates. States spend more than $220 million annually on remedial writing programs for employees .

968 views • 23 slides

631 views • 59 slides