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Communicating effectively at work is essential to workplace harmony and productivity, whether you’re communicating in person, sending email, or using social media. Below are some smart ideas when communicating face to face.

 

Listen: Really listen. Instead of interrupting, preparing your response, or assuming what a co-worker will say, give the speaker your full, undivided attention. It’s the only way to understand what the person needs or wants.

 

Rephrase: To make sure you understand what you’ve been told or what has been requested of you, restate what your boss or co-worker has said. This helps clear up any confusion, and repeating the information will help you remember it.

 

Keep it Professional: We all want to get along with our colleagues, but don’t take the casual banter too far at work. Keep the cursing and stories about last weekend’s escapades for after hours. Communicating in too casual a way can make your office mates uncomfortable. And, as always, practice. Look for opportunities to improve your skills. How your co-workers respond to your communication is great feedback for you.

 

Stay tuned for next week’s post where we’ll have some good ideas for communicating in writing.

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