Maris Prakonekham

Effective Communication in the Workplace

Start by showing pictures of people talking in an office (maybe pictures from the show

The Office to relate to the audience)

Have you ever felt misunderstood in your workplace?

Well, it may be a cause of ineffective communication.

(Show pictures of an ear “X” out)

Communication is an essential tool in the workplace that can make or break a

company but it must be done effectively. Communication skills have help create a more

productive and positive work environment increasing team effectiveness. It is an

essential element to a business’ success.

“Effectively Communicating in the Workplace” shows on the screen

(Picture of “Effective Communication Cycle”) Communication is the means of

transmitting information and making oneself understood by another or others. The

stages of the communication process are encoding, channel, decoding, receiver,

feedback, and context.

(Present pictures of people listening) It is important to be an active listener to

avoid misunderstandings. Here are some examples on how to be a better active

listener.

(Present pictures of body language) When speaking to someone it is important to

remember your body. No one will receive your message the way you want it if you are

hunched over or speaking in a low voice. Try to use lots of eye contact and bring people

in with a strong clear voice. When listening nod in agreement or use sub-vocalizations.
When speaking, use appropriate gestures like pointing to the whiteboard when making

presentations.

(Present pictures of a mouth, tone) Whether it is in an email or face-to-face, it is

important to think about how you may be perceived to another. In written text, it is much

harder to recognize a person’s tone and are often the root of miscommunications. In

spoken communication, it can convey tone and clarification but that can be positive or

negative. When considering your tone, use appropriate words and avoid discriminatory

language. If you believe there may have been a miscommunication in written text try

meeting the person on a call or face-to-face to address your actual meaning.

(Pictures of people in the workplace slideshow with the bullet points) Some other things

to remember about effective communication in the workplace:

● Use words that can be easily understood.

● Avoid unnecessary repetition.

● If conflicts arise, address them immediately.

● Keep cultural differences in mind.

● Don’t just hear, listen.

● Be professional and keep your emotions out.