Good communication is an essential business skill. Employers and coworkers value people who communicate effectively. Listening, speaking, writing, and other communication skills help you and your coworkers succeed in the workplace.

What Is Effective Workplace Communication?

Effective communication depends on the message content, how you emotionally present information, awareness of cultural situations, and the recipient's understanding of your message. Effective workplace communication is often difficult. You need to understand communication variables and successfully implement these for different audiences.

Communication Skills

When using communication skills, you often use various skills to give information to others. Here are the primary communication skills.

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication is using your spoken words to give information. You use verbal communication in person, by telephone, through online interaction, and public speaking. Verbal communication expresses emotions, shares information, facilitates collaborations, and helps negotiate and resolve conflicts.

Emotional Communication

Emotional communication is part of verbal communication. When you speak, emotional communication informs your audience's response. For example, if you greet your coworkers with a happy tone, they have an emotional cue to respond similarly. These emotional cues are necessary for verbal communication to be successful.

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is how you communicate with your body. How you stand, your physical gestures and your facial expressions are examples of nonverbal communication. A smile or a handshake signifies to your audience friendliness, and they know to respond alike.

Active Listening

Active listening is paying attention to others and engaging with another person's verbal communication. Without active listening and responses, you miss vital information that is part of verbal communication.

Written Communication

Written communication conveys information through writing. In the professional workplace, you use written communication to inform, inspire, share information, keep records, and persuade coworkers and clients. Written communication is words and symbols across many genres and channels in the workplace. Texts, long-form content, and infographics that combine visuals and text are examples of written communication.

Visual Communication

Visual communication is using charts, images, graphs, and other visuals to create communication. These visuals often combine with written communication to convey information. An example of visual communication is an infographic.

Benefits of Effective Workplace Communication

A benefit for you and your coworkers with communication is you build healthy relationships, educate, and establish clarity in team situations. Accurately conveyed information keeps everyone on the same track. More importantly, effective communication creates trust and stronger morale in team situations, leading to greater team cooperation and effort. The result of effective workplace communication is productivity and success. For your customers, a functional workplace means they can trust your brand and your business. With a unified message from management and employees, customers know your business will communicate effectively with them.

Effective Workplace Communication Tips

For effective workplace communication, you need each communication form. These tips are helpful for your communication skills for each skill you require.

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication helps you inform and persuade. For great verbal skills, you need to think before speaking. Take time to reflect before answering to organize your thoughts and present them concisely. Present your information in as few words as possible. Before you give information, understand your audience. Some people have different levels of knowledge than you, especially when you talk about complex, technical subjects. Take into the demographics and cultural background of your audience.

Emotional Communication

Be mindful of your tone when you speak. Your vocal tone plays an important part in verbal communication. Using a friendly, warm tone when you speak with people is better than using a flat monotone. In difficult situations, maintain an even, calm tone to keep situations from escalating. Showing interest and keeping your emotions under control makes you approachable and respected.

Written Communication

State your goal about what you want to convey to the reader. Use simple language and avoid jargon. Know your audience and the tone you need to use with your audience. Formal or informal language depends on the intended audience. Avoid slang, obscene, or derogatory language. Always proofread your work for spelling and grammar.

Nonverbal Communication

Your body language affects how people perceive your messages. Convey confident body language with eye contact and relaxed body language. Avoid nervous gestures such as hand wringing. When using body language, avoid offensive gestures. Cultural awareness is essential in professional body language. Learn about what is appropriate in different cultures and respect these boundaries. Practice confident body language in front of a mirror and observe how other speakers present themselves during speeches and meetings.

Active Listening

Active listening is an essential part of verbal communication. Listening conveys your interest in the person with whom you have a conversation. Give the person your full attention. Don't interrupt. Clarify issues you need help understanding. Active listening helps when exchanging information. Pay attention to make sure you get all critical points in the discussion.

Visual Communication

Visual communication is an easy way to show information, especially with language barriers. A successful image conveys information without resorting to many words. Visual communication is noticeable where written communication fails to get attention. For successful visual communication, you need to make your visuals colorful and related to your branding. Use fitting icons and illustrations related to the information you want to convey. Use mindfulness about the images you use to make your audience comfortable. Avoid offensive images. Instead, use images celebrating diversity.

One consideration when using inclusive visual communication is for people with low vision or who are blind. For access issues, use descriptive text with images and alt-image text—research alt-text standards at the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). The W3C WAI creates international standards for web-based visual communication and web authoring for people with low vision or blindness.

When you communicate professionally, your goal is to persuade, inform, and inspire. With the practice of your emotional, active listening, verbal, and nonverbal skills, your contributions to your workplace are valuable. Your written and visual communication skills are part of a successful career.

Effective communication makes your career easier. Developing effective communication gives you leadership and team member skills. For more career information, see ChenMed's career site. To learn about career opportunities and to receive exclusive content, join our Talent Community.

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