Written by: Virin Gomber, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Communication in the workplace is more than how well you collaborate with others. It's about developing relationships, minimizing mistakes, and, most importantly, working as efficiently as possible to achieve your defined goals.
Collaboration is also essential to the success of your team as it contributes to functional efficacy. If the team can't agree on what it's doing (i.e., "what" it wants to accomplish), it won't be able to figure out what each team member's role will be in achieving the team's goal (i.e., "how" it will get there).
The Importance of Effective Communication
When a message is sent and received correctly, it is usually described to be effective communication. Just because you think you are communicating ideas and information effectively in your organization does not mean it is. Improved Communication can improve teamwork and project collaboration. Maintaining effective internal communication within the organization keeps the management and the team on the same page. This means that employees are confident in their work, and managers are convinced that team members are carrying it out correctly. Collaboration, on the other hand, improves how your team works together and solves problems. This results in more innovation, efficient processes, and enhanced communication, leading to ongoing success. You can help one another reach your goals by listening to and learning from other team members. Collaboration requires effort and time, but the benefits to your team are well worth it. Remember that communication is the most critical component of any collaborative process. Workplace interactions are no exception. Excellent business communication is a vital component of daily efficiency. Workflows (as the name implies) flow when everyone is clear about their roles and responsibilities.
3 Key Mistakes in Communication
Here are three common communication errors that usually result in misunderstandings or miscommunication:
Speaking more than listening
It bears repeating: Communication is a two-way street. People often assume that their opinions and the information they wish to impart are more critical as they advance in their careers or age. They forget that other people have vital information to share as well. It is always better to listen than to speak.
Not checking that you have been understood
It is essential to check back with your listener(s) to ensure that your message has been understood. Since we have already mentioned that communication is a two-way process, make note that if your message is not heard and understood, it will not be acted upon.
Take time to check that your audience has understood. Above all, be open to questions, and consider giving your answer in different ways from your original message.
Failure to ensure that you have understood
The other side of the coin is it’s critical to ensure that you have correctly understood others. Reflection techniques allow you to show the speaker what you have heard, including emotional undertones. Using clarifying questions is a helpful tool to demonstrate that understanding. Effective questioning can reveal any potential areas of misunderstanding and is a vital way to clarify your understanding. Mastering these skills will assist you in doing your part to avoid misunderstandings.
Avoiding the 3 Mistakes
As an entrepreneur, clarity in communication is very important for your success. There is a need for you to be understood and for you to understand the other party. These three mistakes have to be addressed because it causes a setback in business and leads to less productivity. If you speak more than you listen as a business leader, you won't be able to know if your employees or clients understand what you truly mean. They won't be able to communicate what they have understood if you don't give them the avenue to respond to what you have said. You mustn't be communicating in one direction while making sure that there is clarity and understanding on both sides.
Benefits of Practicing Mindful Communication
Effective Communication is a necessary characteristic for any business to achieve rapid success. Without good communication skills, entrepreneurs and businesses frequently struggle to realize their full potential. Most people prioritize developing technological skills over acquiring good communication skills, which may impede business profitability. That’s because effective communication significantly benefits internal and external relationships. Entrepreneurial success can not exist without a healthy and dependable relationship with clients and other stakeholders. Positive and effective communication with clients and partners helps gain tangible and intangible benefits such as increased sales, improved customer retention, and the development of a valuable brand reputation. Empowering effective communication is part of having a growth mindset and fosters innovation and creativity in the workplace by instilling new ideas and experiences. Healthy debate and information exchange inspire enhanced cognitive skills by revealing the full range of imagination. This increases employee productivity and encourages them to manage their work more effectively. Allowing employees to discuss their ideas and opinions broadens the potential work outline for significant success. Furthermore, it resolves and positively fixes existing problems.
6 Mindfulness Methods to Foster Communication and Collaboration
1. Get to know yourself
It's always a good idea to check in with yourself before you start caring for others. Encourage your team to take a moment to close their eyes and recognize their thoughts and emotions each day. That includes you if you are a manager or leader.
2. Clear your mind, stay grounded, and be patient
Before beginning any discussion, try to clear your mind of any racing thoughts. Let go of any preconceived notions you may have about the speaker. Knowing who someone is or what they will say before listening is inconvenient because their words may be lost in translation.
3. Practice being present with others
When you speak mindfully, you are aware of the words you use. You pause before speaking and make a conscious decision to use your best communication skills in a respectful manner, even if the situation is difficult. You are also aware of your intention and expectations that may or may not be met. When addressing a situation, being mindful can produce a better outcome and keep communication from spiraling out of control.
4. Practice being present with yourself
The final technique for incorporating mindfulness into your communication is to pause to consider your response. When we are asked a question, our response is often immediate and almost automatic. When asked, "How are you?" we're all guilty of saying, "fine," even if we're not.
5. Join as a group
Group mindfulness is an extremely effective tool, particularly in a remote workplace. It provides support, connection, and knowledge that are frequently lacking outside of a team setting.
Participating as a group greatly aids in the strengthening and development of interpersonal relationships, which is critical for employees who work together on a daily basis. As a result, team members can feel more united in their pursuit of the same goals.
6. Engage in one-on-one conversations
When it comes to individual meetings, mindfulness is essential. Most people wait for their turn to speak without truly listening to what the other person has to say, which is why active listening is essential for truly connecting with one another. Taking the time to create a safe space for others to express themselves will help you as a manager better understand your employees' diverse skill sets, interests, and personality types.
How Strong Collaboration can Transform any Workplace?
Enhanced employee engagement
Employee engagement is a vital indicator of a healthy and productive workplace. Those who feel engaged in their work have twice the chance of success as their non-engaged counterparts. This makes sense, given that many of us seek purpose in our work to feel fulfilled, and when we find this purpose, it can drive us to produce our best work consistently. The good news about employee engagement is that you can promote it within your organization at no extra cost. In theory, all that is required is to instill collaboration as a core principle and to form teams capable of working together with ease.
Increased adaptability
As remote and hybrid work models gain popularity, the future of work demands flexibility. Employees have the power to choose a company that offers the most flexible work model to fit their lifestyle.
For example, if you don't provide software tools that encourage collaboration, you risk losing top talent who will look elsewhere for seamless onboarding and convenient workflows.
In 2021, 72% of working professionals believed that collaboration tools would increase in the coming years. This figure was 75% the previous year, so the evidence is clear: collaborative tools will become an essential part of the workplace if they aren't already.
Stakeholder transparency
Collaboration is essential for fostering a transparent culture and increasing visibility for your stakeholders. More specifically, the collaborative tools you use should promote company-wide cohesion while providing the transparency that stakeholders expect.
You can let stakeholders in on the process by giving them permission-based access to various features, allowing them to see behind the scenes and receive valuable project updates.
Collaboration tools not only invite stakeholders to check in on progress with simple interfaces, but they also promote employee productivity. Seeing coworkers actively working on tasks and getting things done can be an excellent motivator for many.
Collaborative Communication
Collaborative communication entails exchanging information and debating issues as a group to achieve a common goal. While you'd think that's a given for teams, most employees say it isn't. According to one study, 63% of employees wanted to quit their jobs because of poor communication.
An approach to collaborative communication should be the standard for all teams because it promotes transparency and encourages employees to share ideas openly. Everyone benefits when you use collaboration tools and tried-and-tested communication tactics to improve your team's collaboration skills.
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Virin Gomber, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Virin Gomber is a leading Mindfulness Success Coach, Speaker, and Author.
Following a successful corporate career that left him with stress and burnout, he learned, created, and mastered highly effective Mindfulness strategies to boost his balance and personal performance. Since then, he has integrated Quantum Physics, Neuroscience, and Positive Psychology principles to craft a unique blend for his Mindfulness success system.
Dedicated to helping people become top achievers, the core of his work is with entrepreneurs, CEOs, professionals, and driven individuals to support them to achieve peak performance, balance and happiness.
He offers more than a decade of Success Coaching, corporate training, and 25+ years of Mindfulness experience.
Virin has co-authored an Amazon bestseller, “The Missing Piece in Self Love,” appeared on TV shows, and contributed to numerous global online magazines.
His ‘WHY’: To empower people to create accomplished personal skills to achieve next-level success and happiness.
References:
Collaboration structure, communication media, and problems in scientific work. https://academic.oup.com
The Effects of Effective Communication on Organizational Performance Based on … https://www.scirp.org
