Proper communication in the workplace is tantamount to making or breaking your career. This article addresses oral communication. In spite of the internet, cell phones, or smoke signals, people in business want to hear a human voice. When big decisions are made, it’s the human voice that makes the final decisions. On any given evening, the nightly news pans a room filled with decision makers discussing critical issues. We see an oval table and chairs filled with individuals interacting with each other in a serious manner; they are seeking answers to pertinent questions regarding businesses, politics, or running public programs and they do this through oral communication.
What we say and how we say it in the workplace has an impact on how others perceive us. Having a bad day, feeling sick or suffering from the inevitable hangover will never excuse poor communication skills. Treating every day in the business world as if it were the most important day in the life of the business will make you an employee who is seen as relishing their job and respecting the privilege of working for the firm. Regardless of the position you hold in the company, implementing proper communication skills will be one of the major variables for your success. In the biography, Tony Sacca, Las Vegas Ambassador of Entertainment, the ability to expertly communicate has afforded the performer thirty successful years. Not only does Tony perform, but he amassed numerous successful businesses that fed off his talent and his ability to relate to people. On stage, he captures the love and loyalty of the audience this is replicated through in businesses. Knowing how to sway people is not only a gift but a cultivated talent. Observing people like Tony, you can learn a lot about the art of expert communications and how to get people to do what you want.
Our complex lives and diversity of backgrounds guarantees a platform of insecurity. The more we know and understand the values and morals of individuals, the more successful communication becomes. This is not to promote a condescending nor a haughty approach, but rather finding the right place where your words are received with respect and credibility.
There are three tiers of interactions in the business world: superiors (your immediate boss and others above that level), colleagues, and support staff. Altruism is the key element; plucking the right words so your communication will be affectively received, comprehended and if necessary, acted upon.
Let’s begin with your superior, the person who is directly above you. Saying the right thing at the right time and in an appropriate manner will get you noticed. Put yourself in the shoes of your boss, what thoughts or ideas can you articulate that would be received as useful not only to your boss but the company. A guided tour of sensitive and sensible talk can greatly influence and enhance your boss’ perception of you. After a weekend of scouring the internet, when Monday morning rolls around and you can provide a comment about the company based on thoughtful research, you are demonstrating a serious interest in the success of your job and the company. When interacting with your superiors every word should be measured and delivered with controlled emotions. Speak from your brain, not your heart. A surfeit of rationale will serve to get your point across and inch your way up the corporate ladder. If you are the boss do you want to listen to weekend antics of your charges? No, there is no time for that and a sharp dismissal is sure to be had but if an interesting point is verbalized regarding the company, time can be made. That precious face time with your boss can be extended when your rhetoric is perceived as valuable. Developing a habit of meaningful conversation etches your future as a serious ambitious employee. A running vigil of thoughtful conversation with your superiors demonstrates care about the business and its future. Superficial talk wastes time and does not promote you or the welfare of the company.
So now how to accomplish this feat. Begin by studying the history of your company and gleaning a thorough understanding of its products and services. Read the local newspapers, search the web and keep up with the competition. Knowing what the competition is doing can be of great interest to your company. Citing successes and mistakes serves to keep your company ahead of the others. Your boss can’t help but perk up her (his) ears each time you open up your mouth; you have garnered respect and that will go a long up as you climb up the business ladder. Of course this means more time spent on the job (time you will not be paid for) but this knowledge will serve you well in the midst of your superiors.
The second tier is your colleagues; your peers in the workplace and they play an important role in job satisfaction in terms of socialization. You must always be cognizant that your peers are also your direct competition. Young, single and newly immersed in your chosen field, it is all too easy to succumb to forging intimate relationships with peers. Remembering that these friends are your direct competition should force you to think about how much of your life you want to expose. Reality check: you never know when something you say or do can come back and bite you in the ass. With a proliferation of recording devices literally anything you say or do can be recorded. No doubt this is a scary thought, but this is the world in which we live. Keeping conversations to work related topics is most definitely the best choice. Although this advice may sound paranoid, in our competitive society, it will serve you well. So smile chit-chat about the weather and guide conversations to company topics. Never ever criticize any of your peers, never throw anyone under the bus; that conversation will surely come back to haunt you.
The third tier is office support; the mail clerks, assistants, file clerks, and go-fors, who deserve your respect. Innocuous topics are the only safe interactions that should discussed. Always say please and always say thank you no matter how insignificant the task. Every person counts, and their jobs are just as important as yours when it comes the seamless running of a successful business. If the mail clerks don’t deliver the mail to the accountants so the checks can be deposited into the bank, the company will shut down. The key is altruism; every job matters. Never ever condescend, you can’t predict that the janitor may have a PHD in Philosophy. It’s simple: treat everyone with respect. Ironically, it isn’t unusual for a manager to surreptitiously inquire about an employee through the support staff. Their opinions can serve to validate or discredit you and may ruin your chances to climb the sacred ladder. No manager wants to invest in an insincere employee. If your behavior is consistent regardless of whom you are interacting with, management sees you as an employee who is reliable, even-keeled and trustworthy; a person who can accept more responsibilities while remaining cool headed.
Think before you speak. Sit back, listen, glean information and then provide thoughtful conversation. This is not to say you should agree with whatever comes out of the mouths of your peers or superiors, quite the contrary. Questioning, offering alternatives, explaining ramifications, reciting conflicting facts, displays your comprehensive of the situation and the fact you have an in depth understanding. Thinking on your feet, grasping the heart of the matter and then orally responding to a situation can make or break your career. This takes practice and patience. Hold these values dear and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Arlene Krieger’s is the author of numerous books. Her latest “Privileged Attorneys: Las Vegas Style” (www.arlenesbooks.com), proves that lawyers can be funny. Krieger received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Baltimore. She now works as a paralegal and accountant. She is also the author of seven published books, including “Little Anthony: My Journey, My Destiny,” which was featured recently on ABC’s “The View.” Little Anthony himself was spotlighted.