The ability to communicate and collaborate is what separates humans from other species.
To understand why we've succeeded in conveying our thoughts and ideas, it is essential to examine how we communicate.
What are the principles of communication?
Human language, problem-solving, and morality originate in our imaginative ability to reflect on different situations and our deep-seated drive to connect with others.
People often overlook the importance of effective communication, but being a good communicator and knowing the basic principles of communication skills will help you succeed at almost anything.
It's a way to share your thoughts and feelings, connect with others, and achieve your goals.
The Communication Modes to Know
Effective communication is critical for success. To effectively share information with your team and customers, it helps to learn the various options of communication and when to use them productively. Here they are:
- Verbal communication
Verbal communication uses words to speak, present, discuss, or convey a message. Body language, tone, pitch of voice, and choice of words play a vital role in verbal communication.
Verbal communication helps transmit thoughts by each party and results in faster decision-making.
- Non-verbal communication
Body language, facial expressions, eye contact, appearance, and sign language are essential forms of communication that complement verbal communication and also help when words don't suffice.
In addition, non-verbal communication is integral to interviews and discussions as it can convey meaning even when words fail.
- Written communication
Written communication is when we use words to convey a message. This communication happens through emails, memos, texts, posts, etc.
Written communication can help you share your thoughts well, but sometimes it does not fully convey the emotion you're trying to communicate.
The Principles of Communication in the Workplace
The principles of communication includes the most vital skills for any business professional to master. It includes understanding, resolves doubts, and reduces stress.
In addition, effective communication helps you reach the company’s targets while successfully managing a team of innovative people. Here are a few benefits of effective communication at work:
- Promotes team spirit
Effective communication encourages everyone to participate in civil discourse, share ideas, build trust, and collaborate while working on a project.
In addition, it allows the entire team to value one another, which keeps your team's morale high.
- Improves creativity and productivity
Communication among people with different opinions results in new ideas, doubts, and resolutions, streamlining the work process and boosting the creativity and productivity of the team.
- Resolves conflict
Communication is essential in the workplace to resolve conflicts, find common ground, and work as a team.
Therefore, employers should encourage civil discourse among employees, which helps them set goals, strategize efficiently, and execute plans successfully.
To communicate effectively in a work environment, these seven principles prove their worth:
7Cs: The Principles of Workplace Communication (with examples)
There are seven basic principles of communication to boost effectiveness in teamwork and collaboration to accomplish productive dialogue.
- Conciseness
Be concise in your messages. It will help you to have more meaningful conversations and save time.
Example: While training employees on developing a skill, avoid talking about the foundational story of your company or repeating sentences.
People will disengage and reduce enthusiasm among the team.
You will gather the team's transformative output if you respect everyone’s time, stay on point with your message, and encourage active participation.
- Consideration
To deliver an impactful message and resolve the challenges employees face, you must consider your team members’ viewpoints, levels of understanding, concerns, etc., while communicating.
Example: If an employee struggles to complete an assigned task, don’t just explain the importance of the task.
Instead, consider their struggles and help them where they’re stuck to execute the task effectively.
- Correctness
The correctness of your message is vital for the team to conduct productive work. This allows everyone to contribute the correct information and their progress related to the topic. It leads to better decision-making.
Appropriate language, correct spelling, grammar and punctuation, the authenticity of the facts and references, etc., all fall under this principle.
Example: Using inappropriate language or incorrect data in a formal report could lead to your dismissal or damage the company’s reputation.
- Completeness
Completeness is an integral part of effective communication. A complete message includes everything that enhances your team's understanding and definitive next steps to achieve the desired results.
Example: When you assign a project to the team, specify the outline, each member's role, and the exact strategy. This will help ensure that employees have clarity of the task without any confusion over the critical areas.
- Courtesy
Workplace communication needs to include sincerity and respect for everyone. You must not resort to making offensive remarks or belittling any team member, even if there is a disagreement.
Example: If employees attack each other to prove their points, calm them down and set up an environment for civil discourse.
This will help people acknowledge each other's opinions and find common ground on which to discuss creative ideas.
- Principle of concreteness
Workplace communication must be specific, clear, and direct. There is no room for ambiguous or vague information that might confuse or mislead the team
.Example: When you educate your employees about the benefits of civil discourse in the workplace, be sure to provide them with an understanding of its basics, importance, and value.
Also, encourage them to ask questions, resolve their doubts and provide relatable examples.
- Coherence
This principle ensures that the employees are well informed about the company's objectives.
Furthermore, systematically communicating with them brings clarity into the discussion and resolves any doubts they might have about your methods.
Example: If you're updating employees on company policies, describe the reasons behind the changes to maintain harmony within the workplace. Sudden changes will affect the employees' efficiency.
Tips for Good Communication
Here are a few practices that will help you implement the seven principles of effective communication in the workplace:
- Treat your employees with respect by valuing their presence and role in the company.
- Address the needs of your team and respond to their questions with patience.
- Before initiating a dialogue, consider your team's perspective on the topic.
- When communicating with a team, understand which mode of conversation is best-suited to convey your message.
Final Words
Effective communication can help you build healthy relationships with your employees and foster a healthy work environment.
How you speak, respond, or share your ideas will show your employees how you feel about them.
With the basic principles of communication skills, you can cultivate a healthy and growth-oriented culture in the workplace.
