Thursday, February 10, 2011

Tips for Communicating Effectively At Work

Communicating effectively at work is a trait that any good manager needs to have. It is essential to keeping a line of open communication with your employees and making them know that you can be trusted when it is the most important. Effective communication also helps ensure your employees are compliant with the rules and that they are working as productively as is expected.

One important element of your job as a manager is to take the time to get to know your employees. Not only does this help you to gain their trust, but it also helps you to achieve a setting that includes high morale and teamwork. Take the time to learn things such as ways that they were successful in the past, how they best learn, and what type of feedback they like, and so on.

Communication is a two way street. When you talk to your employees, greet them personally, use their first name, when you ask them how they are, listen to their answers. Learn to be aware of the body language and voice tones of other people. Learn to become an active listener. When you communicate with your employees, make sure it is a process of give and take.

When you evaluate and provide feedback to your employees, always provide timely and specific feedback. Just telling them they are doing a job is nice, but not specific enough. Make sure to provide facts and details. Do not just give them your personal opinions or conclusions.

When communicating effectively at work, it is important to also remember that some things are better discussed in private. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you may eventually be faced with an employee that has a personal emergency situation. It is very important to keep anything that you are told in confidence. By following a few tips, you can not only be an excellent communicator at work, but a manager that is well respected.

This article was written for CleanEdison, Inc. CleanEdison serves federal, state and local governments, building design and construction firms, owners, operators, and real estate investors.  We have educated hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals in green building practices both through customized training and the largest open enrollment green training program in the nation.  CleanEdison has courses in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), BPI (Building Performance Institute) Certification, Energy Auditing, Solar, Wind and Renewable Energy. CleanEdison has also developed numerous customized training programs specific to a business or organization's needs. Call CleanEdison for more information about BPI certification, LEED certification, and other courses near you.

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