Practice Communication Skills

Here are practical steps for effectively communicating in the workplace:

• Respond instead of reacting. A man was asked why he did not get angry when a driver cut him off. “Why should I let someone else dictate my emotions?” he replied. A wise fellow, don’t you think? He many have even saved his own life by not reacting with an”eye for an eye” mentality

• Believe in yourself. When you do, you trust your judgement, uphold your values, and stick to what you believe is right. It is easy to believe in ourself when you have a strong sense of self-worth. Believing in yourself makes you feel strong enough to handle almost any situation in a calm, helpful manner

• Talk less, listen more. There is an old saying that we were give two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen more than you talk. When you are a good listener, you are fully focused on what other people are saying.

• Be attentive. Each client is different. Some clients are clear about what they want, some are demanding, and still others maybe be hesitant. If you have an aggressive client, ask your manager for advice. You will likely be advised that what usually calms difficult clients down is agreeing with them. Follow up by asking what you can do to make the service more satisfactory

• Take your temperature. If you are tired or upset, your interactions so the clients may be affected. An important part of succeeding in a service profession is taking care of your personal conflicts first so that you can take the best possible care of your clients