Workplace Communication Advice – Not On the Same Page
Question
Hello Guy. We have a good team and for the most part we get things done efficiently. We’ll occasionally have a tough time with one or two people who never are on the same page. No matter how many times we tell them what to do, they don’t listen and so they’re not on the same page. Reprimands don’t seem to have any effect either. Any suggestions?
Answer
There are some practical things you can do to promote effective workplace communication and help everyone be on the same page, for example:
- Set yourself up for success by talking to the person when he (or she) is able to listen and understand what you’re saying without distractions or interruptions.
- Tell the person in a friendly tone of voice what you want him to do. Make it as brief and explanation-free as possible.
- Ask the person to repeat the information back to you.
- If you need to make any corrections, do so in a calm and kind manner.
- Ask the person to repeat the information back to you.
- Repeat this interaction until you’re confident the person understands. Ask him if he has any questions or needs any additional support.
- Thank the person for his time.
- Follow-up by praising the person when he completes the task.
A lot of workplace communication difficulties occur because we assume that the other person understands information or views a situation the same way we do in our own minds. When you focus on making sure you both understand the information in the same way, you’ll be actively collaborating and you’ll increase the likelihood that the task will be completed favorably.
Take care,
Guy
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