One thing about working life is that you are going to be working with lots of different individuals over the course of your career. Some people might be great, and you may even end up becoming great friends with them. Others, however, might not necessarily have the same views as you, which can lead to some frustrating conversations. Both are just as likely to occur, and unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent the latter.

One of the key things to remember when dealing with colleagues is that clear communication is key. It’s usually a lack of this skill that can lead to many issues within the workplace. Companies often tend to overlook the importance of learning proper workplace communication, which can end up causing them grief. Although your employer might be unwilling to teach it, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring it upon yourself. There are plenty of ways in which you can take it upon yourself to improve your communication skills. Here are some ways in which you can.

Understand How to Communicate Face to Face

The likelihood is, over the course of your career, most of your communicating will be done face to face. Which is good. This is the easiest way to communicate, which is why it should be the strong point of your skills. When you are communicating with one of your colleagues in person, it is important to be mindful of your tones and facial expressions. If you give any indication of sarcasm, anger, or disappointment in tone or facial expression, it could really change your relationship with that co-worker. Even when listening, it is important that you look switched on and engaged.

Use the Right Online Tools

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have made the switch to work online. This means that people might not necessarily get to see their co-workers, meaning they only communicate online. Which is no problem, as long as you use the right tools. It’s important to use something reliable and fast, that will also allow you to attach any necessary files or documents to your co-workers. The SaaS services provided by Avepoint.com are excellent for this. There are no tones and facial expressions online, but you should make more of an effort to be clear and precise when communicating with one of your colleagues.

Be a Good Listener

Half of communicating is quite literally listening. If neither person in the conversation is listening, then there isn’t much point. Being an active listener is an important thing when trying to have good communication skills. This means being conscious of everything the person is saying, as well as how they are saying it. Doing this will allow you to get a better understanding of what the person is trying to get across. This will also provide you the opportunity to make a response that is more appropriate to the statement. You will also find relationships will improve if you can make yourself a good listener.