Working Strategies: Communicating more powerfully at work

Amy Lindgren Do you ever sense that you re not being listened to or that your points are being disregarded Of module you do That s practically the human condition When it happens at work though you might have a dilemma Communication miscues can reflect badly on you even when they re not your fault If this happens frequently it s time to make a few adjustments Since you can t change the people you re communicating with you ll need to focus on your end of the equation Here are four moves that can improve your workplace communications Identify your message or goal for the conversation This can be done in most of circumstances with the exception of random hallway encounters or other situations where you weren t expecting to talk We ll focus here on planned conversations As a starting point ask yourself why you re attending or requesting the meeting For example if you re expected to present a assessment your goal is obvious Survival Past that you can add persuasion if you have a point to make or just stick to the goal of informing others For extra credit however what about making an impression on someone who s going to be there such as your boss boss If you think this report-giving presents an opportunity for something larger expand your goal accordingly On the other hand if you ve requested a meeting to talk with a challenging co-worker or you re participating in your annual review your goals will be more personal By prepping your messages in advance you ll be more able to keep the conversation on track if things get emotional Create your strategic plan Say you called the meeting perhaps to ask for a raise you ll want to control the logistics Have you chosen a setting with limited distractions Did you reserve time on your boss calendar The company isn t doing layoffs right Of discipline you can t control everything but doing what you can will improve your odds Troubleshoot This is where you ask yourself what could go wrong and how you can keep that from happening With luck you won t need these precautions but having them in your back pocket could raise your confidence in the real conversation Practice Since it s usually fine to use notes rehearsing isn t about memorizing That stated the more awkwardness you expect the more you should practice different scenarios You can do this on your own but having a trusted friend play the other part might be more revealing Helpful materials When it comes to complicated communication issues books are my go-to store for advice and sample dialogues These titles are straight off my shelf so it s hardly a comprehensive list Even so there s a good range of relevant topics All are still available online new or used and chosen may have a more latest edition available Those marked with asterisks are books I turn to often for specific ideas and counsel All You Have to Do Is Ask by Wayne Baker A guide to asking for help at work Better Presentations by Jacqueline Farrington Clarifying look at issues of confidence that impact effectiveness How to Say It for Women by Phyllis Mindell Helpful for to speaking more powerfully It s Not Just Who You Know by Tommy Spaulding Building rewarding work relationships networking The Job Interview Phrase Book by Nancy Schuman Answers buzzwords and phrases Perfect Phrases for Dealing with Demanding Situations at Work by Susan F Benjamin Short handy guide Perfect Phrases for Meetings by Don Debelak Includes organizing meeting content The Power of Positive Confrontation by Barbara Pachter Processes for handling demanding conversations Radical Listening by Christian Van Nieuwerburgh A guide to using listening skills to improve connections Running Effective Meetings for Dummies by Joseph A Allen Process guide for all parts of a meeting Suddenly Virtual by Karen M Reed and Joseph A Allen Process guide for remote meetings Talk is Not Cheap by Beverly Inman-Ebel Using nonverbals voice content etc to build communication That s a lot of books and of curriculum there are podcasts coaches classes and any number of additional tools to give your communication a boost Luckily you don t need to try everything at once If you can find an exercise or tips for a specific situation you ll be getting a start on making your communication more powerful Related Articles Working Strategies The Power of Yes in job search Working Strategies Random thoughts Stretching job titles and happy places Working Strategies Using AI to organize or even conduct your job search Working Strategies Certain survival tools for uncertain times Working Strategies Navigating part-time jobs at a professional level Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St Paul She can be reached at alindgren prototypecareerservice com