Make sure that you use words that the other person will understand. For example, street talk and slang may be appropriate for talking with friends, but they can hold back your career if you use them in the workplace. Similarly, using big words and professional language at work can make you appear more intelligent, but it could be off-putting and alienating if you use that language with your friends.
Mimic just a few of their gestures and word choices. If you do too much, then it might be off-putting to the person. Don’t mirror a person when it would not be seen as appropriate. For example, if you are a man talking to a female who is holding a purse, it’s not a good idea to hold your arm at your side as though you are also holding a purse.
When you adjust your tone, make sure that your nonverbal and verbal communication match, which will show sincerity. For example, a firm, serious tone would be undermined if you were smiling and slouching. A serious tone would pair better with a stern face and limited gestures, while an encouraging tone would pair well with nodding and gesturing.
For instance, you might think that you can explain new rules for employee breaks properly through an email or by posting the rules in the breakroom. If you hold a face-to-face meeting with your employees, however, you can be sure that everyone understands the rules and can be held accountable.
Be sure to use words that are understood by the individual. Open the meeting with something like “Frank, I wanted to meet with you to talk about a couple of issues I’ve seen in your performance lately, and how we can work on them. ” That will establish a firm, but forward-looking tone, instead of an overly critical one. Write a summary of the meeting afterwards, and email it to everyone involved. This adds another level of clarity to the communication.
Keep workplace social media posts positive and concise: “Hey Seattle, come on down to Tom’s Sports for 20% off all equipment today!” If you interact with coworkers, employees, or customers via social media, steer away from personal attacks, venting, complaints, and inappropriate images. Assume that anything you post online can be seen by the public. Many people like to keep separate social media accounts–one for personal use, and one for professional use.
If you are writing in the workplace, put the main point of your email in the subject line or if in a text, put it right at the top. The recipient will appreciate you saving their time by being direct. Use the email subject line carefully. Avoid vague or obvious subjects, such as “Message about work. ” Instead, use specific titles like “Meeting with Bill Wyman on November 16th!” If you’re talking on the phone, use clear verbal cues like “So, Natasha, the reason I’m calling is to talk about the declining sales figures” and “Andre, I want to make sure I understand. Could you go over the pitch again?"
Stick to neutral, non-controversial topics. For example, you could talk about popular television shows, food, or that old standby, the weather. For instance, try something like “hey, what did you think of that last episode of Game of Thrones?” If you are in a superior or management position, using small talk will help your employees feel like you can relate to them and are approachable. Using small talk to chat with a manager or boss helps to establish a bond, making it easier to talk about more complex or serious matters later on.
At work, you could say something like ”I remember learning this as a new employee” instead of “You’re not understanding how this works. ” Similarly, avoid telling a friend “You get upset too easily. ” Instead, say something like “I feel like this is something you really care about. ”
Stress partnership in the way you phrase things. For example, use phrases like “we can do it,” or “we are in this together. ”
Try saying things like “I’m definitely hearing why you’re upset,” or “you were right, that would be irritating to anyone. ” Avoid saying things like “You shouldn’t really be upset about this” or “I don’t understand why this is bothering you,” even if that is how you actually feel.
”You’ve really be working hard on this, haven’t you?” ”I think you’ve been handling this with a lot of patience. ”
For example, if you are presenting to a group of executives that are above you on the company hierarchy, then your language should be professional and polished, with jokes or slang left out. However, you may want to include jokes, slang, and simple language if you’re speaking to a group ranked below you, as this can help ease any tension in the room. Be aware of the background of people in the audience to make sure that you don’t use language or examples that are offensive.
The key points you want to emphasize. For instance, if you are introducing your company’s new 3-point sales strategy, plan to get slightly louder when you mention each point for the first time. Moments when you might want to slow down (such as to introduce new or complicated information). Natural places in your talk when you can pause, such as after introducing each point of a three-point sales strategy. This gives time for the information to sink in.
“Moving on. . . " (to introduce a new point). “As I stated previously,. . . . " (to remind the audience of your main point). “To wrap things up. . . . " (to let them know you are nearing the end). Tell people when you will be answering questions. You could say, “Please save your questions until the end, and I’ll make sure they’re answered. "
Use only a small amount of text or visual material per slide. For instance, if you are outlining three goals for your organization’s upcoming year, make a slide that says “Goal 1: Boost membership 10%. ” That is enough information to remind the audience of the point you want to make, but not so much that they will stop paying attention.
