In the bustling corridors of office life, communication isn’t just a bridge—it’s the very air we breathe. Communication is key in any relationship. But in the workplace, miscommunication can be deadly to a professional relationship — and more so, to an organization overall.
Some of these common communication mistakes can lead to bigger issues if not addressed.
I was a speaker at the Texas Municipal League annual conference speaking on the subject ‘Communication Mishaps’. I was discussing the zero-communication mishap, emphasizing the importance of greeting people in the morning with voice, handwave, or eye contact. A city manager stood up quite indignantly and said, “That is a bunch of bull! When I arrive at work, all I want to do is work”.
I then asked the audience how they would react to his workplace entry. Many shared their thoughts, saying things like:
The city manager listened for about 10 minutes to the crowd’s comments and later told me it was a valuable lesson for him.
Are you making any of these communication mishaps? Your key employees are most likely being recruited by other organizations. Give them a lot of reasons to stay where they are.
For over 30 years, Jim has provided personal skills management training, coaching, and consulting to a wide variety of businesses and municipalities. People Smart Tools specializes in helping people work well with people. Owners and managers call on us when they know they are not getting the best out of their team.
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