3 Biggest Mistakes in Office Communication

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.

Crooked Communication (positive communication followed by a negative remark):This is communication that appears positive on the surface but has a hidden negative message. For example, saying “You’re remarkably skilled for someone your age” might seem like a compliment, but it subtly implies that the person’s age is a limitation. Crooked communications appear like compliments but harbor secret barbs.
Plastic Communication (comments given as a ritual):These are compliments wrapped in cellophane—shiny but hollow. They are given without genuine feeling or intention. “Great job!” they say, while yawning internally.
Zero Communication (absence of communication when it is expected):This is the absence of any feedback, positive or negative. It can make the recipient feel ignored or invisible, which can be detrimental to their motivation and engagement. Examples: Ignoring a greeting, not responding to messages, avoiding eye contact, withholding information on purpose or by default, overlooking contributions such as saying thank-you, and other instances where communication is expected but not received.

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:

“If you don’t acknowledge me, I will do my best to avoid you the rest of the day.”
“I feel no respect and that gets me off to a bad start.”
“I will be spending my time planning on making you say something, even if it is negative.”

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.

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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.