"3 Tips to Improve Face-to-face Communication in the Workplace"

Hey Everyone,

Recently I can across a blog posted by Kathie Must regarding the ways to improve the face-to-face communication in an organization. Mrs. Must is a Director of Workplace Programs at Mosaic Counselling who is responsible for leading a team that is “dedicated to helping organizations create an atmosphere of wellness and growth for both the organization and the individual employee, making for a highly functioning organization that is also a great place to work” (Mosaic, 2011).

Face-to-face communication is important because you can tell a lot about a person from their facial expressions, speaking volume, body language, and eye contact (or lack of it). Sometimes, you can even determine if a person is lying to you. However, today’s technology limits and decreases the time we choose to talk to someone in-person. We often pick e-mail or text messaging as our preferred mode of communication. Within our work place, we use memos to deliver specific messages which eliminate the need for in-person conversations.

Nonetheless, in-person communication allows relationship while written (i.e.: e-mails) only communicates facts.

Thus, if you want to foster and maintain relationships in the chosen workplace, you must encourage and motivate other coworkers to communicate face-to-face as much as possible.

Within her blog post, Kathie Must offers three ways to improve face-to-face communication at a workplace.

1. “The first step is to have some face-to-face communication! Email/chat has overwhelmed our workplace communication methods.  We couldn’t work without the speed and immediacy that electronic communications provide. But — the big but — is that “e-mail,” by definition, is just words, making this form of communication much more easily misunderstood than face-to-face conversation. Over 90% of meaning comes from something other than the words themselves — 55% comes from facial and body language and 38% comes from vocal inflection. So choose wisely. Meet face-to-face if there is conflict, if the issue is potentially sensitive, or if your real intent is to build relationships. 
2. Then, use that 90% well! Be aware of both your body language and the body language of your conversation partner. Facial expressions are universal, but body language, eye contact and intonation can be interpreted very differently across cultures. Are you conveying interest, openness and attention? Your stance and the way you move can help convey a sense of connection. The non-verbal actions can “fit” the words and reinforce the spoken message, or completely negate it.  Are you saying “yes” and shaking your head “no”?
3. Remember the goal is to express your ideas in a manner that will be understood. You intend one message. Is that the message received? Don’t assume. We all have filters and biases that influence interpretation. Check out your own assumptions. And clarify the message being received. Take responsibility for the message that is actually received” (Must, 2011).

Kathie Must’s Blog is available at: 

http://blog.mosaiconline.ca/3-tips-to-improve-face-to-face-communication-in-the-workplace/?gclid=CK-E6Iup6q4CFQJdhwodVBe3Iw