Communication in the workplace is a topic that’s been studied in many ways.And here’s a spoiler alert: the data always shows that effective workplace communication is crucial to personal career growth.
Yet
even the most seasoned pros can inadvertently undermine themselves by not
choosing their words carefully.
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“I’m so busy.”
We live in a day and age in which “busyness” is perceived as a sign of success. Think about it: how many times has someone asked how you are and you’ve replied with, “Good, but busy!”
Yet despite our knee-jerk reaction to brag about how busy we are, studies show that this focus on being in a constant state of activity is actually detrimental to productivity. And when you voice how busy you are to colleagues, it can have an off-putting effect.
Maybe
your manager has just added something else to your to-do list, a coworker has
requested your help with a project, or a client has asked for a deliverable. In
any scenario, responding to a request by stating how busy you are is not ideal.
Instead
of saying, “I’m so busy,”
try:
I have a lot on my plate right now, and I’d love your help
prioritizing.
Or
Is there a specific deadline I should work toward? I want to
be sure I can deliver this when you need it.
“I don’t know how to do that.”
No
one is expected to be an expert in everything—even the most perfect co-
worker
won’t admit to knowing everything under the sun.
So, first things first: get the idea
that you are expected to immediately know how to do everything at your
company/in your role/in life out of your head.
Openly admitting that you don’t know
how to do something isn’t necessarily bad—it all depends in your delivery.
Qualities
like positivity, curiosity and enthusiasm are regularly cited as those hiring
managers value most, so displaying those characteristics—even when admitting
you aren’t in fact perfect—can go a long way.
So,
instead of saying, “I don’t know to do that,” try:
I’ve
never done that before, but I’m eager to learn! If you have any tips or can
point me towards a resource you’ve found to be helpful, I’d really appreciate
it.
“I could be wrong but…”
Countless
research studies have proven that women tend to communicate in less direct
manners than men do, particularly in the workplace.
One
of the most common examples of this is when women caveat what they’re about to
say, so as not to appear too bossy, or to shield themselves from potential
dissention or negative feedback.
While it may seem like a safe approach,
it can be doing more damage than good.
When
sharing your ideas, instead of saying “I could be wrong, but…” try:
Based
on the research I’ve done, I think [insert idea here] could be an effective way
to accomplish our goal.
Or
better yet: don’t overthink it and just share your idea!
By
keeping these three above phrases—and more importantly, the alternatives
for each—in mind, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a master of
workplace communication!
