By Kendall Martin
One of the biggest pitfalls in workplace communication is a lack of confidence. We’ve all encountered supervisors or co-workers who, instead of addressing their concerns or speaking up, insisted on beating around the bush. It’s difficult to respect a superior or take a co-worker seriously when you sense that the person doesn’t feel confident enough to say what’s on his or her mind. Bottom line: Effective communicators are confident in both their words and their actions.
Ask yourself the following questions the next time you need to address an issue directly:
- Are you prepared? If you have already thought through what information you want to share, and how it relates to the conversation, don’t hold back. Come to the meeting prepared and you will be able to effectively communicate your major points.
- What is your role? Regardless of your rank in the organization, you have a job to do. As a manager, you are expected to handle situations and conversations that you may not be comfortable addressing. As an employee, you may have responsibilities, problems or concerns that you feel hesitant to address. Learning to accept all that your role encompasses is the first step toward moving past that lack of confidence and fulfilling your job duties, however uncomfortable they may be.
- What are your strengths? Focusing on your positive contributions in the workplace is a great starting place when preparing for difficult situations. Think of specific times you have flourished in your role, and use that positivity to drive out communication fears.
What tips do you have for overcoming communication fears in the workplace?
[Image Source: Amy Wilbanks]
