Excellent communication is essential if you want a successful career in C-level support. Communication shapes the relationships you have with colleagues, managers, and clients. Ineffective communication can lead to misunderstandings and workplace conflict. The key to excellent communication is being flexible and understanding your audience. Below are some tips to improve your communication for career success.
Communicating with Go-getters
Your coworkers will consist of different personalities. Some have a leadership mindset and are solely focused on work. These types of coworkers expect interaction to be fast, to-the-point, and goal-oriented. Know your talking points before you initiate the conversation and have a specific goal in mind. Generally, limit your interaction to business, as these professionals don’t want unnecessary distractions. Active listening is also important. Make sure you maintain eye contact and keep track of everything the speaker says.
Communicating with Social Butterflies
Your more social colleagues crave more personal interaction. They want to build a friendly relationship with you. With more social coworkers, don’t be all business all the time or act any way that could come across as standoffish. These professionals want to know you are interested in their life beyond work and want people to share their enthusiasm with. That said, keep interactions fairly short because these personality types tend to distract more easily.
Communicating with Introverts and Analysts
Introverted and analytical personality types tend to prefer business-oriented communication over personal conversations. They favor communication that is clear and organized. When interacting with these personality types, avoid being overly loud. Analysts in particular are often focused on facts and data, so they expect reliable, evidence-based information. Generally, when you communicate with introverts, be thorough and on topic. Pay attention and listen. Avoid interrupting your quieter coworkers when they talk and if they seem confused at any point, slow down and try to convey the information in a different way.
Communicating with Nurturers
Communicating with professionals who are highly empathetic and nurturing requires patience and warmth. This personality type can intimidate easily, so communicate in a manner that is friendly and relatively quiet. Avoid being pushy or demanding. Mindful listening is critical in dealing with this type of communicator. Nurturers often have great ideas, but they aren’t hesitant to share them. Take your time to be encouraging and ask them for their opinions.
Good communication requires empathy, adaptability, and active listening. Different coworkers will have different communication preferences. Some will be business-oriented, while others crave more socialization. Once you understand how your colleagues communicate, you can significantly improve your communication and leverage this improvement to facilitate achievement in your career.
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