We have all learned a lot about communication over the past couple of months. Whether you are an essential worker still working outside the home, working from home, laid off, or something in between, communication has become arguably more important in the world than it was pre-COVID-19. We’ve had to get creative and learn new techniques to keep things moving forward – and for our own mental health
Below you’ll find workplace communication skills that you have likely developed while at home during this time. Look for opportunities to practice and sharpen these skills to prepare for returning to work, whenever that may be.
When Face-To-Face Communication Isn’t An Option.
Face-to-face time is abundant with our immediate families right now, but we haven’t been able to have that connection with extended family, close friends, and co-workers. When in-person communication isn’t an option, it’s even more important to practice healthy email, phone, and video call etiquette.
When emailing, don’t dive into the purpose of the email right away. Ask how the recipient is doing, how his or her weekend was, or just add well wishes to start your note. For example, “Dear Anna, I hope you and your family are doing well and staying healthy.”
When on the phone, smile! It sounds silly since they can’t see you. But a smile comes across in your tone. Don’t believe me? Give it a try! Call your best friend and do an experiment. Say a couple of phrases twice in a row - one without smiling and one with smiling. Ask which one was said with a smile. Was he or she correct?
The best advice I’ve heard regarding communicating during the quarantine is to embrace the awkward, silent pause. Listen first. Pause often. And it’s OK if there is silence for a few moments. Allowing others time to think, collect their thoughts, and then respond keeps you from being the “one who talks over everyone else.” This applies to both phone and video calls.
When on a video call, try your best to find a spot with good lighting and a neat, nice background. This nonverbally communicates that you care about the conversation you are having and respect the person you are talking with enough to give them a positive experience with you. And for goodness sake, don’t be like the reporter on Good Morning America – wear pants!
Communicating When Stress Is High.
For many, stress is high these days. Pressures at work to meet deadlines while also homeschooling and caring for children is enough to leave anyone exhausted. And with exhaustion comes a risk of decreased mental and physical health, high stress, less sleep...the list goes on.
Keep these quick reminders top of mind when communicating during stressful times:
When stress is high, don’t try to hide it. Communicate your stress-level early to those who are in contact with you so they know what’s going on and you can work together to find creative solutions to help. That might mean moving a deadline, lessening the workload on your plate, or maybe even adjusting your work hours. At home, this could be something as simple as someone else takes over dinner duty for the week to give you a break.
Ask for help and give yourself a lot of grace. Your coworkers and family members might not pick up that something is off. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And don’t beat yourself up over not being able to do everything on your own. We work on teams (and have a family) for a reason!
Be clear and concise about expectations. If your stress is being caused by a chaotic or confusing situation at home or at work, bring everyone together (zoom call works well for these) and reset expectations. Be clear and concise. Then leave plenty of room for others to ask additional clarifying questions so everyone is on the same page. To be clear, this happens both with or without a global health crisis, at home and at work, which makes this a strong workplace transferable skill!
Bookmark this helpful article from Forbes on 14 Things Emotionally Intelligent People Do In Times Of High Stress for more tips on communication during stressful times.
Practicing Workplace Communication Skills At Home
If you aren’t working right now, for whatever reason, practice these communication skills at home with your family. If you start looking for opportunities, you’ll find that you have dozens of chances to use communications skills at home that are transferable to the workplace. Here are a few examples:
If your children aren’t completing their chores on time, communicate your expectations clearly for the next time. Then, set and communicate realistic consequences if they miss their “deadline” or don’t do a good job. Telling them in person and then putting it in writing on the fridge (if they are old enough to read) is a great practice.
Practice communicating positive words. It can be difficult to keep a positive attitude when stuck at home with the same people...especially family! But we need to communicate when people have done a good job to reinforce that behavior just as we need to celebrate our successes to reinforce that behavior for ourselves. I love this quote from Ideas.Ted.Com “It doesn’t take 21 days to wire in a habit, says psychologist BJ Fogg. Sometimes, all you need is a shot of positive feeling and emotion, a dose of celebration. Celebrating is a great way to reinforce small changes — and pave the way for big successes.”
Know how to communicate consequences or constructive criticism effectively. When you need to communicate a consequence or constructive criticism (at home and at work), it’s still important to avoid hurtful and demeaning words, body language, and tone. Be mindful that your own stress level can affect how you communicate, so try not to let that negatively affect your tone and choice of words unfairly.
Invite your family members to communicate their ideas. As parents, it can be easy to make decisions without the input of our children. While you ultimately have the final say, invite your children to share their ideas for what you can have for dinner on Friday or what activity you can do for family night. You may be surprised by their creativity and fun ideas!
What other communication skills have you learned during the quarantine that you can bring forward when you return to work?
To uncover ten more workplace transferable skills that motherhood has taught you, click here. Find details on additional resources for working moms, explore our website here. We’d love to stand alongside you in your journey to return to work. Contact Anna today to start the conversation.
