Communication is everywhere yet the way you communicate at work keeps evolving with faster ways to convey messages and reach an audience. To keep with the pace of sharing information you are more likely to use one-way communication rather than face to face which impacts your career.
There are many ways to communicate with your coworkers, such as emailing, texting, face to face conversations and instant messaging, to name a few. Some ways are more effective than others, especially with relationships that could have a direct influence on your future career goals.
The fast pace of conducting business can overshadow the perception you are forming with your boss and colleagues with your communication style. For example, emailing is serious business even though it can become second nature when communicating information. The need to convey information fast can also have a downside to your career opportunities, because it’s one-sided.
The way you communicate reveals more about you than you might have imagined. For example you might have wonderful intentions of updating your boss however your thoughts could be running faster than your typing skills and you leave out a couple of words or misspell them creating confusion. Either way, it sends a message that you pay less attention to details.
The point is: You might not be as careless if you were talking with your boss in person. You wouldn’t finish a half of a sentence and walk away or perhaps say things unfiltered, yet that’s the message you are sending through emails.
Keep in mind that career opportunities usually start with managers who are constantly thinking about how to increase productivity in their teams that includes moving people up or moving them out. Your daily interactions send messages that indicate you are promotable or lack needed skills.
It pays to look at what type of message you are sending, and most importantly how you send it. One way communication will never replace the power of observing non-verbal reactions and picking up on subtle cues.
The cardinal rule that gets broken more than most will admit is “never send messages when you are upset or wouldn’t want the world to see”. Even with all the dire communication missteps that people make emailing continues to be a big influence in the way you are viewed in the workplace.
You need to use emails and other forms of communication, however don’t make the habit of solely relying on them. Very rarely will you be promoted without seeing or verbally talking with someone. Emailing your boss who is three steps from you is not a good form of communication; albeit could be faster, yet you aren’t building the rapport you need to move in your career.
Communication styles differ with each generation at work and everyone needs to be adaptable. From a career stand point, keep your messages clear and timely. Be sensitive to what types of messages go out and how they could be perceived. It’s a good idea to trade places with the receiver, and if the message you are conveying isn’t clear, make sure it is before you hit send.
