The only thing I love more than the sound of my own voice is actually using my voice. Indeed, I am a woman of many words. As opposed to many of my colleagues who are Visual or Tactile Learners, as an Audible Learner, I absorb new concepts and ideas through hearing and speaking. In my home, we have constant conversation going on. Looking for peace and quiet? Don’t come sit next to me!
I understand that all of this constant chatter can really wear on my family and friends. But, at home, family and friends generally just tell me that I’m talking too much, or they tell me to just shut up. At work, however, different communication rules apply.
The workplace is fraught with communication obstacles. One of those challenges: Coworkers or bosses who do not communicate well. Have you ever had a coworker who just talked too much? Have you attended a meeting that went on entirely too long because people like the sound of their own voices? I have.
Aside from being a total time sucker, coworkers who talk just to hear themselves speak, can decrease productivity and even deaden employee morale.
Do you remember learning about the Thesis Statement in high school English class? The Thesis Statement is the main point of an essay or term paper. When we communicate at work, we should always have a Thesis Statement in mind, and speak to it. Put another way, if a listener could only remember one thing from a presentation you made at work, you would want it to be the Thesis Statement, because that’s the central idea.
When communicating at work, start with your Thesis Statement. Fight the urge to tell a long story, where the plot unfolds as listeners wait patiently for you to get to the point. We all have work to get done, and most of us don’t have time for long, exaggerated lead-ups to the main point. When communicating at work, be clear and concise.
Additionally, and this is for those of us raised in Caribbean households where we were taught it’s not polite to ask directly for something, for fear of appearing rude; and those of us from the Diaspora who have a, shall we say, loose relationship with time: Not making a direct request or not attaching a deadline to a request can be a recipe for disaster in our American workplace. At work, be direct with your requests, and respect your coworkers’ time. Do you need a report from a coworker by lunchtime? Instead of asking, “Could you get that report to me? It’s important,” be direct. Make a statement, and attach a definite timeline to it. Instead, try, “I need that report by 12 noon.”
Always have a Thesis Statement in mind, be direct when communicating, and when possible, give a timeline when communicating at work. Being clearly concise can help in keeping things flowing on the job, and if you would like to hear more, you can always come sit next to me.
Gail Lewis, M.A., is an Assistant Professor of Communications who never passes up an opportunity to watch Star Trek with her family. A syndicated columnist, award-winning Toastmaster, and blogger, she also hosts the talk show Communication Corner, www.YouTube.com/TheCommDepot, on Queens Public Television.
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