Speaking to our work colleagues is something we all need to do on a daily basis, whether we want to or not. I think that the key is in finding the right way to speak to each one of them, so let’s see how you can do this with different types of people.
The Imposing Boss
In my first couple of jobs I had really frightening bosses. These were the types of manager who you didn’t argue with when they told you to go and pick up their shirts from the drycleaners or wash the old coffee mug that had been stuck to their desk for months. I always found that saying the minimum amount of words to these people and trying to avoid their attention worked pretty well. After working in another couple of places I realised that I had probably been wrong about these early bosses though. It was my fear of doing a bad job which made me so nervous of them. With hindsight I realised that these managers are just normal people who are probably a bit stressed. Try and speak to them in a professional way but give them the chance to relax with you at time if they want to.
The New Starter
I enjoy working beside new starts because it gives me a chance to speak to someone different and also to pass on some hints. I sometimes make the mistake of overloading them with too much information so it makes sense to take it slowly and let them find out things little by little. It is also important to try and be positive with them. Lots of experienced workers take the opportunity to whinge and complain to a new person but it is far better to tell them about the positive parts of the job instead. After all, they could bring a breath of fresh air to the place if you let them.
The Overseas Worker
Do you work with foreign colleagues? It can be hard communicating with someone on the other side of the world but it can also be rewarding if you do it right. The first step is to eliminate any language barrier which might exist between you. This means speaking as clearly as possible and not using local slang. Secondly, you will want to use a conference call service which gives you reliability and a crystal clear sound. Finally, you should take the chance to get to know them and find out about their country and culture. This will create a greater bond between you and make your future conversations more relaxed.
For great communication with people who work far away from you it is essential that you find a reliable conference call service to use.