Workplace Communication

It really all comes down to emotional intelligence, doesn’t it? Whether it’s in person, on the telephone, videoconference or email, the ability to read the room is key. It's called workplace communication. Understanding how others perceive your body language and words is important to career success. Yet, many ignore obvious warning signs and blunder ahead, like the proverbial “bull in the china shop”. So many times I’ve seen an audience sit, bored and borderline angry, at a conference speaker. Why? Due to an obvious inability to adjust their presentation based on audience feedback.

Feedback is often subtle. It can be seen in various ways, including crossing arms, clearing throats or refusing to make eye contact. Feedback can be heard in many ways, such as laughter, clapping, catcalls, silence, pointed questions, argumentative comments and more. When you break it down, it takes skill and experience to notice all of these nuances. People who want to build strong careers with colleagues, customers and managers are wise to invest in learning about emotional intelligence right from the start. How does a young adult gain this knowledge? There are many ways. Listen in class, volunteer, watch training videos, ask a mentor to teach the finer points of reading people and rooms. Participating in group homework project assignments is one of the best ways I know how to encourage people to see others’ real personalities appear. When I was at university, there was always that ONE person who never showed up on time, never contributed, yet then expected a top level mark simply because they were on the team. I even had one person request a last minute about-face on a group assignment 36 hours before the massive paper was due. Yikes. My response as team leader was that if he wanted to call all the other members of the team who had already signed off on the final draft AND get their approval, I would do as the team asked. Guess what? Nobody voted for change. The panic was over, yet it certainly was not a fun time.

Above all else, career-minded students should be incredibly certain of the education they’re getting. Insist on real world assignments. Ask if there is something better than a dusty old textbook from 2003. Pose questions in class and expect answers that help prepare them for careers. As educators, it’s up to us to provide that type of learning environment. As students, it’s up to them to be respectful and engaged. Proper discussion topics, assignments and activities go a long way to making good careers a reality. While every student is different, every single one benefits from career-focused education that shows them not only why, but also how to make it in today’s business world. No matter if they want to be an employee or entrepreneur, in a for profit or not-for-profit world, in a city or the country, it’s up to us to give them the best start possible. It’s up to us to make it happen. To all the understaffed, overloaded and stressed teachers out there who are doing their absolute best, day in and day out, thank you. You are making a difference. Although not every student will say thank you, know that your work is impacting the rest of their lives and deserves a round of applause. Well done.

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