Communication and interpersonal skills at work!
In our professional development and employability module, I was given the freedom to go off and increase my knowledge through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS). This blog is closely related to “Green HR” and “Between the Lines” blogs, which I wrote. The main reason why I chose this MOOC over another is that I thoroughly enjoyed learning about communication.
It’s a fact, that communication is the core of everything in life!
Agree?
If I was totally honest, the MOOC was pretty basic but one portion of the MOOC I found particularly interesting. But before I break that secret, how many can relate to my experience. I have been in situations where my speech (in English) was too high to be understood. Where my slang from my home country could not be understood. Or, better yet my communication as a whole has not been interpreted the way I meant it to be. Common situations?
Well in this MOOC I was taught how to manage challenging scenarios just like the ones above-Interested? well then take a look at this video:
What I learned through this course is when there is a disagreement, is to:
Firstly, actively listen
Start asking open-ended questions
After asking the questions then restate the vision/goal I am trying to achieve.
One tip which I use daily is to address conflicts or conversationally challenging situations as soon as it starts.
How about I start with a plan to prepare myself to communicate effectively. The below image depicts four areas to help me communicate effectively. Which are:
1. Be honest
2. Be open
3. Personally reflect
4. Address situations and get out of my comfort zone.
The MOOC also talked about people, I, being one of them who struggle to control their emotions in challenging times. Especially when something catches me off guard. One of the best tips given by this MOOC is to have a mindfulness practice.
This practice is meditation. However, it’s especially useful because it's easy to understand and can be implemented right away. I use this mindfulness practice exercise before I do public speaking. It helps me stay calm in those stressful situations.
To flip the table, challenging situations are not only negative. They can help me by:
Understanding, that challenging conversations are an open door for growth.
Confront any issues as soon as I am calm and focused.
Set clear goals to avoid confusion.
Listen intently.
Recognize and respect personal differences.
Figure out the grey space where commonality is found.
Repeat some key points about the conversation.
Maintain strong eye contact
Relate the conversation to “I” statements, to avoid conflict
Give constructive feedback.
Here is my certificate to prove my knowledge of this topic!
References
Learn, F., 2022. Managing challenging conversations at work. [Online] Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/communication-and-interpersonal-skills-at-work/22/steps/1427653 [Accessed 15 April 2022].
Monkey, M., 2022. Agree meme. [Online] Available at: https://www.memesmonkey.com/topic/funny+i+agree [Accessed 15 April 2022].
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