Saturday, October 4, 2008

Communication in the workplace


Communication is a part of our daily life. Wherever you go, whomever you may be with, communication is the key to a successful relationship. In this case, it is communication in the workplace. Whether you make a deep impression or no impression on your superiors at all largely depends on your communication with your boss and your colleagues.

I recently read an article in a magazine titled "Why aren't you the boss?" It emphasizes that relationships and communication in the workplace are the key to working one's way to the top.

First, bonding with the boss (relationship) is a good way to start. You have to interact and forge a more personal (friendly) relationship with the boss. This allows for a building of trust and lets him or her understand the way you work (your strong points and talents), making it easier to attribute credit to you when it is due.

Second, bonding with your colleagues is also a stepping stone. Be the first to lend a helping hand when your colleagues are in need. This is to ensure that when you need the favor to be returned, the chances are high that your colleagues will help you. Also, you will be seen as the dependable person that all your colleagues will turn to you for whenever they need help or advice. This will increase your chances to be recommended for a promotion (because your colleagues can't do without you!).

Next, we have the communication that is extremely vital. The art of persuasion is very hard to master, but if you know the right way and technique, it will do you good. If you recommend yourself for the promotion, don't show your boss everything you have done and the hours you have put in for the company. Instead, show your boss how you have value-add to the company.

Also, during a meeting, show your boss that you have leadership skills by stating or finding out the purpose of the meeting, the points your boss will want to hear and the summary of your presentation.

When all is said and done, communication and relationships are very important to the workplace, because it is where the company as a whole is successful or not. What makes a company a multi-international corporation (MNC) and what makes companies fall? It is the very art of communication. Of course, there are other factors that lead to the success and failures of companies. However, don't you agree that communication is the very heart and centre of the success?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

hello yuan lin,

this article really reminded me of last year when i finally had to do internship before finishing poly. my LO was actually telling us the exact same thing,

"BE FRIENDLY WITH THE BOSS!!!"

I remembered her advice and tried my best to follow but unfortunately for me or was it my luck i'm not so sure the boss didn't really like me.

Anywho, I still think that somewhat communication in a workplace is still important even if you are forced to like a person because without communications you can't get your work done and hence couldn't archieved the company's ultimate goal.

kyun said...

Yes, communication is important! Otherwise, I would not be majoring in communications now, hahaha.

If one knows how to communicate appropriately to their audience, they can achieve their goals and get what they want more easily. It does not apply only at the workplace, but also in life, like when you need to get extra cash from your parents, or get someone you like to take notice of you. Hahaha.

Jo said...

imagine a world without communication...

haha anyway, it is true that people who have good relationships with their bosses and peers are the least likely to be fired/picked on etc etc. i mean, you would rather keep people you like around you right? cos other kinds of people just makes you really irritated and frustrated with working life..

but then again, it leads me to wonder about people who try too hard! those darn bootlickers.