Pick any email in your official inbox, and you’d be able to point out at least 5 emails, which are completely incorrect, and leave a lot to be desired. Did you know that saying, “I’ll revert back to you” is completely incorrect and the word ‘revert’ actually means to go back to a previous state. Often times, we don’t give much attention to the words we use in conversation or in writing, and that is a grave error on our part. Every word has a meaning, and related connotations. To be successful in the workplace it is crucial to pay heed to verbal communication.
Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is a science which goes to the depth of how the mind works, and how various situations and signals are perceived by us. Through NLP, we can drastically change the way we communicate, and understand how verbal and non-verbal communication is perceived.
Here are 5 verbal communication hacks you need to be successful at work:
1. Be Clear and Concise
A big part of the messaging or point we’re trying to put across gets lots amidst the jargon we tend to spew. The big, colourful, official sounding terms only make sense when there is something to back them. More often than not, people can see right through them, and understand that you’re using flowery language to disguise the lack of real content. So, the next time you hear someone saying something like “Let us discover the barrage of inter-coming communication and leverage from the optimum position to clarify the farrago of dichotomy”, you can just tell them to cut to the chase and just say “open your email and reply to emails”!
2. Choose Your Words Carefully
Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can not only land us in trouble, it can also ensure that our workplace image is severely damaged. Before an important or a presentation, it would be a good idea to think about the words you’re going to use. In a public speaking opportunity, you can write down a list of words that you want to include in your speech, and make sure you weave your talk around it. In a negotiation too, words are crucial. Giving away too much, or sounding too rigid, both scenarios may not be in your favour. So, pick your words carefully to achieve desirable results.
3. Speak with Confidence
You might be unsure of what you’re saying, but you should speak with complete confidence when putting a point across. This translates into a perception that you’re correct in your messaging, and your words are perceived in a better way. If you feel like you’re not able to muster up the confidence, just take a deep breath, and focus on what you have to say, rather than how you will say it. When you have a grip on your content, you will naturally get the confidence to say it.
4. Be Empathetic
Whenever you’re communicating in the workplace, think of how it will be perceived. NLP helps understanding the mind and how information is perceived by people. This in turn helps you understand people think, and makes you more empathetic in your verbal communication. You learn to be sensitive towards others, and choose your words accordingly.
5. Pick the Correct Medium
A lot of conflicts can just be solved by choosing the correct medium of communication. While some situations may need you to write those long drawn out emails, explaining your point in painstaking detail, other issues can simply be resolved by face-to-face communication, and discussing the matters. The difference is that of the medium. While some mediums for verbal communication may be appropriate at certain times, at other times, it may not be. So, always think before you speak!
Verbal communication just need a little bit of brain, a little bit of heart and lots of good content. So, be sure of the intent and the content, and you’ll be sorted!