Building trusting relationships with employees

Dealing with employees can be a difficult task. With so many different personalities involved in an office setting, effective communication is key to a positive environment. Consider this list of seven communication skills that can help promote trust and foster a healthy workplace. #1 – Body Language Your body language during a conversation says a lot about you. Using good posture shows that you are interested in what is being said. Sitting up straight and maintaining eye contact show that you are focused and paying attention. Nodding at appropriate times shows agreement and sympathy for any given situation. #2 – Active Listening Active listening isn’t something that you are born with; it’s something you have to work on. There are a million distractions and there’s always something you could be doing that might be a better use of your time. Active listening involves repeating statements back at key moments, asking questions, and using statements that show agreement. #3 – Managing Stress Your stress management is directly related to how you communicate with employees. First, you have to be able to identify when you are getting stressed. Figure out what stressors set you off, and learn how you can respond to them differently. When you do get stressed, be sure you’re not blowing up on employees. Try taking a moment to relax, breathe deeply, and focus on other things. When your stress has completely gone away, approach the situation again. #4 – Emotional Awareness Being aware of your own emotions is very important. If you’re too upset about any personal situations or problems in your life, inform others that perhaps now is not the best time for discussion. Also, being able to compartmentalize emotional situations and do your job is very necessary. Some people suggest “stuffing” emotions away to be dealt with at a later time. #5 – “I” Statements If you’re involved in a conflict with an employee, it’s best not to use “you” statements, but instead “I” statements. That takes the ownership of the situation and puts it on you. Essentially, you can say things like “I feel that you are not…” or “I have sensed that you don’t…” and then bring up the issue at hand. This makes you own your portion of the conflict, the portion that makes you feel offended. “I” statements also point out to them what they’ve been doing wrong without directly blaming them. #6 – Points of View If you’re involved in a particularly difficult situation, attempting to view the situation from the opposing person’s point of view can help to resolve the conflict faster. Often, if you put yourself in their shoes and see how they may have perceived a situation, you can figure out the best way to resolve the conflict faster and with greater results. #7 – Ask for Help There’s no shame in asking for help. The sooner you learn this, the better your communication will be. When asking for help, it’s best to maintain a sense of humility, and understand that you are asking someone to take on a bit of the burden that has been laid on your shoulders. When you ask someone for help, be sure you are not asking too much of them. Also make sure you are not abusing your power. Doing this jeopardizes being able to ask for anything in the future. Using effective communication can lead to a happier, healthier work environment. Learn these skills to help promote a supportive atmosphere. As a corporate travel manager, you are trusted with all the major details of business travel. For more information on Madison, WI car service booking, contact AJ Prestige.