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Employees are inundated every day with different messages, so it is vital that the important ones pack a punch and leave a lasting impression.
To help employers use communication as a tool for success in their business, the science-based technology company 3M has created an engaging infographic bursting with key facts and figures about the best ways to get through to workers.
Research has found that a key ingredient for effective personal communication is body language, with 55 per cent of people agreeing that this helps to emphasise the message [1] .
While this is an effective tool, speech is still incredibly important and in some cases, will be the only way to get your message across – particularly when giving workers instructions about how to carry out a specific task or if you need to quickly alert them to a problem.
So when communicating by speech, here are a couple things to consider;
- Think about your tone of voice when delivering your message as this can have an impact on how people respond
- The speed in which you speak is also critical. For technical information and important topics aim to speak at a speed of 120 words per minute, while 150 words per minute is ideal conservational speed [2 ]
Richard Davies, marketer at 3M, said: “Facilitating the best possible communications amongst all employees will ensure a more effective and engaged workforce. As people learn differently, it’s important to adapt your style to suit their needs and create the most effective communications plan.
“Working environments can often tend to be very noisy and when speaking to employees while they are working, it’s important that messages can be communicated effectively, while their health is also protected.
“Peltor Brand LiteCom Headsets from 3M are one way to improve communication in the workplace as they protect hearing, while also allowing employees to speak clearly to each other.”
Here are a couple of other things to think about when deciding on your communications approach:
- Think about other cultures. In the UK a thumbs up sign means ‘well done’, but for people from Greece, Sardinia or West Africa it can be actually quite offensive [3 ]
- 60 per cent of people are visual learners, so think about including posters and presentations in your strategy [4 ]
For more information about PELTOR Brand LiteCom Headsets, visit www.3M.co.uk/workerschoice
[1] Mehrabian, A. (1972). Nonverbal communication. Aldine-Atherton, Illinois: Chicago
[2] http://highimpactcommunication.com/blog/2012/12/10/ideal-rate-of-speech/
[3] http://infographiclist.com/2012/02/19/hand-jive-the-7-common-american-hand-gestures-that-can-get-you-in-trouble-abroad-infographic/
[4] 5 http://blog.smartdraw.com/infographic-visuals-communicate-better-words/
Published: 08-09-16
Click here for more information: www.3M.co.uk/workerschoice
