Imagine a meeting full of engaged, positive people. You can make that meeting the norm in your business. The key to success is active communication.
As you know, I am a big fan of active constructive conversation techniques. In my article Improve your relationships with ONE skill, I explained how to build an active constructive conversation by:
- Listening for emotions
- Acknowledging positive feelings
- Asking questions about others’ experiences
- Affirming
As an HR practitioner, you can apply these principles in a way that will strengthen positive workplace dynamics. Let’s say you need to create a more inclusive workplace culture. One way to do this is to help leaders and employees overcome existing communication barriers, both as speakers and as listeners.
Teach managers and leaders to listen deeply
Train and coach managers to track the emotional content of what is said – not just the facts. Teach them to ask questions as they listen. For example, what emotions are they hearing? How can they reinforce positive feelings? What interventions can they make to reframe negative emotions?
Promote the expression of positive emotions
Encourage employees to express their excitement, glee and sense of belonging. This helps them feel part of the company and to engage fully with their work. They’ll learn more about each other in the process and gain a better understanding of what it means to actively constructively communicate.
Educate employees about the value of asking probing questions
When someone asks a probing question, it encourages you to continue speaking. Employees who learn this simple principle become skilled communicators and relationship builders. Provide training and education on advanced questioning and rapport-building techniques. This is an essential topic to cover in customer service, people management and negotiation skills programs, for example.
Train teams in positive psychology tools
Teams that learn together, thrive. Instead of running ad hoc communication sessions, develop intact teams. Start by training managers to coach and support their staff. Then train all members of the team. Run follow-up sessions to ensure that skills are embedded.
Remember that great organisations foster positive, honest and dynamic conversations. Many people lack the skills required to communicate in this way. However, everyone can learn to do it once they understand the active constructive communication model.
About the author of this article
Eleanor Shakiba helps savvy professionals communicate in tough situations. She is a positive psychology trainer and success coach based in Sydney. Discover how Eleanor can help you or your team here.