Miscommunication happens in all facets of life, including in the workplace. When miscommunication does happen at the office, it can lead to workplace issues like employee disengagement and operational mistakes. Learn how you can help your team avoid workplace miscommunications with these helpful tips from Prescott HR! 

Why does workplace miscommunication happen?

As we mentioned above, it’s normal for miscommunications to happen. Here are some common reasons why:

• Lack of clarity: If you are explaining something to an employee, what makes sense to you may be lost in translation to them. 

• Not being direct: As a leader, it’s important for you to be direct with your employees. Sometimes leaders put too much emphasis on being nice, instead of focusing on delivering your intentions in a direct (and respectful) way. 

• • Emotions: Sometimes when an issue involves emotions like anger or frustration, it can be hard to deliver a clear message. Always communicate with your team members when you have a clear mind and steady emotions.
• Making assumptions: Assuming is the fastest way to guarantee workplace miscommunication. Never assume that your team “just understands” what you are asking of them. Be sure to lay out your expectations clearly so that you are all on the same page.

How to avoid workplace miscommunication

Here are our tips to help avoid workplace miscommunication in your office:

• Don’t avoid the uncomfortable: Even as adults, we tend to avoid confrontation. This can snowball into an even more uncomfortable situation over time. Instead, as a leader, you have to face situations head-on: even the uncomfortable ones. Never “hint” at what you really want to say, and instead confront any issues in a clear, concise, and respectful manner.

• Encourage an open door policy: Maybe it’s not apparent that you are not delivering messages effectively. That’s why you should always encourage a transparent workplace where employees feel comfortable coming to you with additional questions. If you assign a new task to your team and there’s any gray area that they do not understand, that’s where an open-door policy can help them feel comfortable enough to come to you for clarity. 

• Actively listen: Rather than spouting off directions and then turning back to your work, it’s important to listen to what your teammates think. One of the keys to effective communication is a leader’s ability to listen, not just speak.
• Be respectful: This is the most important tip we can offer. Any message you deliver to your team will not be well received if it’s delivered without respect.

Work with Prescott HR

​​Does your organization need help addressing workplace miscommunication? We are here to help! Prescott HR offers a wide range of services that can help your organization evaluate your current policies and incorporate new ones, as needed. Our unintimated HR practices allow us to be focused and effective, providing your business with precisely what you need. Give us a call today at 443-351-8818 or contact us online.