Workplace Communication – Mind your tone
Given the power of voice, it is not surprising that many conflicts in the workplace arise because employees feel the wrong tone was used to communicate with them. That is, they feel that what was said did not match up with how it was said. Crucially, misunderstandings do not only occur when given feedback, but even in the most mundane conversations. Listening to someone using a condescending voice – no matter what the topic is about – can have a profound influence on the listener’s feelings. The importance of “hitting the right tone” is evident outside the workplace, too. Some research has even argued that marital success can be predicted by how couples communicate within therapy (and not by what they argued about)!
We can help you evaluate typical communication problems in your organisation and can advise on how to overcome these barriers with the aim to improve well-being and productivity within your teams.