Northwest Staffing Blog

Regardless of whether you’re a business owner in Everett, a manager in Seattle, an employee in Edmonds, or a job candidate in Mill Creek, effective communication skills are essential for your success. If your communication skills need a little work, don’t despair. Good communicators can be created as well as born.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Even if someone lashes out at you, don’t take their anger personally. They may simply be stressed out and taking it out on you.

• It’s ok if you don’t have all the answers. If someone asks you a question that you don’t know the answer to, tell them you’ll have to find out and follow up with them.

• People don’t necessarily care whether you agree with them or not; they simply want to be heard. So, to show that you’re listening, respond with a statement like: “Tell me more about your concern.”

• What someone else says and what we hear can be two different things. Our own filters, assumptions, and beliefs can distort what we hear. So be sure to repeat back or summarize what you think the person just said to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

• Acknowledge frustration or inconvenience and offer a timeline, particularly if you need someone else’s cooperation or your activities will have an impact on them. Also, be sure to tell them how what you’re doing will benefit them.

• Even though it’s hard, don’t offer advice unless you’re asked.

• Look for common ground instead of focusing solely on differences.

• Most people (including you) have a self-serving agenda. This isn’t a bad thing because it helps us achieve our goals. However, don’t assume that someone else has the same agenda as you.

• Become a better listener. Most people think they’re good listeners; however, they’re usually thinking about what they’re going to say next when someone else is talking. Gooding listening means clearing your mind of distractions and asking pertinent questions.