1. Commit to becoming an effective listener. And learn how to “hear” what people are saying to you.
2. Conduct regular 1-on-1 meetings with people that work with you. And give them your full attention when meeting with them. These meetings are a great time to actively seek feedback from your staff about your own communications.
3. Demonstrate the core values of your company or organization on a consistent basis in whatever you do in your communications with fellow employees and those you supervise and manage.
4. Be sure you make extra efforts to ensure that all those people that need to know are told what they need to know and in a timely manner. For performance issues, this means communicating with them well before an annual performance review.
5. Discuss personal and delicate matters in person, preferably face-to-face or if need be by telephone, rather than via email. Ensure confidentiality in communications where appropriate and required.
6. Learn how to effectively communicate with groups of employees.
7. Make eye contact with the person or persons with whom you are communicating.
8. Send a consistent message by making your words; gestures facial expressions and tone of voice match your message.
9. Stay focused on the present, your feelings, understanding one another and finding a solution.
10. Ask for assistance if you need it from people that demonstrate effective communication.