Achieving Mindful Communication in the Workplace

12/1/2022 - By Nancy Patton

Communication is a powerful tool that can have a significant impact on the success of a company. Effective communication can increase employee engagement, boost productivity and drive business growth, whereas poor communication can have the complete opposite effect. In this blog, you will learn why communication matters and how to incorporate mindful tips into your everyday correspondence.

What is Internal Communication?

Internal communication is all communication within an organization. Internal communication can be official communication, such as policies, memos, guidelines and unofficial communication such as the informal exchanging of ideas and conversation in the break room or during work happy hours.

Internal communication is the lifeline of a company. It goes in all directions among staff members and, when done correctly, can do wonders for a company.

The benefits of effective internal communication are:

Quality communication in the workplace can eliminate unnecessary problems and miscommunication.
Efficient communication promotes better performance.
The ability to communicate effectively in the workplace can increase overall productivity and create a stronger team. In fact, teams who communicate effectively in the workplace may see as much as a 25% increase in their productivity (Pumble.com, 2021).
When employees consult with each other using practical communication skills and consider the views of others, they will be more cooperative in finding the best solution.

What is Mindful Communication?

Mindful communication is not so unlike yoga or meditating – it is the act of being present and aware of what you’re saying to others without judgment. It means being thoughtful about what you are saying and taking a moment before speaking to consider how it could impact the person at the other end of your comments.

You can think of your entire company doing everyday Internal Communication + practicing Mindful Communication = Effective Communication in the workplace.

Mindful Communication Tips

Whether the communication is written or spoken, if you’re reading or listening, being a mindful communicator is crucial in any workplace and can make you a better, more effective and more efficient. Keep these six tips in mind when communicating:

Be Clear – Don’t beat around the bush. Be sure to convey your message so that it is easily understood by using specific language and avoid spewing out too many words. You want to plan your communication to ensure that you are passing along the correct information and the right amount of information so those you are communicating with understand what you are saying.
Listen/Read Actively – Before you respond, make sure you have heard and digested what the person is saying. You want to avoid email responses written in haste to limit miscommunication. You also need reread the original email and use the information within it to craft your response or start your list of questions. You would be surprised to see how many answers to your questions can be found in the email if you reread it a few times.
Acknowledge but Don’t Assume – In your response, let the person know first that you understand them, and second, that you care about what they have said or what they want to do. You can paraphrase back to them to prove that you have heard them loud and clear; and for emails, you can simply acknowledge that you’ve read and received the email and understand ‘XYZ’ within it. In your acknowledgment though, don’t make assumptions. If the message isn’t clear, instead of assuming what the originator wants or needs, ask for clarification.
Know Your Audience – Something that may be logical to you may not make sense to someone else. Sometimes being sarcastic doesn’t translate well. You want to match your tone and timing to the person you’re communicating with, and this may take some time to learn based off the various communication styles out there, but it can be done.
Keep Your Word – If you tell someone that you'll provide them a paper or project on a specific date when you talk with them, keep your word. People will respect you more if you fulfill your promises. If you can’t fulfill that promise, give them a status update and let them know when you can to get to that project.
Keep It Positive – No matter how stressed you are, or how tense the conversation, try to stay positive and put your team first. And never make it personal—keep your focus on the professional aspect.

Out of all the communication tips out there, these six are just a few that could have a big impact on you and your workplace. For additional information and other tips, check out these resources:

About the Author | Nancy Patton

Nancy is a marketing coordinator for Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. She assists with coordinating, monitoring and implementing marketing initiatives for the firm and serves as a liaison with outside consultants in the areas of marketing, advertising, and public relations. Nancy is also responsible for planning and executing special events and seminars for the firm, as well as managing current and prospective client data, distributing press releases and coordinating proposals.