In any work environment, cooperation is the key factor to achieving many outstanding successes. However, many businesses have faced difficulties in promoting effective cooperation between departments or members due to the lack of essential communication skills.
Therefore, this article will share communication strategies that are worthy of being the "savior" to help you build strong teamwork spirit and achieve more than expected cooperation results.
Start with Openness and Expressing Trust
The factor that determines the foundation for any cooperative relationship is openness and trust right from the start. You need to show your willingness to listen, share perspectives, and information openly from the first meeting. At the same time, demonstrate confidence in the ability of all members to contribute by creating opportunities for them to suggest ideas and participate in discussions.
According to psychological researchers from Stanford University, showing trust and openness from the start will help create optimistic social psychological effects, arousing the working motivation of all members. This directly leads to a 47% higher level of willingness to cooperate than groups that do not apply this strategy.
Develop Positive and Constructive Language
Communication language is the sharp tool for you to gain trust and encourage cooperation in the team. Therefore, try to develop positive, optimistic language and use words and phrases that are constructive and emphasize the value of collaboration in all cases.
For example, instead of saying: "This project is too messy, it can't go on like this", you should switch to an optimistic mindset: "Let's work together to identify weaknesses to improve the project process, working together will be successful". Such gentle, friendly, and positive words will create a pleasant cooperative atmosphere, helping people feel valued and not pressured.
Research results by Carol Dweck, the world's leading psychologist, show that employees who regularly hear positive feedback and praise often have a 62% higher cooperative psychological state than the group that is not treated politely verbally.
Initiate a Two-Way Feedback Culture
One secret to promoting cooperation is to initiate a two-way feedback culture. You not only need to demonstrate the ability to listen and receive feedback but also create opportunities for others to give you feedback in a direct and respectful way.
When both feedback directions are effective, members have the opportunity to better understand each other, adjust their behavior accordingly, and find common ground. This two-way listening and information reception ability will create empathy and trust between members - an indispensable factor in any successful cooperation process.
According to Ken Blanchard - a leading expert on Management and Leadership, "one of the most important skills of an effective manager is the ability to listen and encourage people to give feedback openly". Applying this skill will help you build and develop a long-term cooperative culture.
Understand Individual Needs and Orientation
The next factor for communication to promote effective cooperation is the ability to understand the needs, desires, and orientation of each individual in the group. Each person has different personality traits, desires, and ways of communicating. A good communicator will be sensitive to recognize and adapt the style accordingly to create harmony.
For example, you can encourage introverted, quiet people by asking questions and encouraging them to share their views. With extroverts, be energetic and create a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere. Regardless of the style, the important thing is that you try to listen, observe, and understand the needs of each person to have a suitable approach and create cohesion.
Microsoft experts have pointed out that people who are knowledgeable and practice "Situational Intelligence" (communication appropriate for each situation) always achieve a 73% higher cooperation rate than those who apply a rigid communication style.
Standardize Language and Establish Clear Rules
If you have applied the above strategies but still encounter difficulties in achieving synchronized cooperation, the problem may come from the communication language that has not been unified. Misunderstandings due to language will make people "beat different drums", not be aware of the true meaning of coordination, leading to inefficient cooperation results.
Therefore, standardizing language and establishing clear communication rules will solve the problem from the root. In addition to strengthening the training of basic communication skills, you need to organize sharing sessions, identify specific phrases related to work so that everyone has the same awareness, eliminating the possibility of misunderstanding.
According to the British Standards Institution BSI, organizations that have applied the strategy of standardizing communication language often limit the rate of misunderstandings due to language to below 18%. Thus, all members will have the same awareness to take synchronized steps, coordinating more easily.
Reinforce Messages with Non-verbal Techniques
Finally, to complete the communication strategies towards cooperation, you need to improve your skills in using non-verbal techniques such as body language, eye contact, tone of voice, and speech attitude. By doing that, you will strengthen the persuasion and create trust for your message.
For example, while communicating, show your body posture facing your partner, combine gentle hand gestures, and nod in agreement to increase trust. Or when expressing your point of view, use a clear tone of voice and maintain eye contact to grab attention. Especially, don't forget to flash a friendly smile because according to research by Stanford University, a smile will make the person you are talking to more inclined to be harmonious and open in communication (by 40%).
Practicing these skills will help you become more persuasive and easily win the trust and cooperation of those around you. By combining strategies from spoken language to non-verbal communication, you will surely become an outstanding "communication ambassador", breaking down all barriers in the cooperation process.
With the above article, we hope you have a better understanding of the essential communication skills to promote effective cooperation in work. Communication is the golden key to opening the door to success, so invest diligently in practicing and applying the knowledge shared regularly. Once you become an excellent communicator, you will surely be able to inspire cooperation in all your colleagues and achieve the greatest achievements together.
Tomuz Academy
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