It’s simple to yell into the void. Are you being heard? That’s a skill. In today’s busy corporate world, Serge Robichaud sets movers apart from wishful dreamers. Think of a Slack channel at work, where messages go by faster than coffee on Monday morning. There’s a lot of noise, but what do you really hear? Not as much as you’d think.
Let’s stop using jargon. You send a text. The other person understands. It’s easy, right? Not so fast. Remember when you sent your team instructions by email and they all did something different? Was it them? Not likely. Words don’t always match up with what they signify. That’s where misunderstandings, blame, and even delays in projects start.
Small things like tone, pace, and even the quantity of exclamation points may make a big difference. Add some emoticons, and all of a sudden your “Can I get that report tomorrow?” sounds more like “Give me that NOW!” than the push you wanted to give. Spell check and polite sign-offs aren’t enough for modern commercial communication.
Now, let’s add video calls to the mix. When faces freeze in the middle of a statement or “You’re on mute!” becomes a recurring joke, there is no place for guessing games. Non-verbal clues are really important, but Zoom can occasionally take over the show in a bad way. Reading the virtual room is a dance between what you know and what you see. Long silences, eye contact, and head nods. They all mean something. If you don’t pay attention to these signs, you can be stepping on toes without knowing it.
Then there is feedback. It’s hard to get it. Giving it? Even harder. If you sugarcoat too much, your point gets lost in the syrup. Go all-in cruel, and morale drops. The sweet spot? Be honest, clear, and kind. Think of a sandwich: praise, hard truth, and then more praise. Keeps the food good. But you have to remember to listen. Active listening makes a one-sided conversation into a two-sided one. Stop. Listen. Answer.
Do you remember those never-ending reply-all email storms? No one wins there. Signal gets lost amid cacophony. You need clear, direct communication. One thought per message. Short and to the point. Always be respectful. There are a lot of anecdotes of late-night Slack messages that cause panic over nothing. People require limits. Respect time zones and use asynchronous updates. These peaceful times help build trust.
Culture is important. What works in one country doesn’t work in another. Someone’s casual talk can make you feel uneasy or even angry. Being polite and open is more important than using acronyms and jargon. If you’re not sure, ask. Every time, curiosity trumps assumptions.
The pace of business today is really fast. It’s not a one-person show; it’s a relay race. Who won? The one who hands off the baton without dropping it. Be honest when you talk to people. We all talk, but business is better when we learn to really listen and make sense of all the words.
So here’s a challenge: don’t let your mind go on autopilot at the next meeting. Ask questions. Make it clear. Give a brief summary of what you heard. See what happens. People are more likely to participate when they feel heard. Suddenly, work goes from a mess of twisted wires to real teamwork. Isn’t that something that any business could use?