Improving communication between people is a key factor for success in business. What would a company be without the interaction between the individuals that comprise it? We present here reasons why the employer should deal with this.
The importance of communication
Developing nonverbal and verbal communication skills is essential to enhance results and build harmony in interpersonal relationships. A research by American psychologist Albert Mehrabian, a professor at the University of California, indicates that 38% of the impact of communication is in the tone of voice, while only 7% is the actual words.
People think most of the time that working on the verbal aspect of communication is enough to maintain good interpersonal relationships. What is not said, that is, gestures, body posture and eye contact, is as important as speech and can help in work relationships.The nonverbal forms of communication are 55% more impactful than other forms of communication as they are part of the universal language with which people relate, according to the Mehrabian study.
How to improve interpersonal relationships in the company
To improve interpersonal relationships, the company must give special attention to internal communication processes. The collaborators and managers have to know each other better, relate and execute the projects together.
That is the push that the company must give so the employees themselves can improve their relationships. Addressing positively the diversity of ethnic groups, ages, social classes, religions, sexual orientations and cultural formations within the company is essential to improve interpersonal relationships and productivity. The more diversity is recognised, the more results on a global scale will be achieved.
Diversity is essential for a successful operation and that is why differences between collaborators must be valued, says Alfredo Castro, managing partner of MOT, a company specialising in training and management development.
Leaders must be open to new ideas and feedback, working to consolidate the company's strategic vision.
The first responsibility of a leader is to ensure that everyone in the organisation understands that working together must be a positive experience and that it is necessary to create an environment of respect, open and inclusiveness, in which employees can share without fear of being judged. For this, it is necessary to be ethical and integral in relation to values, as well as being able to build associations and influence other people, even without having authority over them.
Provide solutions, not problems
We all like people who are proactive and seek solutions and are not left alone with problems. Being positive and encouraging people is a good strategy to improve human relationships at work.
Successful people are optimistic because they have that capacity to find opportunities and alternatives where others see only threats and difficulties. Finally, smile and develop a sense of humour; this serves to create a group and relax any tense moments. In addition, having the ability to laugh at oneself is the best therapy against one's ego and a practical way of putting one's feet on the ground.
