We’ve all heard the old adage that you can catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar. But did you know that this old saying can actually translate into a business strategy.
According to some business experts, the communication style you use with your employees can actually set the tone for everything else your business does, from reflecting your company culture and values, to affecting the way your employees in turn communicate with your clients and customers.
Fortunately, positive employee communication has been shown to boost workforce morale and empower employees to do the best work they can, often having a positive effect on productivity.
But what does negative communication do?
Well, according to one Stanford University study, negative words can actually damage the part of the brain that affects memory, which can translate to a less productive environment. Negativity in the workplace also degrades employee morale, making it harder for workers to handle day-to-day job stresses, which affects their productivity. Not only that, but chances are they will recall your words long after the work day has ended as well. “As a boss, what you say will be taken literally,” according to a recent article in Inc. magazine that lists words that leaders should never use with their employees. So always be mindful of what you say, how you say it and the weight your words hold with your workers.
Here are some tips for keeping things positive, even when conveying negative feedback or difficult information to your workers:
• Never put down or insult an employee. It can be very embarrassing for an employee to be insulted by a manager, especially in front of co-workers. Remember, when an employee isn’t doing something right, target their specific “wrong” behavior or action, but do not target them personally.
• If you’re angry, try to calm down before speaking. When an employee has done something so drastically wrong that it puts themselves or others in , you may feel anger or frustration. Try to remember that it’s best to remove them from the situation and to calm down before speaking to them. That gives you time to get the situation under control and to think about what you’re going to say and do. Then you can speak to the employee calmly in private.
• Touch on the positive first when giving negative feedback. Even when an employee has done something wrong, you should stop and think about all the things they do right on a regular basis and let them know that you notice these things. Then when giving them feedback on how to improve, set a positive tone by first telling them you notice and appreciate all the things they do right.
• Be professional, friendly and show respect when speaking with employees. Treat your workers with the same respect and kindness that you use when addressing anyone else. After all, where would your business be without your employees?
• Avoid negative comparisons. Comparing an employee with another worker who does a job better can undermine the lower-performing employee’s confidence and give them the impression that they will never do the job as good as their co-worker. If you think they could learn from the better-performing employee, a good approach is to put the two together and let the employee who does the job better serve as a mentor, or allow the two to work as a team to build the lower-performing employee’s confidence.
• Try to communicate with employees as much as possible, not just when there is a problem. Taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with employees in person, even if it’s just to say “Good morning” or to ask how their day is going can make them feel like a valued part of the team. It also may give you insight into what’s going on in their area of the business.
• Be honest. Sometimes you have to convey difficult information to employees, but it’s better to be honest than to hide information that affects their jobs. Being honest builds trust and respect.
