We are a week into the new year, and our collective sights are set on making (and sustaining) improvements that will put us on a good footing for 2024. Some people focus on achieving work-life balance, while others resolve to become more productive and organized. But few things can set the right tone for the new year better than examining your communications with your colleagues and employees and looking for ways to improve them. The first key is understanding the importance of language.
January 9 is National Word Nerd Day, and as a diehard logophile, this day is right up my alley. I love words and how skilled writers and speakers can use them so artfully to explain complex concepts, paint a vivid mental picture, or convey emotions. The power of language is profound; two people describing the same event can make a listener feel very differently about it merely based on the words they use.
Language is important in all aspects of our lives, including in our workplaces. Used the wrong way, words can cause conflict and dissension while eroding employee morale, but used the right way, they can help build up a positive, empathetic business culture.
Simply put—words carry a lot of weight. But they don’t have to be complicated. Effective language is:
- Precise, using the simplest words necessary to get your point across and avoiding overly elaborate vocabulary or unnecessary jargon
- Authentic, saying what you mean and meaning what you say
- Thoughtful, considering how what you say will be received
Five ways effective language can impact an organization are:
1. Providing clarity and avoiding confusion
Using precise language can help ensure that ideas, directives, and other information are conveyed accurately while minimizing ambiguity and confusion. The fewer misunderstandings, the fewer mistakes and setbacks.
2. Promoting collaboration and team cohesion
Shared language and effective communication channels foster cooperation and productivity. Clear language helps employees understand their responsibilities and the parts they play in making the organization succeed. It also helps them understand how they impact others on the team.
3. Resolving conflicts
Language skills are essential for resolving conflicts within the workplace. Effective communication allows employees to discuss concerns openly yet respectfully and come to agreeable solutions.
4. Fostering cultural understanding
Whether working with people across the globe or across the room, everyone comes to work with different perspectives and experiences. Using language successfully, including adapting it when necessary, can encourage respect and empathy among your staff.
5. Growing customer engagement
The aforementioned courtesy and understanding can also flow into employees’ interactions with clients, which helps to build strong relationships, customer loyalty, and a professional brand perception for your company.
Knowing the value of effective language in a business, here are five ways to target and improve your communication strategies in the new year.
1. Align Language and Communication with Business Goals
Ensure that all communication reflects and corresponds with the company’s overall strategic goals. Whether it’s marketing messages, internal memos, or customer communications, they should all contribute to the larger business objectives.
2. Tailor Your Language to Your Audience
Businesses need to adapt their language and communication strategies based on their intended audience, whether it’s employees, clients, prospects, or the general public. Understanding the preferences and values of their audience allows companies to connect more effectively and build stronger relationships.
3. Understand Employees’ Unique Communication Styles
Some people need to know the details and specifics, while others only want a broad overview. Some employees like to make small talk before discussions, while others just want to get down to business. Knowing how each member of your team prefers to communicate can make your conversations, emails, and other interactions more meaningful and productive. Pro tip: Using behavioral assessments can offer a wealth of insight into employees’ communication styles as well as other personality attributes.
4. Develop Employees’ Communication Skills
Help your employees grow their language and communication skills by providing training programs. These can include written communication, public speaking, and active listening. Well-equipped employees contribute to a positive internal culture and effective external communication.
5. Stay Current with Language Trends
It’s estimated that William Shakespeare invented or introduced more than 1700 words to the English language, often by combining words, changing nouns into verbs, and adding prefixes or suffixes. That trend continues today; Merriam Webster added 690 new words last year, including tiny house, quiet quit and a favorite of mine, padawan (I’m not just a word nerd; I’m a sci-fi nerd too!)
Language is constantly changing, so businesses need to stay up to date with linguistic trends and changes in communication styles. This adaptability helps companies remain relevant and resonate with their employees, customers, and target audiences.
By implementing these strategies, businesses can harness the power of language to create meaningful connections, build trust, and ultimately enhance their overall performance and success.
We at Omnia understand the importance of language and the impact it can make in a business. Our behavioral assessment products, including our automated reports, are all originally written by analysts who take great care in writing for clarity, accuracy, and understanding. Our Custom Profiles are individually evaluated and written by analysts as they are received, allowing us to tailor the reports to our clients’ unique needs and preferences, including comparing participants to potential or current supervisors and peers. Also, we continually update our product language to be sure it is contemporary and relevant to today’s business climate.
If you’re resolving to improve hiring and retention for your company in the new year too, Omnia can help! Contact us today to find out how our pre-employment and employee development assessments as well as our team of knowledgeable, dedicated consultants can help you reach your 2024 goals.
