3 R's and a C

If, growing up, it had been Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Communication, I argue the headlines would read very differently every day.

Most of what we learned about how to communicate, we learned by accident. So it’s no wonder that in the workplace, the way people interact is at the root of so many problems. It’s not that we have bad people or that they try to cause problems; it’s that they never learned the basic principles of human interface. Misunderstanding runs rampant; people get defensive; vengeful decisions are made and people stop talking. And that stains everything from job satisfaction to corporate profits. Not a recipe for good business.

Providing training to employees to learn how simple things can help them interact better in every moment of every discussion of every day has monumental payoff. Here are a few simple ideas to make that happen.

1. Ban negative comments. They are nothing less than infection.

2. Ask everyone to make eye contact with each other. It’s much harder to say bad things about someone you look in the eye. If you stop saying bad things the polarity of the workplace improves.

3. Acknowledge and at least be civil to everyone, especially the ones you don’t like. You have more to gain by drama-free cooperation than by getting even.

Everything everyone says or implies through tone of voice or nonverbality sends a message. Realize the implication of this and, at least, stop sending messages that communicate disdain. Then, eventually send messages that acknowledge how we can work for mutual good will. Then after that, who knows... enjoyment, encouragement, empowerment?