Ranked Among Australia’s Top 20 Corporate Training Providers (2026): View Courses

Why you need Effective Communication in the Digital Age

Why you need Effective Communication in the Digital Age

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Corporate Training Courses.

Why you need Effective Communication in the Digital Age

Brought to you by Rosy King @ Corporate Training Options

 

Why you need Effective Communication in the Digital Age

 

Is Face-to-Face Communication Dead in The Digital Age?

Of course it’s not.  However, they way we communicate has changed forever over recent months and I think what we can all agree on two things.

  1. That digital technology has changed the way we interact, communicate and work together
  2. And effective communication skills, be it face-to-face or digitally, are still immensely important.  So much can be lost or misinterpreted in poor communication, causing delays, lost production, resentfulness and frustration.

 

Using effective communication in the digital age of customer service

Technology can be a tool of connectedness  

These days we can all connect, chat and collaborate with each other irrespective of where we are in the world. Teams, supervisors and leaders can communicate one-on-one if they need to, or address their entire workforce, quickly, easily and remotely.

Yet, it’s a challenge to strike a balance.  We always have to remember that technology can’t fully replace human connections. It can elevate the business experience to another level, but can equally be the culprit behind a company’s doom.

In the age of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, it’s vital to determine which business functions should be digitised and which should not.

 

So, is face-to-face communication still a necessary skill now that digital communication is well and truly with us?

We’ve all had to learn very quickly to interact remotely, via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype or other types of online digital meetings.  Now, online communication is something we all have to do.

However, we also have to strive to truly listen to our customers and employees, to discover how best to serve them.  Even if you deal with thousands of customers, you’ll serve them better if you make listening part of your personal and company DNA.

While digital technology allows us to communicate with team members remotely, so we can collaborate and produce projects effectively, it is premature to think that effective face-to-face communication in the workforce is no longer required.

Why?

Because whether you are communicating with someone digitally via video, or face-to-face in the workplace, effective communication skills are paramount for your team, clients and organisation to prosper.

 

The Definition of Communication

The best definition of communication I’ve read is – “Communication is the process of passing information and understanding, from one person to another.  In simple words, it’s the process of transmitting and sharing ideas, opinions, facts and values from one person to another, or from one organisation to another.”

So, while it is easy to jump on the digital bandwagon to communicate with your team members and clients, there are a few key points to consider before you do.

 

The benefits of effective face-to-face communication

 

Human beings are social creatures. We need connection and to feel part of something.

Face-to-face communication stimulates staff engagement, builds company culture and shapes effective outcomes. It also creates a sense of community, belonging and trust, where people are working towards a common goal.  This is crucial for team morale and for an organisation’s growth and success.

 

Working from home can be lonelyConnecting with Team Members

Consider a team member who works from home and communicates by email only.  At times he may feel isolated, undervalued and disconnected from his purpose, his team and his employer.

And because he feels undervalued and disconnected, his inability to communicate effectively may be costing your organisation leads and sales, and affecting his other team member’s attitudes as well.

 

Connecting with Customers

Consider our communication with our customers.  Effective communication is vitally important, as it allows us to empathise with them, providing a better understanding of what they need and how they feel.  Without this understanding, our solutions might be meaningless.  Effective communication leads to empathy and understanding, which needs to be at the heart of proposing customer solutions.

 

In the words of Steve Jobs:

“I have always realized that you have to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology.

So, we started with: what incredible benefits can we give to the customer? Where can we take the customer?”

 

Reading unspoken non-verbals

Learning how to understand and interpret unspoken non-verbals in face-to-face communication, or via online meetings, is a real skill.

Being able to read a person’s body language and tone, being aware of their stance, appearance and the spatial arrangements in face-to-face communication, is key to effective communication in the workplace, and in all your relationships.  It’s an important part of ensuring positive outcomes.

 

Fostering engagement and participation

By learning practical communication skills, you and your team members will have a collaborative team and inspiring culture that everyone will enjoy being a part of.

Once team members learn how to communicate effectively, they’ll have more confidence. They’ll be comfortable putting forward ideas and contributing, resulting in a higher level of employee engagement and satisfaction.  Plus, a collaborative company culture means staff are happier and they stay longer, saving organisations both time and money.

 

Technology provides our effective communication in the digital ageCrystal Clear Communication

Ever received a text message or email you thought was impolite or rude, that you had to read a few times to understand?  I think we all have.

In most cases, that email or text wasn’t meant to be rude at all.

It’s just that emails and text messages lack tone, body language, facial expressions and a personality.

Whether you’re communicating face-to-face or via online meetings, effective communication is about cohesive discussion and reducing the risk of misinterpretation.

 

Human beings are sensitive, funny creatures.

We all read and understand things differently, which can be a disaster, and upsetting for those you’re communicating with, if you can’t communicate effectively.

Some may think you’re rude and others may not understand you and therefore may also not ask questions, which can lead to delays on projects and many other problems in your workplace.

Of course, misinterpretations can be solved by going to see the person who doesn’t understand your email, if that’s possible, or by picking up the phone and calling them.

 

Don’t underestimate the power and connection of speaking with people face-to-face.  It can go a long way to building relationships and communicating clearly and concisely.

  

Dealing with delicate issues using effective communication

Up in the Air delivers bad news remotelyIn the movie “Up In The Air”, starring George Clooney, the plot covers organisations changing the way they terminate their staff.

They move from delivering the bad news in person, to holding the termination meetings remotely, via video conference calls.  It’s an interesting exercise in effective communication, and demonstrates that in some situations, face to face communications is much more effective and empathetic.

In highly emotional situations, online communications can be too impersonal.  While I don’t know if it’s the way of the future, you have to remember that you’re dealing with people’s emotions, lives, incomes, beliefs and values.  And that can be tricky.

This is one of the crucial benefits of face-to-face communication

Whether it’s a team issue or you’re addressing a delicate subject with a specific team member, dealing with sensitive issues is all part of the process.

And based on our years of experience in training people and company teams in effective communication, it’s always beneficial to hold these delicate discussions in person if and wherever possible.

 

What if they work remotely?

If you need to deal with delicate situations with a team member who works remotely, the basic principles and outcomes still apply.

These include giving the person or people you are going to be speaking with

  • The problem that needs addressing
  • An idea about the purpose of your meeting
  • Suggested outcomes you’d like to achieve together

 

This gives them a heads up, and they and you can start thinking about outcomes, so you’re all working together to resolve the issue proactively, without attack or blame.

 

Effective communication, face-to-face or via digital means, has many components.

It requires:

  • honesty
  • listening and delivering information accurately
  • being attentive
  • and providing understanding

 

You need to be:

  • supportive
  • impartial
  • proactive
  • and take responsibility

 

Any communication, good or bad,  face-to-face or digitally, must be:

  • clear and concise
  • built on mutual respect and trust

 

 

Why you should invest in your people, to teach them effective communication skills, both online and in the workplace.

With professional training in Effective Communication, your team will develop the skills they need to communicate effectively, both face-to-face and via digital tools.

They’ll be more confident in their interactions with fellow team members, clients, suppliers and others.

Effective communications training teaches you and your team to be professional and diligent in all your communications.  It provides you with practical, useful tools to enable precise and effective communication in all situations.

 

 

 

 

Want to know more about our Effective Communication courses for you or your team?

 

The Effective Communication training course from Corporate Training Options provides learning outcomes which include:

  • Learning to recognise the impact of face-to-face communication and understanding the advantages of communicating this way
  • Understanding effective communication also consists of unspoken non-verbals
  • Becoming aware of your stance, your appearance, your voice and the spatial arrangements in a face-to-face encounter
  • Learning to choose your words carefully, to enhance your listening ability
  • This course also helps you to adapt your face-to-face strengths to online communications and media, via online meetings

 

Ready to learn more about Effective Communication?

 

If you’re ready to upgrade your skills to communicate more effectively, or you wish to tackle other new challenges, contact CTO today for friendly, professional advice.

We’ll discuss your specific needs and tailor a training course to suit your requirements.

 

Corporate Training Options

 

 

 

 

Always be professional at work

How to improve Professionalism in the Office

Written by webplanners on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Corporate Training Courses.

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

Always be professional at work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The need to improve professionalism in the office is extremely important in today’s competitive world.  

If you’re a Manager  you understand this better than anyone, because your staff’s professionalism can be the difference between your business struggling or thriving.

Whether it’s within the office or with customers, the attitude of your people and how they interact with others has great impact on:

  • your team’s morale
  • effective collaboration
  • sound decision-making
  • the quality of customer interactions
  • and ultimately your sales

Professionalism in the office is something all members of your team need to demonstrate.  These are skills that can be taught, learnt, and developed over time.  Yes, effort is involved, however the positive effects on you, as a manager, your team members, customers and company, will be life-long.

Here are some simple steps you can take to improve your team’s professionalism in the workplace.

 

Product Knowledge – this will only get you so far.

Know your productsHaving in-depth knowledge and understanding of your field, your products and your services, is a must.  However, it will only get your team so far.

You have to remember that people do business with people.  And your customers will remember your organisation when you have professional, courteous staff, who provide them with relevant, smart solutions.

By focusing on these basic skills, you and your team will set your company apart from your competition for all the right reasons.

Attitude – Why Are You & Your Team Here?

The right attitude at work is importantYour team’s attitude to work and how they see themselves are key performance indicators of how you and your team perform and progress. When you empower your team and help them develop their professionalism, you and your team will also evolve.

Having a shared understanding of the team’s goals and their motivations (your ‘why’) will help everyone shift from a passive mindset to an active mindset. An active mindset means taking charge and moving from just reacting to looking at the “bigger picture” and providing solutions.

 

Based on our experience, teaching your team professionalism in the office will allow them to:

  • Set goals individually and collectively
  • Embrace change and office challenges
  • Project a professional image
  • Resolve conflict in your office quickly and easily
  • And much more

When you change your team’s attitude from just going into work and wondering what the day will bring, to making decisions about goals, you will find much more enthusiasm for daily tasks, commitment to the shared vision and importantly, greater job satisfaction and more opportunities to grow.

Image – What Image do You & Your Team project to Customers & Others?

Image is importantWhen thinking about you and your team’s image, it is important to consider the entire package.

This involves your appearance, your verbal and non-verbal communication, your behaviour and skills.

It can be helpful to identify someone, or several people, in your workplace who you or your team members admire, and who project ‘professionalism’.

Look at the way these people dress, how they walk and hold themselves, and how they interact with, and treat others. Doing a stocktake on this will provide ideas and strategies that you as a manager can develop for yourself and the professional image for your team.

Organisation – Do You & Your Team ‘Get Things Done’?

Being organised at work is keyBusiness is driven by results. The more you can get done, the happier you as a manager will be, as will your team and senior management.

However, it’s never as easy as it seems.

With a ‘big picture’ mindset, you will be able to look forward and set goals – both short and long term – for yourself, your team individually and as a department.

The next step, once you have laid out these goals, is to prioritise them. Some will be more important than others, some will be urgent and need to be accomplished quickly, and some can be put off for later.

Time management skills and how to set priorities are vital here. While it may seem unimportant or irrelevant, good planning at the start leads to greatly increased productivity and outcomes.

Any training you can do in time management and project management, will be an extremely worthwhile investment.

Communication – Are You Making the Most of this Important Tool?

The first thing to know about communication is that it is a ‘two-way’ street. Good communication involves talking and listening.

All communication is about the effective exchange of information. Good listening skills will mean that you don’t miss out on vital information and what your team members are saying or are concerned about.

When you are the one conveying information, it is important that it is done professionally and clearly. Two methods of conveying information within a workplace are verbal and written.

Verbal communication may involve video conferencing, meetings, and presentations. If you have paid attention to your overall image, you will feel much more confident in these situations.

Almost all workplaces use email, and it is important to think carefully every time you send an email. Make sure the contents and the tone will be pleasant and acceptable to anyone. A clue is reading it out loud before pressing send, as at times we can unwillingly come across as ‘short’ in email exchanges.

The other form of written communication that you may need to use is writing letters. Again, think about the impression your words will create, and work towards ensuring a positive reaction.

Lastly, consider your body language, as it too can provide ‘messages’ to others. Are you crossing your arms as you speak? Are you leaning in? Are you checking your messages on your phone? Or are you openly paying attention and showing interest in others?

 

Personal Skills – Can You Influence Team Members for Positive Outcomes?

Communication is KeyAs a manager, it is vital to think about how you interact with not only your team members, but also others you come into contact with, inside and outside your office.

While some people are naturally charismatic and professional, there are many skills you can learn to improve the professionalism in the office and the outcomes of those interactions for your team.

A positive and sincere attitude will help you cultivate the relationships you have with those people you come into contact with in your workplace. And it is also important to strike a balance between politeness, professionalism and being over-friendly.

Maintaining good relationships will mean your team and operations will move smoothly – and people who think positively are likely to bring additional opportunities their way.

 

Conflict – Can you handle it?

Not every interaction is going to be a positive one. Conflict is an inevitable part of being human. In the workplace, it is important to minimise conflict, rather than inflame it.

Conflict is very disruptive, and as a manager it’s usually your role to contain and reduce any conflict professionally, with minimal disruption or tears in your office.

Additionally, as a manager, at some stage you will need to deliver bad news, or review a member of your team.  It is essential to always use tact, and to focus on the action or event that is the problem, rather than using language that resorts to personal criticism.

Choosing your words carefully, being supportive, solutions focused and professional will reduce the stress of the situation. It will also allow you and that particular team member to take any constructive criticism on-board professionally without impacting the attitudes and morale of other team members.

And while maintaining good relationships with your team may be obvious, it is just as important they have a good relationship with you as their manager.

Good manners and a positive attitude should ensure that you are all comfortable communicating with each other. If you have practiced the skill of delivering critical feedback in a tactful and professional manner, you will feel confident in dealing with your team’s feedback.

 

As you can see, teaching your team professionalism in the office involves them learning a range of skills.

It might seem like a daunting list. However, the good news is that all of these fields have been studied carefully, resulting in many books, articles and online material with excellent advice.

Improving these skills starts with identifying the areas that your feel need improvement. Break them down under each heading, and set a plan to develop your skills in that area. It is much easier, when faced with a flood of information, to work in stages.

Understandably, this can be a time (and energy) consuming process. You may wish to fast track your team’s professionalism skills and training in days – rather than in months or years.

In this case, it can be much easier to let the experts at Corporate Training Options conduct training for your team, to ensure they truly learn the skills of professionalism in the office.

 

 

Learn more about the course

In our Professionalism in the Office course, your team will learn all the essentials of professionalism, so they can:
• Expand their skills and role in your team
• Develop and maintain a professional attitude in all situations
• Discover proven time management tips and how to set priorities
• Undertake project management techniques and long range planning
• Make better decisions in six easy steps
• Learn how to communicate effectively for better results
• Write and present with confidence to other team members or management
• Develop effective presentation skills
• Plan for meetings and becoming an effective facilitator
• Build stronger relationships and networks
• Resolve conflict
• And gain an understanding of how they and you as their manager can have a unique relationship that will benefit everyone involved
Click below to find all the course details, skills and outcomes you and your team will receive from the training course – Professionalism in the Office.

 

 

Corporate Training Options

 

 

 

 

Why Choose Corporate Training Options?

We will address your pain points and facilitate customised, onsite training that provides you with a solution to your immediate problem, plus teaches your team valuable new skills.

 

About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options (CTO) is a Business Training Company, which provides training in essential business skills, via onsite, customised courses.  The courses provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your team are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO onsite courses are presented around Australia and in many international locations.  Your training is tailored to meet your requirements and can assist you to develop your skills in a range of topics, including:

  • Customer Service
  • Leadership & Management
  • Strategic Business Planning
  • Project Management
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Business Administration
  • Finance & Accounting
  • People & Culture
  • Computer Software Training
  • Personal Development

 

For more information on the range of Business Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au 

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

training@cto.com.au

cto.noesis.chat/

 

Online Training with CTO

Online Training – Learn the Skills you need to improve your Business

Written by webplanners on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Computer Training Courses, Corporate Training Courses, Customer Service Training, Finance & Accounting Training, Management & Leadership Training, Marketing & Sales, Microsoft Office Training, Planning & Organisation Training.

Online Training from CTO provides you with a range of courses you can take anytime, anywhere – to improve your life, your relationships and your business, and have fun doing it!

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

Online Training with CTO
Learn new skills online – anytime, anywhere

Learning new skills improves our lives, across all areas. As we gain knowledge, we have the ability to earn more and enjoy a more satisfying career.  We become more interesting people, as we make new connections between what we are learning, and the existing knowledge we already have. We improve our quality of life, our relationships, and our business, as we can adapt quickly to change and feel more confident in ourselves and our ability to take on new tasks.

And learning is fun. There are so many exciting courses available, providing us with a way to learn fascinating new skills and talents. It’s also a social activity, with online discussion forums available with our peers and expert instructors, where we can ask questions, reinforce our learning and get feedback.

Why not give it go today?  You can see some of the most popular online Business Training courses here.

 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”  –  Nelson Mandela

 

What are the benefits of learning new skills?

Learning new skills enhances the quality of our life, providing us with knowledge when we need it and reducing stress.  It breaks us out of our usual patterns and changes our brain chemisty.  

As we learn, our learning speed increases and we gain confidence.  We are more able to tackle new tasks and our mental well being improves as we set new goals and targets. and then reach them.  This sense of achievement is an important part of feeling we are doing well.  Learning new skills also fights boredom and allows us to adapt better to change.

We learn to understand ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses.  To learn the art of life.  And to master the techniques of adjusting and accommodating to changes in our surroundings and life situations.

Why learning is so important for success

Learning new skills is really important for our future success.  It shows we have the drive and commitment to learn and apply new information, ideas and theories, to achieve a variety of tasks and goals.

Knowledge has allowed us to make amazing advances in science and technology.  As they say, knowledge is power and one of the important reasons to learn something new is we gain power when we do.  It makes us far more capable and it helps us get ahead in the workplace and in everyday life.  We can communicate our ideas more clearly, and reason and think for ourselves.

How can online training help us in the workplace?

CTO Online Business Training
CTO Online Business Training – Anytime, Anywhere

 

 

Learning new skills fortifies and rounds out the skills we need to excel in the workplace, improve our resumes and move to a better paying or more desired position.  Training allows us to keep on top of our industry and learn new skills that become necessary as technology progresses.

Learning new skills can also help us decide what we want to do with our life and makes us more confident when approaching a new role and interacting with other people.

Online training gives us the opportunity to learn basic business principles.  These days, it’s important that we have an understanding of how the entire organisation operates.  If we’re acquainted with the basic functions of all departments, we can be a better business leader, and a significantly more attractive candidate for new roles.

A willingness to learn is a compelling characteristic when putting ourselves forward for new positions.  We should always be taking steps to improve and gain new skills, stay on top of industry trends, and step outside our comfort zones.

Discover some of the most popular online Business and Professional Development courses here.

 

How can we learn new skills quickly?

We can learn new skills more quickly by interacting with the available information.  As well as completing an online course, we should also gather information from videos, blogs and podcasts.

Make learning more meaningful by connecting it to our own life and experiences, and seeing how it fits into our personal scheme of things.  Consider how can we put what we have learned into practice and use it to our advantage?  When we can do this, we will grasp new concepts much more quickly.

Learn by doing, and build new habits to enforce our skills. For instance, if we are learning Excel, build spreadsheets and practice with new formulas and functions, which will provide us with the data we need in our business or workplace.  Also, regularly compare our work with that of experts in our field.  We will then notice areas where we can improve.

You can see a sample of the most popular online training Computer Training courses here.

Spend time practicing things we find difficult, until they become easy, because in order to excel in a skill, we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone.  Over time, we will achieve a higher level of efficiency in this skill.

Why is learning new things good for our brain?

Research suggests that continued cognitive activity has a positive effect on braincells and helps promote mental sharpness.  Learning new skills stimulates neurons in our brains, which forms more neural pathways and allows electrical impulses to travel faster across them.  This helps us learn better, and to learn things more quickly over time.  

Using our brains more allows us to find a way to work through frustrations and achieve competence.  Leaning new business or career skills is important for surviving and thriving in the workplace.  Learning new skills is essential for building the career or business you love.

Why knowledge is important in our life

Lifelong learning is important.  The voluntary decision to enrol in courses and learn new skills keeps us motivated, with the desire for more knowledge and self-improvement.

We need knowledge to be successful in life.  To grow in our careers, gaining as much knowledge as possible is important.  Knowledge allows us to shape our personality, improve our behaviour, deal with people and situations more easily. 

Which skills are important in 2019 and beyond?

Many of the skills we are learning today will be quite different from the skills we will need in as little as a decade.  Technology is changing our world so quickly, that new jobs and business opportunities are arising every day. 

Below are some of the skills which are highly desirable in 2019.  Who knows how these may change over the next 10 years, but they are certainly a starting point for today. 

Personal Skills

  • Thinking skills, for problem solving and decision making
  • Creativity
  • Resilience
  • A passion for learning
  • Good communication 
  • Self-management
  • A positive attitude
  • Curiosity and imagination

Professional Skills

  • Good business sense
  • Agility and Adaptability
  • Initiative and Entrepreneurship
  • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
  • Public Speaking
  • Willingness to learn
  • Teamwork
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Effective oral and written communication
  • Assessing and Analysing information

Technical Skills

  • Social Media literacy
  • Coding
  • Excel – one of the most desired skills in today’s workplace
  • Web development
  • Business Writing & copywriting
  • Project Management
  • Google Analytics
  • Digital marketing
  • Data analysis

 

Our quest for knowledge doesn’t have to end when we finish school or university.  Education can be a part of our adult lives too and we can reap the professional and person benefits of lifelong learning.  It’s never too late to start.  Making ongoing learning and development a part of our lives is vital for all of us, keeping us motivated and interested in the world we live in.  

 

—

The CTO Online Training Courses are ideal for those wanting to upgrade their business and professional skills.

For more information on the range of Online Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

 

Enrol online today !

 

—

About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is a Business Training Company, which provides you with training in essential business skills via online business and professional development courses.

The courses provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your team develop strong skills in:

  • Leadership & Management
  • Strategic Business Planning
  • Project Management
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Customer Service & Relationship Management
  • Business Administration
  • Finance & Accounting
  • People & Culture 
  • Computer Training
  • Personal Development

CTO provides Online Training courses to organisations world-wide.  Covering Professional Development, Business Skills and Computer Software, your online training is designed to ensure your team development outcomes are achieved.

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

For more information on the range of Online Business Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

training@cto.com.au

cto.noesis.chat/

The Power of Business Etiquette and Professionalism

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Corporate Training Courses.

The Power of Professionalism, Courtesy & Respect in Business

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

 

Having strong skills in business etiquette and professionalism is extremely important.

Learn Business Etiquette and Professionalism with CTO Training Courses

In your business dealings and in your workplace, it’s critical you and your team display a professional attitude and demeanour, and respect towards others at all times. You will also need to know the correct business etiquette for interacting with staff and clients in a variety of situations.

Professional situations can at times be awkward, however, with an understanding of business etiquette, even awkward situations can be managed well. However, many forms of business training simply do not cover etiquette and professionalism.

 

Business Etiquette & Professionalism Training

CTO’s business etiquette and professionalism course will teach your staff to present themselves in a polished and professional manner. When you are adept at business etiquette, others that you deal with in the work environment will take you seriously. Business etiquette is, essentially, proper behaviour in a business environment.

 

Here are some business etiquette tips you can use every day.

  • Tone of Voice

 Always use an even tone of voice. Never raise your voice to others around you and always use appropriate language. Speak to others in a respectful tone.

  • Remember People’s Names

Make an effort to remember the names of those that you work with and deal with regularly in your position.

  • Managers

Respect and courtesy should be shown to everyone at your workplace. Your managers in particular, should receive extra care in your communications with them. They should be made aware of your status on projects, and you should communicate to them any achievements or setbacks as soon as they occur.

  • Promptness

Always arrive at work and meetings on time, and inform management and co-workers if you will be out of the office. Return phone calls and emails promptly. Minimise personal phone calls at work.

  • Dress

Know the dress code for your organisation and ask for clarification on this if you are not sure. This goes for casual dress days too.

  • Office Decorations

Consider who will see your office adornments and what they say about you. Are they distracting, or could they be considered derogatory in any way?  Or do you have a clean, tidy, well presented and professional work space?

 

Professionalism

Professionalism in the workplace, and the professional qualities that a person and business portray, imply quality of service and workmanship.

A professional attitude will lead to a reputation for excellence and will reflect on both the individual and the organisation.

Business Etiquette and Professionalism in the Workplace
Be reliable, honest and conduct yourself with integrity at all times

Professionalism is needed when introducing yourself to those in the workplace, when speaking on the phone, and when dealing with peers and co-workers, suppliers and clients.

It can be difficult to know how to present yourself and your organisation professionally. Training in business etiquette will teach you how to do this easily and effectively, using real life examples and roleplays.

 

The Skills of a Professional

  • Always aim for excellence in your work

Do your work to the best of your ability at all times.

  • Conduct yourself with Integrity

Professionals have strong morals and principles. They are fair and trustworthy and portray these characteristics at their place of work.

  • Be Reliable

Always do what you say you are going to do. Do not under deliver.

  • Be Honest

When you are honest, people know that they can depend on you. They will feel that they can trust you, and your organisation.

  • Be Polite and Respectful at All Times

Everyone that you deal with, including managers, subordinates and workmates, should be treated with courtesy and respect. Always be polite.

  • Be Careful what you put in Writing

Much of our communication is now done by email and as such it needs to be scrutinised and checked before you hit the send button. Ensure that the tone, grammar and wording is appropriate.

  • Don’t Complain

Negativity at work can spread like wildfire if you allow it to. Resist the temptation to complain and commiserate with co-workers. Instead of talking and complaining about work issues, act professionally and work towards solving the issues.

  • Do not take Situations Personally

In the case of a difficult client, a misunderstanding with a co-worker or any other difficult situation, remain calm and try to separate the issue from the person. Remember that the situation is not a personal assault on you.

 

Training your team in Business Etiquette and Professionalism will result in:

  • increased morale in the office
  • fewer customer complaints
  • more confident team members
  • a greater level of staff retention
  • increased productivity
  • an improved perception of you and your business

 

Business etiquette and professionalism training will teach you and your team members to represent themselves and your organisation effectively and proficiently. It is beneficial for staff at all levels.

Click here for bookings and more information today!

 

 

 

Business Etiquette and Professionalism are important skills to know

 

 

 

—

Over to you! What are your thoughts or experiences about Business Etiquette and Professionalism?

We’d love to hear them or answer any questions you have, so please contact the Corporate Training Options team today.

 

 

—

Business Etiquette and Professionalism training

The above techniques on Business Etiquette and Professionalism are covered in detail in the Corporate Training Options course, so please contact us today for more information.

 

To book a Business Etiquette and Professionalism course for your team, please visit our website here

 

—

About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for both business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

We have over 300 qualified instructors on call in:

  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Canberra
  • Adelaide
  • Perth
  • Darwin
  • Hobart
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • USA

Each CTO trainer has specific areas of expertise. This enables them to provide invaluable assistance to corporations like yours, seeking to maximise your investment in your teams.

We guarantee the highest possible standard of tuition, personalised to suit your exact requirements. By training onsite in your workplace, you are provided with a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are able to improve your professional skills.

So if you’re ready to upgrade your skills, contact Corporate Training Options today for friendly, professional advice.

We’ll discuss your specific needs, and tailor a training course to suit your requirements.

 

 

—

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

6 Tips for Effective Communication

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Corporate Training Courses. Leave a Comment

6 Tips for Effective Communication 

Brought to you by Rosy King @ Corporate Training Options

Effective Communication is a Vital Life Skill.

Learn Effective Communication skills with CTO Training

Effective communication skills are vital to creating positive relationships and to resolving conflicts in the workplace.  Excellent communication skills are also essential to achieving productive and meaningful interactions with your team.

However, effective communication is more than just transferring information from one person to another.  It’s about understanding the message behind what is being said.  In face-to-face communication, not only are words and tone important, but non-verbal clues can be key to getting the message across to your audience.  Good listening skills are also one of the most important factors in human interaction.

 

The problem

It would seem to be relatively simple.  You have a message you need to convey.  You present the information, you are heard by your audience and you believe you are understood.  However, ….

Fast Fact:  46% of employees leave a meeting not knowing what they’re supposed to do next.

 

The Solution

You need to ensure your face-to-face communication is clear, concise and absolutely understood by those receiving your message.  So here are 6 tips you can use every day to ensure your face-to-face communication is effective.

  1. Appreciate the advantages of face-to-face communication
  2. Learn to understand non-verbal messages
  3. Choose your words carefully
  4. Use active listening
  5. Introduce creativity in your communications
  6. Adapt your face-to-face communication skills to other communication forms

 

  1. The Importance of Face to Face Communication

Recognise the impact of face-to-face communication and appreciate the advantages over email, text or phone.  Direct communication allows you to not only convey or receive information via spoken words, but to factor in such things as individual behaviours, and personality preferences.  Being in the same room as your team, instead of at the other end of an email chain, promotes understanding, further discussion and problem resolution.

Fast Fact:  26% of employees think email is a major productivity problem

 

  1. Learn to understand Non-verbal Messages

It’s important to understand the value of the unspoken communication in the room.  Be aware of your own body language when you are delivering a message.  Be aware of the body language of your audience when they are receiving it.

A person’s demeanour can greatly influence how the recipient interprets the message. When you speak in an even tone with direct eye contact, and a friendly facial expression, your message is likely to be received as positive or at least neutral. Body language that communicates negative feelings, such as crossed arms, lack of eye contact, clenched fists and a serious expression, is likely to be interpreted in that context.

For effective communication you need to be aware of your own body language.  You can also do simple things to make your team more receptive to your message.

  • Check your physical appearance prior to your meeting
  • Consider the spatial arrangements in the room to ensure everyone has enough personal space, but still fees involved
  • Deliver your message in a timely manner
  • Take advantage of your tone of voice, to deliver challenging messages in a constructive way
  • Don’t use the incorrect tone, as this can stop your message from being understood. For instance, you wouldn’t use a cheerful tone when delivering a disciplinary message.

Fast Fact:  55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken

 

  1. Choose your Words Carefully

Realise that your words have an impact.  In order to create a positive impression, you need to deliver your message in a clear and concise manner and phrase your words in a business context.  Also, keep your language up to date, as popular words and phrases come and go on a regular basis.  If you have to deliver bad news, it is crucial that you do this without creating conflict or damaging trust in the workplace.

Also remember that last words linger – so don’t waste them.  The last words you say provide you with the opportunity to embed your message into the minds of your listeners.  Have a strong, relevant ending to your message, as this will boost your credibility, satisfy your audience and increase their trust in you. If you require action from your team, ask for it.  Deliver a call to action, or provide them with how-to steps.

Fast Fact:  Your last words crystallise your message and activate your audience.

 

  1. Use Active Listening

Remember that effective communication is a two-way information sharing process.  When you send a message, it needs to be easily understood by the receiving party.  When they respond with comments and questions, active listening helps you process messages in a focused manner and respond in a way that encourages and furthers communication.  This method allows both you and the recipients of your message to remain engaged, indicate understanding and clarify any points without interjecting or arguing.

Active listening involves eye contact, open body language and often the reframing of the message to confirm understanding.  In order to actively listen you need to:

  • Be present and attentive
  • Give the speaker your full attention
  • Mentally screen out distractions like background activity or noise
  • Face the speaker and maintain eye contact
  • Keep an open mind and listen without judging or jumping to conclusions
  • Try to picture what the speaker is saying and feel what they are feeling
  • Don’t interrupt and don’t impose your own solutions
  • Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions
  • Provide feedback and rephrase what has been said to show you understand the message

Good leaders know how to ask the right questions and then listen with both their eyes and their ears.  You need to read between the lines and listen and hear what is coming back to you.  Look for the nonverbal clues, because often body language will tell you what you need to know

Fast Fact:  Most people usually only remember about 17 to 25% of the things they listen to.

 

  1. Introduce Creativity in your Communications

It’s important to introduce creativity into your communications to keep your recipients engaged.  Try these ideas to mix it up a bit and feel more connected with your team.

  • Go for a walking meeting, to increase energy and creativity
  • Hold monthly team events which are fun and help build team relationships
  • Hold friendly competitions in the workplace – they don’t have to be work related

Increasing creativity in communications can have a powerful effecting in creating a more collaborative and transparent atmosphere, making your employees feel more connected and engaged.

Fast Fact:  Productivity improves by 25% in organisations where employees feel connected

 

  1. Adapt your face-to-face communication skills to other communication forms

Think about how much more you get out of face-to-face communication than communication that is just based on email or telephone calls.  There are so many visual cues in a face-to-face communication that it’s hard to deny its effectiveness.

How many times have you had miscommunication with someone via email or telephone that would not have occurred had you been speaking directly with one another?  When you are able to see the person to whom you are speaking, you receive visual cues on whether or not they understand what you are saying and you give them visual cues as well.

However, there are times when email or phone calls are your only option, so you need to manage these communications as well as you can.  Here are some tips for effective communication on the phone, or via email.

  • Prepare for the call, or draft your email before sending
  • Be clear about what you want to achieve – what is the purpose of the call or message
  • Remember the other person has no non-verbal clues
  • Speak or write clearly and succinctly and think about your tone of voice
  • Ask for clarification if there is something you don’t understand
  • Don’t be tempted to do other things at the same time – focus and be attentive
  • Summarise the conversation so everyone knows what to do next
  • If you have to leave a voicemail message, keep it short and be clear about the reason you are calling. Also let the other person know how they can best contact you.

Fast Fact:  Millennials do not like talking on the phone, with only 20% of smart phone usage being for making actual phone calls.  However, email remains popular among millennials.

 

In Summary

Effective communication is a vital skill in the workplace.  It can be used to create positive relationships and resolve conflicts.  The process of communication becomes both more respectful and clearer when both parties focus on sending clear messages and using active listening skills.  Therefore, learning effective communication skills is vital to achieving productive and meaningful interactions every time, with individuals and with your team.

 

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t being said.  The art of reading between the lines is a life long quest of the wise   –   Shannon L. Alder

 

 

—

The topics covered here are drawn from the CTO Training Course – Effective Communication

If you would like to undertake Effective Communication training, visit the CTO website to receive a quote or make a booking.  CTO training is provided in your workplace, and every course is customised to suit your business requirements.

 

 

—

About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/