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The Importance of Respectful Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace
Posted on: November 18, 2024 by admin
Poor communication is one of the main causes of workplace issues like ineffective collaboration. Discriminatory language and harassment exacerbate these issues.
In 2023, 1 in 30 employees experienced discrimination and harassment in Australian workplaces — an 8% increase from 2022. These incidents have adverse effects on employees and workplaces. They diminish communication, collaboration and respect between colleagues.
How do you combat discrimination and improve communication in organisations? Educating employees on respectful verbal and non-verbal communication is an excellent solution. Encouraging respectful language in the workplace can foster collaboration, inclusion and effective communication.
Before doing this, you must learn the benefits of respectful workplace communication and the different verbal and non-verbal strategies you can implement.
What Is Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication?
Verbal and nonverbal communication refers to ways people share information. Verbal communication includes spoken and written words to share information, emotions, and thoughts. Nonverbal communication involves non-spoken words like body language to communicate with others.
Verbal Communication
Examples of verbal communication include:
Spoken words: The language you use when you talk to others in a conversation, meeting or speech.
Written words: The words you use in a letter, email or text message.
Tone: The volume, pitch and intent you use when speaking to others.
Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication examples include:
Facial expressions: The way you express your emotion, like a smile or raised eyebrows.
Body language and posture: How you stand or sit, like leaning forward, crossing your arms, sitting upright, or slumping over.
Eye contact: Looking at someone when speaking, such as keeping steady eye contact or avoiding eye contact.
Gestures: Moving your body parts to communicate with others, such as nodding, pointing at someone, or giving a thumbs up.
Non-verbal tone: Non-spoken sounds like sighing, coughs, muttered laughing.
Touch: The way you physically communicate with others, like stroking someone’s arm, tapping their back, or giving a firm handshake.
Physical space: The proximity in which you stand or sit to somebody when speaking to them.
What Is Respectful Communication in the Workplace?
Respectful workplace communication refers to communicating with colleagues respectfully or thoughtfully. It includes using spoken and non-spoken words that respect others’ feelings and values. Respectful workplace communication also involves attentively listening and reacting appropriately to others.
Why Is Respectful Verbal and Non-Verbal Language Important?
Respectful communication in the workplace considers the feelings and values of all employees. It fosters an environment of empathy, inclusion, trust, collaboration, productivity and understanding. Here are some more benefits of respectful workplace communication.
1. Collaboration
Using considerate and thoughtful language in the workplace creates a welcoming and open environment. Employees can feel more comfortable engaging in team events, sharing their views in meetings and effectively collaborating with their colleagues.
2. Good Manners
Good manners are essential for improving employee relationships and respecting diverse workplace cultures. Saying please and thank you can indicate politeness and respect in business, and keeping a reasonable distance when communicating or having steady eye contact can be respectful in various cultures.
Teaching and encouraging respectful communication can foster good manners and improve working relationships.
3. Less Conflict
Misunderstandings and confrontations can happen in work environments. When they do, consideration and respect are the best solutions. Becoming defensive and argumentative can escalate a situation, leading to adverse outcomes and strained relationships.
Conversely, using considerate language, speaking calmly and providing constructive feedback can reduce tension and effectively resolve conflict. It can also ensure respect between co-workers and preserve good working relationships.
4. Trust
Trust between employees in the workplace is crucial. It is the foundation of good working relationships and better collaboration.
When employees trust their colleagues and work environment, they feel more included, comfortable and willing to engage in team events, meetings and other daily activities. However, when employees distrust their working environment, they can withdraw and negatively perceive work.
Encouraging respectful verbal and non-verbal language is one of the best ways to foster trust in a business. When respect is visible in a working culture, employees feel more safe and valued.
Workplaces have employees from different religions, genders, cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Understanding and respecting these differences is crucial for creating an inclusive environment.
Using inclusive language ensures sensitivity towards differences. It also fosters an environment where everyone feels they belong.
5. Better Retention
Allowing discriminatory or offensive verbal and nonverbal language in the workplace can diminish respect and create an uncomfortable environment. Employees may feel less valued and find alternative employment.
A workspace that encourages respectful communication and does not tolerate offensive language can promote better working relationships and experiences, leading to increased commitment to a role and organisation.
What Verbal and Non-Verbal Strategies Can Be Used to Show Respect for Diversity in the Workplace?
Active listening, empathy and appropriate body language are some strategies for improving respect for diversity in the workplace.
Verbal Strategies
Here are some verbal strategies for encouraging respectful communication:
Active listening: Whether in meetings or team projects, practise paying attention to what others are saying without interrupting or talking over them. Giving someone the room to speak and actively listening to them can make them feel valued. You can ask follow-up questions and engage in deeper conversations after they’re done talking conversations.
Respectful dialogue: Use language that is inclusive and respectful of different cultures, ethnicities, and genders. Avoiding terms that stereotype and generalise different groups is another way to ensure respectful dialogue between you and others.
Empathy: Understating and being sensitive to different views and feelings is essential for fostering respectful communication. When you know how your words and actions make others feel, you can be mindful of the language you use. Validating others’ opinions and making them feel heard is another excellent strategy for respectful communication.
Appropriate tone of voice: Sometimes, it’s not what you say but how you say it that makes a difference. Your tone and pitch can express your feelings towards others. For example, a loud and assertive tone can indicate anger and authority, and a soft or moderate voice can express calmness and understanding. Consider your tone of voice and how it can make others feel and perceive you.
Non-Verbal Strategies
Non-verbal strategies for improving respectful language in the workplace include the following:
Eye contact: Maintaining steady eye contact with a speaker can indicate engagement and interest in what others are saying. It can also be a sign of respect in different cultures, and it’s important to understand and use appropriate eye contact in diverse or cross-cultural settings.
Personalspace: Ensuring respectful personal space in diverse professional environments is vital. Standing over someone to talk to them can be inappropriate and make people feel uncomfortable. Speaking or shouting to someone from across a room can indicate disrespect in some environments and seem unprofessional. Be aware of suitable distancing in different scenarios to enhance communication and maintain respect.
Facial expressions: Your facial expressions can dictate feelings like distrust, disbelief, approval and contempt. When reacting to what others say, be mindful of your facial cues to prevent miscommunications and misunderstandings.
Appropriate body language: Body language can have a significant impact on communication. It can indicate different feelings, opinions and engagement. For example, crossing your arms and slouching can signal disinterest and defensiveness. Conversely, good posture and an open frame can indicate attentiveness and eagerness. Adjusting your body language in different settings can improve communication.
FAQs About Respectful Workplace Communication
Here are some frequently asked questions about respectfully communicating in the workplace.
How can you show respect for diversity in communication? You can show respect for diversity in communication with appropriate verbal and nonverbal strategies like active listening, respectful dialogue, inclusive language and proper body language.
What non-verbal communication should you use to show respect? You can use nonverbal body language like sitting up straight, maintaining eye contact, and using suitable facial cues to show respect in communication.
Why is effective verbal and nonverbal communication essential in a workplace? Effective verbal and nonverbal communication is vital in the workplace to foster respect, trust and collaboration.
Why is it important to communicate verbally and nonverbally in management? Good verbal and non-verbal communication skills in management allow leaders to motivate and inspire employees and earn their respect.
What nonverbal strategies could be used to improve communication in the workplace? Non-verbal strategies like appropriate body language, steady eye contact, suitable facial expressions and respecting personal space can enhance workplace communication.
Encourage Respectful Communication in the Workplace With SYL Professional Interpreters
Professional Interpreters are vital in facilitating respectful communication in the workplace. They are skilled in various languages and cultures and ensure accurate interpretations and translations in diverse environments.
Our NAATI-certified professionals use verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to mediate conversations and ensure respect and inclusion. They have experience working in various professional settings and provide customised interpretation solutions to meet your needs.
