Do you sometimes feel like an April fool at work, even when it’s not 1st April? Maybe you lost your temper at an apprentice? Or perhaps you didn’t communicate with the client as you should have… Whatever it may be, not communicating well can leave you feeling like a fool. We’ve put together some basic and easy tips to help you and your team get control of how you verbally and non-verbally communicate, leading to a more successful and productive workplace.
Breathe and pause…
Picture this, you’re running behind on a job, the client has already called you three times that morning. You’ve explained to the apprentice where the services are buried and yet he cut through the mains with the first post hole. Now it’s going to delay everything (and everyone) else. You let them have it. You yell and yell, swearing like a sailor who’s just broken their foot. Suggestion? Breathe and pause. Go for a walk. Or tell everyone it’s smoko time and go grab a coffee. You won’t be able to think clearly if you’re seeing red. Plus you might just say something you’ll later regret. Breathe in and out, give the apprentice some direct feedback and come up with a solution to solve the problem.
Be clear and specific when delegating tasks
Dealing with tools, plans and detailed measurements is important stuff. And getting something wrong can have consequences to the entire job. Best thing to do? Take the time to clearly explain what needs to be done and make sure you include the details. If the person you’re speaking to isn’t taking it in you can:
- Ask them to write the instruction down
- Ask them to repeat the details to you
Communicating clearly will save you a lot of headache in the future.
Keep your client informed
Clear communication is also vital to keeping the client informed and happy. You need to make sure your client understands what is going on. Some tips for basic communication:
- Call the client at the end of every week with an update. This will make them feel informed and is an opportunity for you to highlight any issues.
- Don’t go into too much detail. A client doesn’t need to understand everything that goes on on-site and if you give them that detail to begin with, they’ll start expecting it every time!
- Client disputing costs? Check out this article here.
Celebrate the wins
Did you just finish a massive job? Then it’s time for some non-verbal communication to celebrate the wins! It might sound lame, but go around and shake everyone’s hand to thank them for their work… You can also take the team out to lunch at your local pub. It’s a good way to motivate your team AND get them excited for the next job. What’s that saying? ‘Work hard, play hard!’
Be professional in emails
Emailing is an important part of job management, especially at the start of a job when you might still be selling the estimate to your client. But written words can be daunting right?! Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Or should we say ChatGPT has your back. All you need to do is, copy and paste what you want to write and Chat GPT will improve it for you. FOR FREE. Check it out here.
And see below how it could help you improve your next email.
We hope we’ve been clear and concise with these tips to help you the next time you’re in a communication pickle!
