Communication is key. You’ve probably heard this more than once (or twice) in your life. 

It’s definitely a bit of a cliché, but communication does play a huge role in both our personal and work relationships. While having a conversation may seem simple, having one that’s both intentional and effective can sometimes require a bit more thought. When  9 in 10 employees find it challenging to speak up in the workplace, it begs the question: How can employers help their teams have better conversations at work?

So in the spirit of conversation—let’s talk about it.

In this article, we’ll break down why more organizations should prioritize creating environments where effective conversations can thrive. Plus, we’ll share some actionable tips that you and your team can use to level up your conversations in the workplace.

Why is strong communication in the workplace important?

When it comes to conversation and communication skills, it’s easy to dismiss them as something individual employees should tackle themselves. However, poor communication can impact your organization as a whole. 

When there’s strong communication in the workplace, your company benefits from:

• Increased efficiency and productivity: When employees work in a silo, they’re unlikely to reach out for help or share knowledge with colleagues. The result? Miscommunications, duplicated work, and wasted time. A study found that miscommunications can cost US businesses as much as $12,506 per employee per year—and that adds up fast!

• Increased agility: Teams that talk to each other are able to pivot much more quickly. In a world where business priorities can change overnight, having teams that can quickly adapt will go a long way in reaching your business goals.

• Better collaboration: When employees feel like they can talk with each other, they’re more likely to share ideas and challenges. Conversations between peers around work and beyond lay the groundwork for future relationships and collaboration.

• More innovation: Innovation helps businesses stay ahead of the competition. And you can’t do that if your employees aren’t open to feedback or sharing their progress with each other. A study from Deloitte found that when employees collaborate, 60% are more innovative.

The role of better conversations in employee connection

Communication is good for business. And as we know—so is employee connectivity and belonging. But building employee connections is easier said than done, especially in hybrid or remote work environments. So it’s not surprising that 75% of hybrid team managers say that making strong connections with team members is their main challenge in the workplace.

Fortunately, prioritizing effective communication and better conversations can get you one step closer to fostering better employee connections across the entire organization—whether you work virtually or in person.

Here’s how:

• Better communication creates a culture of transparency. Employees who feel confident communicating with their peers, managers, or direct reports are more likely to be able to convey information effectively. Whether it’s good news or bad news, this means information sharing becomes a part of the company culture and builds trust within your organization.

• Collaboration increases employee satisfaction. Humans naturally crave connection, so when employees have a sense of belonging, they’re more likely to be satisfied with their employers. So much so, that HBR reports that belonging is linked to a 56% increase in job satisfaction. When employees also feel like they can open up about their workplace experience, they’ll also be more likely to share feedback about challenges or issues they’re facing. This makes it easier to identify and address problems that can ultimately cause employees to disengage or leave the company entirely.

• Inclusive conversations create diverse workplaces. When workplace conversations appreciate and celebrate a variety of opinions and insights, diverse employees are more likely to feel welcomed by their peers and the organization as a whole. It also opens the door to reducing bias and creates opportunities for employees from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

• Open communication drives employee development. Employees who communicate their needs enable their managers and mentors to better support them and open the door to opportunities that fit their goals and long-term career aspirations. 

4 key types of communication in the workplace 

We tend to lump workplace communication into one bucket. But if you think about it, we typically experience several different types of conversations at work—often within the same day.

And because these workplace conversations serve different purposes, approaching them a bit differently can help you and your teams make the most of their communications.

1. Informal workplace conversations

They say not everything is about work—and that’s true even at work. Informal conversations in the workplace can include anything from lunch or break-time conversations, or personal updates and catch-ups.

With the shift to hybrid and remote work environments, came the end of the water cooler conversations. But we can’t let them die out, because these informal conversations can actually play a crucial role in building trust and belonging among employees. They also tend to drive innovation and new ideas.

“Some of our best ideas come from watercooler chats with colleagues – if you want to replicate those casual conversations on Zoom, you have to set up an appointment in someone’s calendar.” - James Bailey, professor of leadership development at the George Washington University School of Business

Informal conversations tend to thrive in an open forum, where participants can delve into any topic that feels natural. For example, employees who have a shared interest in sports may discuss sports, while others may chat about their favorite pop culture references. But because these conversations are a bit more spontaneous, it means employees need to be agile and take cues from their peers—this helps keep the conversation flowing and helps build those natural workplace relationships.

2. Formal workplace conversations

Formal workplace conversations are often a bit more structured and typically center around work projects or performance. Some examples of formal workplace conversations might include:

• 1:1 meetings with a manager or a direct report
• Performance reviews
• Presentations or client meetings

In one way or another, these channels of communication ultimately have the goal of driving business results or conveying important information. Because these conversations have a specific purpose, they require an extra layer of professionalism and even clarity to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

To foster effective formal conversations teams should consider:

• Preparing ahead of time with notes, research, or an agenda.
• Defining a purpose or goal of the conversation.
• Documenting information for future reference.
• Keeping things brief, so everyone has a chance to contribute.

3. Mentorship or sponsorship conversations

Mentorship and sponsorship conversations are unique. Whether informal or formal, they serve two purposes: employee development and mentor-mentee or sponsor-sponsee relationship development. For this  to happen, mentors/sponsors need to feel comfortable advising or creating opportunities, and mentees/sponsees need to feel confident enough to share their needs and goals. Otherwise, these conversations can quickly end up going nowhere.

When navigating mentorship and sponsorship conversations in the workplace, here are some things to consider as an organization:

• Start with unbiased mentor-mentee matches based on shared goals and interests, instead of leaning on spontaneous connections.
• Provide guided curriculums to foster meaningful development conversations.
• Make mentorship flexible, allowing mentees to connect with different mentors in settings that work best for them.

4. Group or roundtable discussions

If your group conversations sometimes feel like everyone is talking over each other, you’re not alone. 47% of employees who find it challenging to speak up in the workplace say it’s because everyone speaks at the same time.

The truth is that group discussions have a whole different set of rules, simply because there are more people involved. Employees might end up doing more listening than talking and also need to be able to manage diverse and conflicting perspectives—which is sometimes easier said than done.

Still, group conversations like office hours or team meetings can be hugely beneficial. They allow for better collaboration and bring a wider range of perspectives to the table.

To lead successful group and roundtable discussions, consider the following: 

• Define your goal and topic for the conversation to determine what you want the group to get out of the discussion. The more specific, the better. 
• Consider the size of the group, how much participation is necessary, and prepare accordingly. For example, if it’s a Q&A session and you want all attendees to have the chance to ask questions, you can have these questions submitted prior to the event. Or, if it’s a roundtable discussion, ensure everyone has at least 3-5 minutes to talk. 
• Collect employee feedback to improve attendees’ experience and outcomes, ensuring that the most value is extracted from group discussions. 

10 tips for having better conversations in the workplace

There are hundreds of conversations that happen in the workplace every day, some likely more effective than others. But there are ways to empower your teams to have better conversations that build connection—just ask Celeste Headlee. 

We turned to Celeste's popular Ted Talk to pull together a guide to support you and your team with having better workplace conversations.

1. Avoid multitasking

Most of us have 1001 things going on in our heads at work. When you care about your work, it’s only natural. But it can impede on our conversations.

“Be present. Be in that moment,” Celeste explains.

It’s difficult to give someone your  full attention while reading an email or thinking about your next presentation. So, make it easier to focus by putting your phone away or giving yourself enough of a buffer on each end of a conversation to relax. 

It can be hard to distance ourselves from those thoughts bouncing around in our head, but when you find yourself drifting off from the conversation, simply redirect your attention—no judgment!

2. Be willing to learn

It’s easy to think we have the answers to everything sometimes. But more often than not, workplace conversations are where we can expand what we do know.

“You need to enter every conversation assuming that you have something to learn”, Celeste highlights, “sometimes that means setting aside your personal opinion.”

3. Use open-ended questions

Celeste recommends avoiding very closed-ended questions which could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. 

Instead, “Try asking them things like, ‘What was that like?’ ‘How did that feel?’ Because then they might have to stop for a moment and think about it, and you’re going to get a much more interesting response.”

‍Tip: Use this same rule when collecting employee feedback. Like Celeste says, you’ll get much more valuable feedback and responses.

4. Go with the flow

Almost everyone is guilty of thinking of a really interesting point while someone else is speaking, and then waiting impatiently for the person to finish to jump in. But this is how we get workplace conversations that go nowhere.

As Celeste suggests, “thoughts will come into your mind and you need to let them go out of your mind.” This helps you focus on the conversation at hand, instead of the one in your head.

By going with the flow, you’ll give the opportunity for everyone to contribute. Plus, you’ll better adapt to how the workplace conversation is really going.

5. If you don’t know, say you don’t know

We’re all human, we can’t know everything.

Even if you’re a leader and feel like you should know the answer, it’s better to be honest rather than lie or make up an answer. It can make you look unreliable, untrustworthy, and unprofessional. 

Your team will appreciate your honesty and it will help build trust in your relationships in the workplace

6. Don’t equate your experience with theirs

Everyone has different life experiences, so while it’s important to be empathetic with your peers, you should make sure to give them space to share their stories.

“If they’re talking about the trouble they’re having at work, don’t tell them about how much you hate your job,” Celeste says. “It’s not the same. It is never the same. All experiences are individual. And more importantly, it is not about you. Conversations are not a promotional opportunity.”

This can be particularly true in mentorship conversations where mentees, particularly those of underrepresented backgrounds, may have entirely different career journeys than their mentors.

7. Try not to repeat yourself

Put simply: it’s boring. “Especially in work conversations”, Celeste points out “we have a point to make, so we just keep rephrasing it over and over.”

If you do feel like you have a tendency to ramble—don’t panic—try to turn the conversation back to the other person. Open the door for them to speak about their experiences in more detail. When put into practice, you should feel that the conversation becomes more balanced. You shouldn’t feel like you’re dominating the conversation.

8. Stay out of the weeds

This one’s both a lesson in conversations and storytelling. As Celeste says, “What they care about is you.”

When recounting experiences or stories try to focus more on what happened rather than the specifics. Of course, there are some exceptions in the workplace. If you’re being asked to share statistics on a project, you have full permission to dive into the relevant details.

9. Listen

In every workplace conversation—no matter the type—take the time to listen. It can be difficult since the brain can process what we hear far quicker than how fast someone speaks. Our mind fills in the blank space between what the other person is saying.

By focusing on the other person’s responses and asking insightful questions, you’re more likely to have a conversation that helps you reach your work goals.

10. Be brief

It’s easy to ramble, but fight the urge to over-explain. Being concise and to the point will help conversations progress more effectively and make sure everyone is on the same page.

How 10KC facilitates better conversations at work

Keep your workforce connected by fostering conversations that make an impact. Not only will your employees feel more connected to their work but you’ll reap the benefits of increased job satisfaction and better productivity.

The good news? Having better conversations at work doesn’t need to be complicated—and 10KC can help.

• Reimagine water cooler conversations with Introductions: 10KC’s Introductions help improve collaboration and spark conversation by bringing people together virtually and in person. Match employees across the organization based on their shared goals and interests with our Smart-Match algorithm. Break the ice with conversation starters that get ideas and discussions flowing. 

• Initiate productive roundtable conversations with Office Hours: Bring employees and busy leaders together in roundtable-format conversations that drive your company initiatives forward. From Q&As with experts to collaborative sessions, create two-way conversations that improve visibility and employee engagement. 

• Boost confidence and advance employees with Development Programs: Leverage research-based, off-the shelf mentoring curriculums and conversation guides. We’re constantly evolving programs to help you drive engagement, retention, and representation across your organization.