As you start a new internship, you should come prepared with the knowledge needed for effective communication. The better you can communicate with your managers and colleagues, the more successful you’ll be and the more you'll get from your internship! If you start with strong communication skills, you’ll be well on your way to being a top-notch intern.
Although there are many pointers, here are the 7 best tips for good communication:
1. Talk face-to-face whenever possible and use active listening when you do
For important topics or questions, communicating face-to-face with your colleagues is always the best option. Text or email often leaves room for misinterpretation, and can be slower if you need to go back and forth with questions and follow-ups. Face-to-face communication is also a better way to develop trust and will allow you to develop workplace relationships quickly. When speaking to colleagues face-to-face, it's important to execute critical listening, as you probably won't have emails or messages to refer back to when you need to remember what was said. Listening to your colleagues and managers is the best way to ensure you understand their questions and assignments. Successful communication in the workplace relies heavily on your ability to listen critically and use emotional intelligence. If you pay close attention when other people speak, your responses will be more insightful and meaningful. Good listeners are also more likely to be more intuitive, do their work better and adapt with agility.
2. Use examples and be direct
For clear communication, try to be as specific as possible. If you’re looking for clarification on an assignment or having an issue with a task, giving examples will help others understand the exact problem. Using examples and specific, direct language is also important when giving feedback, particularly constructive criticism. For other people to benefit and grow from your feedback, they need to know exactly what should change. Not clearly communicating your needs or problems will only cause more problems. Waiting until a problem becomes a major source of frustration before communicating it properly will cause tension in your office. When you have a need or issue to address, talk about it with ease and specificity, stating the problem and why it’s a problem, and offering some solutions, if possible. Being direct will really help to build better relationships with your colleagues, while also learning how to improve office communication.
3. Ask questions
Miscommunication frequently happens when people are too afraid to ask questions, or are overly confident in themselves. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need, as long as they are relevant and well thought out. In a professional environment, it’s much better to ask questions in the beginning and do the task correctly than to assume you understand and have to redo things later. Asking insightful questions will also demonstrate that you were listening closely and thinking carefully about the assignment, showing how serious you are about the task at hand.
4. Check-in frequently with your team
As an intern, you’ll likely have a direct mentor or supervisor, who is responsible for you day-to-day. You might also have managers you report to for specific projects or aspects of your role. No matter the situation, it’s important to check in frequently with your supervisors. This is a great way to make sure you’re getting regular feedback and to build a stronger relationship and potential future contact. In addition to checking in with your manager, you should also connect with other team members, inside and outside of your internship. Executing tasks or projects as part of a team is a different experience than doing it alone, so learning how to work well with all types of people is a crucial part of becoming a good communicator.
5. Ask for feedback
This is one the best tips for good communication as feedback is the fastest way you can grow as a professional. As an intern or an entry-level employee, you’re likely to get feedback frequently about your work. Knowing how to receive feedback is essential. Consider any feedback, positive or constructive, as an opportunity for growth. If a colleague or supervisor goes out of their way to comment on your work, remember that they care about your success. Of course, even if you aren’t receiving feedback, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek it out. The more you learn from experienced professionals in your industry, the better you become.
6. Make it personal
Adding a personal touch to digital communications is an easy way to ensure the people you're communicating with feel valued and understood. If you’re copying and pasting responses, spelling names incorrectly, or forgetting about previous conversations, you’re less likely to have positive communication. Writing is one of the most important tips on how to improve your communication skills. In the business world, written communication skills are just as important as speaking skills. You’ll likely communicate with your colleagues and clients regularly through email or another messaging platform, so ensure you're taking care with what you're typing and double-check it before sending for any errors!
7. Don’t over-communicate in the office - make time to bond outside of work instead
Although it’s important to make sure your message is dictated clearly, it’s also wise to avoid over-communication. Repeating the same instructions or messages can make your colleagues feel micromanaged and stunt personal relationships within the workplace. Consider making an announcement or having a conversation and following up with an email, recapping the key points. To build a better bond with your coworkers in the office, you should try to chat to them outside of working hours too. The closer you are to your colleagues, the easier you'll find it to communicate during the work day. You’ll feel more comfortable overall saying exactly what’s going on, what you need and what you’re proud of.
