Sometimes to solve a problem it's just a simple matter of good communication. Paul Russell gives us a quick guide to communicating well. 

Most of us consider ourselves great communicators. After all we communicate all day long through email, telephone, social media channels and blogs - we live in the communications age, don’t we? But did you know that quite a number of employees think that their bosses don’t communicate with them enough! Unfortunately, many of us fail when it comes to communicating instructions and sharing pertinent information.

Effective communication is both an art and a science; thankfully though it can be taught and learned. Here are some of the most common mistakes we make at work and how we can go about fixing them:

Not asking for help

Let’s be honest, no one knows everything. At some point, everyone needs help to complete a task. But the real fear in asking for help is the fear in appearing helpless or misinformed. However, if a person is able to ask for help in a smart way, then it shows they are thoughtful and have good judgment. If you give an employee a task, how about including recent examples for them to take a look at, maybe an outline of your needs or a template. You might also give them the recommendation of someone to speak with who may be able to help. 

Not communicating our expectations clearly

There are lot of employees who would like to hear more often from their managers. Some managers feel that they would like to hear more often from people who are on their team. The quick and easy fix is to tell people what you want and when you want it. It makes everyone’s life easier when you know what’s being expected of you.

Using emails to solve a problem

It seldom happens that we’ll be able to accomplish our goals without talking to the person. Email eliminates the human touch and feelings. When something goes wrong or something needs to be completed, get up and talk about it with the concerned person. It is highly possible that your email could be misinterpreted; the back and forth of emails is never going to solve the problem.

Not keeping it precise

Today, everyone has got limited time and everyone is asked to do more with fewer resources. So when it comes to updating your team, make sure to keep it precise and to the point. Remember, if there is nothing new in the information you are going to share, it’s better not to share it at all.

Communication should lead towards a solution

The best communication is the one that leads to a conclusion or towards the solution of a problem. Great communication is a two-way street, it’s the giving and receiving of information until everyone understands the objective.

Identifying and rectifying these five common mistakes will turn you into a communications superstar.

Paul Russell is co-founder and director of Luxury Academy, a multi-national private training company with offices in London and New Delhi. Luxury Academy specialise in leadership, communication and business etiquette training for companies and private clients across a wide range of sectors