3 Tips for Mastering Digital Communication in the Workplace - Sterling Career Concepts

3 Tips for Mastering Digital Communication in the Workplace 3 Tips for Mastering Digital Communication in the Workplace Despite the decades of verbal, face-to-face interactions being credited as the best way to communicate, the new era of digital communication is taking center stage. Sure, you could continue to stubbornly resist using smart devices, slack chats, and emojis (what does a side eye emoji mean anyway?) However, in doing so, you may be hindering your workplace performance and additionally the promotion of essential soft skills that will help you obtain leadership positions. As companies begin to maximize productivity through unified communication tools, use this upgrade as an opportunity to strengthen your soft skills. Digital communication is here to stay. It doesn’t have to be the enemy! Brush up on your writing skills When communicating digitally, it is vital to do so in a direct and concise way. Writing clearly will prevent your intended message from being muddied. Without the help of nonverbal cues like facial expressions and tone, the recipient of your message may analyze and misconstrue your attitude, potentially causing hurt feelings and tension. Pro Tip: Take advantage of the time digital communication allows for proofreading. Always read a message aloud to yourself to ensure that the proper attitude and message is being conveyed. Embrace the emoji No, I don’t mean to actually include emojis in your professional memos to higher-ups or when conveying serious ideas concerning projects amongst your team. The emoji, however, was created to help individuals more easily add emotion to their messages so tone and intent could more easily be understood. Learning how to exhibit empathy through written word will help overcome misunderstandings when face-to-face conversations are taken out of the equation. Pro Tip: An easy way to show empathy is by reiterating the recipient’s concerns or ideas within your reply. This validates the other person’s perspective, allowing them to feel valued and heard even though its via digital communication. Lean on others Peer editing isn’t just for essays and ten-page documents. Keep in mind that, even if you read over your own message,  you do so with your intention in mind. This could provide a hazy lens through which you clearly understand your digital communication while the recipient  may still feel lost. Pro Tip: If you feel a little uneasy about a message you’re sending, perhaps it touches upon a sensitive subject, or you recognize that the recipient is someone who may become hurt if you challenge their ideas, send it to a trusted colleague. The extra set of eyes can provide an unbiased lens that can provide valuable feedback to avoid workplace drama.