ALIGN Your Communication: Building Stronger Workplace Connections

Written by Stephanie Burford, PHR, M.S., HR Manager at Advisor HR

In every organization communication is an important aspect of a productive workplace. The environment we grow up in shapes our attitudes, beliefs, and motivations. It’s how we establish wrong from right or good from bad. Communication plays a powerful role in our lives both personally and professionally.

From a young age, we learn how to respond to different situations based on what we see and experience around us. This can be through family dynamics, cultural influences, or social settings. These patterns influence how we tend to talk and work with others on the job. For example: Athletes may consider being yelled at as a form of motivation where someone else may find it disrespectful.

When communication is done well, it can build trust, drive collaboration, and foster innovation. Ineffective communication can lead to communication gaps that can often cause confusion, disengagement, and costly mistakes. Understanding these influences helps us communicate more effectively with people whose backgrounds and styles may differ from our own.

To do this, the word ALIGN can help increase communication skills and decrease confusion.

• A – Ask questions.

It’s important to understand what the conversation is about.

• L – Look & Listen

Once you have asked your questions and understand the reason for the conversation, the next step is to dig a little further and not just listen to what they are saying, but how they are saying it. This phase gives you an indication on rather or not you need to revisit phase one – ask more questions, continue the conversation, or end the conversation short.

• I – Identify Intent

Once we have asked questions, read the body language, next let’s identify intent. What do they want from you? Feedback? Approval? Just to listen?

• G – Get to the outcome

After proceeding with our questions, reading non-verbal cues, understand the intent, next we need to get to the outcome. What is the end result? Advice? Feedback? Support? Once intent has been identified, get to the outcome. It concludes the conversation ensuring everyone is aligned on the end result. By dragging out the conversation or meeting longer than needed, it can cause confusion and participants and can up getting bored or lose interest.

• N – Never Assume

Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different experiences. Assuming you know how someone feels or what they are thinking will resolve itself can be harmful to both parties.

Miscommunication doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad thing; it just means that more communication needs to be done. Using the acronym ALIGN, allows us to gauge where we are in the conversation and if we get stuck, we may need to back up or start over. This acronym provides a clear framework for you and the employee to work through challenges, strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and drive success. If you struggle with this topic, Advisor HR is here to help!