Communication Archives - Manpower Maine

Tag: Communication

Latest News
March 30, 20200

Soft Skills Learned Through Customer Service

There is much to be learned at any job you hold in your life. Skills that can be incredibly useful in a number of future professions. Whether working in retail, hospitality, food service, or in a call center – when you are serving customers, you are learning skills that are highly desired by any company.

Here are some of the most sought-after skills you will gain from a job in customer service.

Listening

Active listening is a skill that will help you in any position you ever hold. When we say active listening, we mean that you are truly using both ears to hear the message that another is conveying. All too often, people listen merely to respond instead of listening to understand, process, and move forward. When dealing with customers you are listening for a number of things – their needs, their concerns, their frustrations, and their expectations.

Communication

Effective communication is key to long-term success. It is not just about being able to speak, it is about being able to clearly, appropriately, and confidently get a message to the intended recipients. Communication is not limited to just speaking, it is conveyed through writing, your tone of voice, your choice of words, and your body language.

Problem-Solving

Issues that people have can range from simple to extraordinarily complex. Being able to ask the right questions, identify the problem, and then troubleshoot the challenges to identify a solution is a skill that every employer is looking for. Companies want to know that their team members can think both inside and outside of the box to meet their customers’ needs. That ability stems from people’s ability to use their critical thinking skills.

Adaptability

Change is the only constant. If you are planning on things always staying the same, or are stuck in the habit of thinking the way you have always done things will always be the best way, you are setting yourself up for failure. All things evolve, which means that you need to demonstrate adaptability. Staying flexible, opening your mind to new ideas, and keeping your skills fresh will serve you well in any job you ever hold.

Time Management

Competing priorities, hard deadlines, and time-wasters impact us all. Being able to effectively manage your minutes will help keep you on track and demonstrate your value. Once you are able to quickly identify the objective, provide exceptional service while remaining efficient, and plan your work out accordingly, you will notice an increase in both productivity and satisfaction.

Increase Your Service Skills

It is never too late to increase your customer service skills. Whether you take on a new job, pick up a volunteer opportunity, or simply recognize who your current customer is (even within your organization) – you can reflect on and refine your skills. Start today!

Latest News
December 23, 20190

Back to Basics: Digital Communication in the Workplace

As time has goes on we all have become increasingly dependent on technology for a bulk of our communication. Emailing, texting, messaging, and who knows what advances are yet to come. While digital communication has many upsides, such as convenience and speed, it has its fair share of pitfalls too.

Some important components of communication are hard to gauge in writing such as tone, inflection, and of course body language. This means that we have to be even more diligent and purposeful in our digital interactions.

Keep It Professional

While it is easy to fire off a text and throw in a couple cute emojis or send off an email with a quick question, when doing so on the job you should tread carefully and keep it professional. Taking the time to open with a quick and friendly greeting, paying close attention to spelling and grammar, and using appropriate punctuation will go a long way in your written communications and increase the likelihood of being taken seriously as a professional.

When communicating with anyone, it is best to know your audience. Avoiding slang terminology, acronyms, and excessive exclamation marks will help ensure your message is seen as workplace appropriate. While you want your personality to shine through sometimes, it is also recommended that you avoid getting too creative with your background settings, signatures, fonts, and the colors you use.

Keep It Professional

One key to a successful and comfortable work environment for all is to speak and behave in a professional manner. The workplace is not an appropriate setting to ask intrusive & personal questions, tell insensitive or raunchy jokes, or engage in controversial conversations that are outside the scope of why you are there in the first place.  When engaging in friendly conversation with fellow staff, always keep it professional. If the conversation steers into a direction that you feel crosses the line, politely acknowledge that perhaps this is not something that you wish to discuss in the workplace.  Taking that approach allows you to clarify a boundary while also not putting the other person on the defensive.

Respect Digital Boundaries

The ease of access that technology offers is most certainly one of the biggest perks. That being said, it is of the utmost importance that you respect digital boundaries. Spamming people, inappropriately replying to all, or not using the BCC feature when sending a mass email are common missteps that people make that demonstrate a lack of respect of digital boundaries.

Unsolicited private messages through platforms like Facebook or Twitter are to be avoided. Most people conduct business communications through specific channels, and it is important to respect those boundaries. Unless you have been invited to engage someone through social media or texting on a business issue, it is best that you stick to more traditional communication methods.

Be Clear & Concise

When sending written communication, the best practice is to be clear and concise. Sending lengthy emails may at times be unavoidable, but in most cases, less is more. When sending a text, you want to keep the message within 160 characters to ensure it goes through as an individual message. In email you want to take the time to be clear and concise, and when appropriate make good use of bullets, formatting, and white space.

If there is an intended outcome of the message, for example you are expecting a reply make sure you bring the reader’s attention to that request. You can do this by highlighting the information and request a reply in your opening, or you could use of text formatting (such as making the request in bold) to draw the person in.

Avoid Reading Into Things

As mentioned before, there are a lot of non-verbal cues that are missing from written communication. It is often difficult to interpret things such as tone or sarcasm in writing, which can create unintended conflict or worry. When on the receiving end of an email, be careful to not start reading in between the lines. If you ever find yourself questioning what is being said, or more importantly how it is being said – take the time to ask. By getting clarification you will likely save yourself a ton of worry and frustration.

Digital Is Not Always Best

There are times when it is best to just pick up the phone or go see someone in person. Not only can digital communication come across as impersonal, there are times when the message will be more properly received by hearing tone or seeing body language. In addition, there are some conversations you may have that you do not necessarily want in writing. If ever in doubt about whether technology is the best method for communication, it is best to air on the side of caution and pick up the phone or set up a meeting.

When it comes to navigating the world of work – Manpower is here to help!
Latest News
December 23, 20190

Tips to Thrive At Work – Digital Communication

Accidentally hitting reply all or clicking on a link that releases a virus on company devices are things you want to avoid when communicating digitally. Here are some tips to help you thrive in a world filled with digital communication.

Be Mindful Of Data Security

Accidentally hitting ‘reply all’ when your message is intended for a single individual has the potential to be more than just an embarrassing mistake; it could also expose confidential information to people who aren’t authorized to access it. Always double check who you are sending your message to, and when receiving emails, be sure to verify the sender before clicking links, downloading attachments, or providing sensitive information.  #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

Keep Your Emails Professional

Digital communication in the workplace is still communication in the workplace, so keep it appropriate, and maintain a professional tone by ensuring proper spelling and punctuation. While emojis and abbreviations are fun and convenient, they are best suited for casual communication with friends – not in an email to your supervisor. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

Know Your Employer’s Technology Usage Policies

Unless using social media and accessing your personal email account are requirements of your job, don’t just assume that it’s allowed at work. Reading up on your employer’s policies regarding technology usage will not only help you stay in compliance, it can also help you avoid any unpleasant surprises – like learning that all your activity on a company computer or network may not be as private as you thought.#TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics
 

Own Your Digital Presence

Be mindful of the impact that your personal digital presence can have on your professional life. Content you share may be associated with or reported back to your employer – this risk is especially high if your profiles are public and list your place of work. Adjust your privacy settings accordingly if your profiles contain anything that you wouldn’t want someone at work to see. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

 Want More Tips?

Click on the links below to access other tips we have shared throughout this series.

   
     
     
 
Latest News
December 23, 20190

Hacking Work: Digital Communication

Everything can be hacked, even the workplace. Manpower is ready to help you hack the world of work with some simple tips to thrive that will keep you moving in the right direction professionally.

The world has gone digital, which means that each and every one of us need to know how to communicate effectively in the digital sphere. Here are some quick tips to help you do just that.

 Looking for More Helpful Work Hacks?

   
Latest News
December 17, 20190

Back to Basics: Digital Communication in the Job Search

With more ways to apply for work now than ever before, it’s no surprise that some job seekers are left wondering about digital etiquette and best practices. If, like most people, you are conducting your job search online, check out Manpower’s tips to help enhance your results and land that next great opportunity:

Keep Your Emails and Messages Professional

Email is such a fast, convenient method of communication, and more and more employers are getting on board with accepting applications via social media as well. While these methods of communication may feel more casual in some ways, it’s important to recognize that all communication with a potential employer should be conducted professionally, regardless of whether it is occurring digitally or not. Avoid the use of emojis, unnecessary abbreviations, and of course, vulgar language. Maintaining a professional tone and ensuring proper spelling and punctuation will bring you one step closer to making a great first impression that leaves the company wanting to know more.

Be Mindful of Document Formats

When applying for work, try to send your resume in PDF format if possible, unless the company has specified a different preferred format. Depending on the word processing software you use, people may or not be able to access the documents you send them. Adobe Reader is standard software for most businesses, so sending a PDF will ensure that your application can be opened. Providing an accessible resume from the get-go will help speed up the process for you, because you won’t have to worry about emailing back and forth to provide alternative formats.

Clean Up (or Secure) Your Social Media Profiles

You have a right to post what you want and talk about what you want on your personal social media profiles – but that doesn’t mean that highly controversial, raunchy, or explicit content doesn’t have the potential to negatively impact your professional reputation or affect a potential employer’s perception of your professionalism. When you are looking for work, it’s a good idea to clean up your profiles to avoid content that you wouldn’t want seen by a supervisor, coworker, or potential employer. If you’d rather not delete the content, simply adjust your privacy settings so that only your friends or people you give permission to can see what you share.

Prioritize Data Security

While advances in technology have enhanced our job search options in many ways, it has also opened us up to increased risk. Scammers may post illegitimate job opportunities or pretend to be a representative of an established company in attempts to phish for your personal data. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself. When evaluating job advertisements that you’re considering applying to, be on the lookout for anything that doesn’t seem right – improper spelling or grammar, unofficial email addresses, or links that don’t appear to be affiliated with the company are common red flags.
Be cautious when responding to individuals that approach you about opportunities you did not apply for, and be sure to do some research and verify their legitimacy before providing any kind of information. If you’re not sure whether an opportunity is legitimate or not, reach out to the company directly using contact information provided on an official website – not the email or phone number provided by the person who reached out to you. Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right or the facts aren’t adding up, do not respond, click suspicious links, or download any unexpected attachments.

When it comes to navigating the world of work – Manpower is here to help! 
Latest News
November 26, 20190

Back to Basics: Boundaries In The Workplace

Establishing healthy and professional boundaries in the world of work is a critical component to long-term success for both companies and employees. Having boundaries in place sets a strong foundation for a productive, safe, and respectful work environment for all.

In addition to respecting boundaries that the organization sets such as job limitations, where to park, off-limit areas, chain of command, and any general policy – it is also necessary to be mindful of interpersonal boundaries set by those we work with.

Recognize The Boundaries of Your Job

Some of the most important boundaries you have as an employee are those which your job description outlines. What this means is that it is important for all team members to (within reason) stay in our professional lanes. For example, unless you were hired to manage people, you need to refrain from acting like someone’s manager by questioning their whereabouts or level of performance. This also means when working as a team to effectively share the workload and not try to control it all.  A respectful work environment is one where we can all chip in and help others when appropriate or provide feedback as a way to support – but it also means that we need to be mindful of where those boundaries are and avoid crossing them.

Keep It Professional

One key to a successful and comfortable work environment for all is to speak and behave in a professional manner. The workplace is not an appropriate setting to ask intrusive & personal questions, tell insensitive or raunchy jokes, or engage in controversial conversations that are outside the scope of why you are there in the first place.  When engaging in friendly conversation with fellow staff, always keep it professional. If the conversation steers into a direction that you feel crosses the line, politely acknowledge that perhaps this is not something that you wish to discuss in the workplace.  Taking that approach allows you to clarify a boundary while also not putting the other person on the defensive.

Practice Good Time Management

Time in and of itself is a boundary. There is a set amount in a day and it is up to each person to make the most of it. Your work schedule is a finite amount of time that you are supposed to be dedicating to accomplishing your job duties. This means during those hours your work should be your number one focus. The first step in practicing good time management is to show up on time (every time) for your scheduled shift. While you are working limit distractions, focus on your work, and be respectful of other people’s time. Minutes matter, so work to be mindful of how you are spending yours and how you may be affecting others.

Review Your Employee Handbook

Your employee handbook is a tool for your long-term success at any company. Make sure you are taking the time to read through your employee handbook as soon as you receive it. Doing so will ensure that you are familiarizing yourself with any policies and boundaries your employer has set and expects you to follow. When reading through this employee guide, you should make special note of any rules being set and write down any questions that you may have so you can seek out clarity from your supervisor. Once you have read through the manual, be sure to put it somewhere that you will be able to access it later should you have any questions. Keep in mind that company policies will evolve over time and the company may update them and notify staff – be sure to read and save any updates you receive.

Be Prepared to Communicate

Unspoken or unclear boundaries do no one any favors. We are not suggesting that you have a list of personal boundaries that you cover with all of your co-workers, but you need to know what your boundaries are and be able to openly and honestly communicate them as needed. For example, let’s say you do not want to get caught up in workplace gossip or politics. If you find yourself in a conversation where gossip comes up, politely tell them you do not want to participate in that kind of discussion and try to steer the conversation in a more appropriate direction. If your attempts to redirect are unsuccessful, politely remove yourself from the discussion.

Setting boundaries and being prepared to address violations does not have to be confrontational. A best practice once you identify your boundaries is to ensure you follow them consistently. If you violate your own boundary by gossiping about another co-worker it will create confusion and conflict. Be confident, be respectful, and be consistent.

When it comes to navigating the world of work – Manpower is here to help!
Latest News
November 26, 20190

Tips to Thrive At Work – Boundaries

Setting healthy boundaries can be a difficult exercise for even the most seasoned professional. We all want to build strong relationships in the workplace but also must ensure that we don’t overstep or contribute to an uncomfortable or unproductive environment.

Respect Personal Space

Everyone has different needs regarding their personal space. Even with the best of intentions, doing things like standing too closely, handling someone’s personal belongings, or touching someone without permission – even just a pat on the shoulder or touch of the arm – could leave someone you work with feeling like their personal physical boundaries have been crossed. Be mindful and considerate of other people’s boundaries to ensure a comfortable work environment for your entire team.  #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

Follow The Rules

Most companies have detailed rules and policies about what is acceptable and unacceptable in the workplace. These are clear boundaries that have been established to create a safe, fair, and productive setting where employees can be effective in working towards common goals. It is your responsibility to follow these rules and do your part to support a culture of success. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

Respect People’s Time

There’s a lot to do during the workday, and only so much time to do it – so in addition to managing your own time well, it’s important to respect the time of your teammates. Focus on completing your work in a timely manner so that others have what they need to be successful, and avoid being a source of unnecessary distractions – especially when people are feeling pressed for time. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics
 

Don’t Get Too Personal

It’s natural to develop friendly relationships with the people you work with, but when professional boundaries get crossed and you divulge information that is too personal, it can negatively impact those relationships and create obstacles to success in the workplace.  To avoid awkwardness and prevent your personal life from compromising your professional reputation, steer clear of oversharing. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

 Want More Tips?

Click on the links below to access other tips we have shared throughout this series.

   
     
     
 
Latest News
October 17, 20190

Hacking Work: Cooperation Video Tips

Everything can be hacked, even the workplace. Manpower is ready to help you hack the world of work with some simple tips to thrive that will keep you moving in the right direction professionally.

The world of work runs much more smoothly when everyone works together – which is why every hiring manager looks for people who are cooperative team players. But what does being a team player look like in the workforce? Here are a few quick video tips covering some essential practices.

 Looking for More Helpful Work Hacks?