🌱 Workplace Communication

“Respect the Position. Connect with the Person.”

1. Communication with Seniors

The goal is not to be submissive and not to be overly casual.

It is to communicate with professional respect + confidence + clarity.

✅ DO

1. Be prepared before approaching your senior

Don't go with only a problem.

Try:

“I have identified the issue, and I have two possible solutions. May I discuss them with you?”

This shows ownership.

2. Be concise

Senior leaders often have limited time.

Use:

Situation → Problem → Impact → Suggested solution

For example:

“Sir/Ma'am, we are facing delays in patient documentation. It is affecting discharge time. I suggest we introduce a checklist at the nursing station.”

Much better than giving a long explanation first.

3. Listen completely

Don't prepare your answer while your senior is speaking.

Listen → clarify → respond.

4. Disagree respectfully

You don't always have to agree.

Instead of:

❌ “You're wrong.”

Say:

“May I share a different perspective?”

or

“I understand your point. I was thinking about another possibility…”

5. Accept feedback professionally

Don't immediately defend yourself.

Try:

“Thank you for pointing that out. Could you help me understand what I could have done differently?”

That demonstrates maturity.

❌ DON'Ts with Seniors

Avoid:

Arguing emotionally

Interrupting

Challenging authority publicly

Using sarcastic language

Complaining about colleagues unnecessarily

Taking feedback personally

Saying “I already told you” aggressively

Sending emotionally charged WhatsApp messages

Going over your senior's head without appropriate reason

Using excessive flattery just to gain approval

Important JALSA message:

“Respect does not mean fear.

Confidence does not mean disrespect.”

2. Communication with Colleagues

With colleagues, the relationship is generally more equal—but that doesn't mean communication can become careless.

The objective is:

Cooperation + Respect + Trust + Accountability

✅ DO

Be approachable

A simple:

“How can I help?”

can change the atmosphere of a team.

Give credit

Instead of taking all the appreciation:

“This was actually a team effort. Rahul helped me with the documentation.”

Credit builds trust.

Ask rather than assume

Instead of:

“You didn't send the report.”

Try:

“I haven't received the report yet. Is there anything holding it up?”

The second statement opens communication rather than creating defensiveness.

Give constructive feedback privately

Praise publicly.

Correct privately.

Respect boundaries

Friendship at work is good, but professional boundaries are important.

❌ DON'Ts with Colleagues

Avoid:

🚫 Gossiping

🚫 Groupism

🚫 Taking sides

🚫 Blaming

🚫 Public humiliation

🚫 Interrupting

🚫 Personal attacks

🚫 Sharing confidential information

🚫 Comparing colleagues

🚫 Taking credit for someone else's work

🚫 Using WhatsApp groups for personal arguments

And something particularly important for your teamwork training:

Don't confuse a workplace group with a workplace team.

A group can say:

“We protect our people.”

A team says:

“We support our people while protecting the organisation's purpose.”

3. The Most Important Communication PROS

Teach your participants this simple JALSA 8P model:

P – Purpose

Know why you are communicating.

P – Preparation

Have the facts ready.

P – Precision

Say what needs to be said clearly.

P – Politeness

Respect the person.

P – Patience

Don't react immediately.

P – Perspective

Try to understand the other person's viewpoint.

P – Privacy

Sensitive conversations should happen privately.

P – Professionalism

Separate the person from the problem.

4. Communication Cons — Things to Watch

These are the small behaviours that create big workplace problems.

Avoid Replace with

“You always…” “In this situation…”

“You never listen.” “I don't feel my point was understood.”

“That's not my job.” “Let me clarify who should handle this.”

“I know everything.” “Let me understand the situation first.”

“Why did you do this?” “Can you help me understand what happened?”

“You are the problem.” “We need to address this issue.”

“Everyone knows…” “My understanding is…”

“Calm down!” “Let's take a moment and discuss this.”

“I already told you.” “Let me explain it once more.”

Silence/ignoring Acknowledge and clarify

This table itself can become a JALSA training slide.

5. The Golden Rule: Don't React—RESPOND

This is an excellent activity for your session.

Write:

R → E → A → C → T

React

Emotion

Assumption

Conflict

Tension

Then introduce:

R → E → S → P → O → N → D

Recognise

Emotion

Stop

Pause

Observe

Navigate

Deliver your response

Tell participants:

“The space between what happens and how we respond is where professionalism lives.”

“Same Message, Different Impact”

This would work beautifully in your 2.5-hour, half-day or full-day programme.

Give a participant this sentence:

You haven't completed this work yet.”

Ask them to say it in three ways:

Version 1 – Aggressive 😠

“You STILL haven't completed this work?”

Version 2 – Passive 😶

“It's okay… whenever you can…”

Version 3 – Assertive 😊

“I noticed the work is still pending. Is there any difficulty? Let's see how we can complete it by today.”

Then ask the audience:

The message was almost the same.

So what changed?

Answer:

Tone + intention + choice of words + body language.

🧠 The 5-Second Rule

Before sending an emotional message or responding to criticism, teach participants to ask:

T – Is it TRUE?

H – Is it HELPFUL?

I – Is it IMPORTANT?

N – Is it NECESSARY?

K – Is this the RIGHT TIME?

THINK before you speak/send.

This is especially useful for WhatsApp, email and workplace messaging.

🌿 A Very Important Distinction for Your Training

I would spend time teaching participants:

Respect ≠ Fear

You can respect your senior and still express your opinion.

Assertiveness ≠ Aggression

You can be firm without being rude.

Friendliness ≠ Over-familiarity

You can have good relationships while maintaining boundaries.

Silence ≠ Agreement

Sometimes people remain silent because they are uncomfortable, not because they agree.

Listening ≠ Weakness

Listening is a professional strength.

⭐ JALSA Communication Mantra

You could make this your closing slide:

BE CLEAR WITHOUT BEING RUDE.

BE CONFIDENT WITHOUT BEING ARROGANT.

BE RESPECTFUL WITHOUT BEING FEARFUL.

BE EMPATHETIC WITHOUT LOSING BOUNDARIES.

BE PROFESSIONAL WITHOUT LOSING YOUR HUMANITY.

And finally:

“People may forget the exact words you used, but they rarely forget how your communication made them feel.”