7 Ways to Communicate at Work to Make a Great Impression

Effective communication in the workplace is essential for building strong professional relationships, fostering collaboration, and making a great impression. The way you communicate—whether through verbal discussions, emails, or team meetings—can influence how you are perceived and how successfully you contribute to your organization.

By mastering key communication skills, you can enhance your credibility, demonstrate professionalism, and create a positive work environment. In this article, we will explore various ways to communicate effectively at work to leave a lasting and positive impression.

1. Be a great listener.

Everyone has a voice, and it's important to acknowledge and respect your team’s ideas. Bad leaders either avoid decisions by relying too much on others or dominate conversations, leaving their team disengaged. To prevent this, practice active listening—engage with genuine interest, use open body language, and set aside time for team input.

Small actions like eye contact and nodding make people feel heard, fostering trust and respect. Make others feel valued not with compliments, but by genuinely listening. If listening isn’t your strength, set aside dedicated time, like at the start or end of meetings. Show engagement through open body language, eye contact, and nodding. These small actions help your team feel heard, strengthening trust and respect.

2. Rephrase your language to be positive.

Maintain enthusiasm in both conversations and emails. When challenges arise, avoid negative words like “impossible” or “unfortunately.” For example, instead of saying, “Unfortunately, we’ll miss the deadline due to problems,” reframe it as, “To stay on track, we need all contributions by Friday.”

Or don't say, "That's actually a good idea!" instead say, "That's a great idea, thank you for sharing."

This isn’t inherently a negative phrase, but adding the “actually” comes across as condescending. Saying “actually” suggests you weren’t expecting a good idea from the person you’re addressing. The implication of surprise can come across as belittling or dismissive of the person’s capabilities or contributions.

3. Bring your boss possible solutions while working under pressure.

Problems arise regularly—it’s a natural part of any workplace. Whether it’s an upset customer, a conflict, or subpar work, some issues require your boss’s input. As a high performer, you know to bring solutions, not just problems.

However, offering just one solution can unintentionally highlight your boss’s lack of control, making them uneasy. Instead of saying, “Here’s the fix, just approve it,” consider presenting multiple options to keep them engaged in the decision-making process.

4. Effective prioritization in the workspace

Workplace boundary phrases are statements used to set limits, expectations, and personal boundaries in a professional setting. They help define how an individual prefers to be treated, what they can commit to, and maintain a healthy work-life balance, preventing burnout and promoting positive work relationships.

Instead of saying, "I Have too much on my plate," try to say, "I would appreciate help in prioritizing my tasks to ensure I deliver high-quality work."

5. Using inclusive language in the workplace.

Using inclusive language in the workplace ensures that everyone feels respected and acknowledged, regardless of gender. For example, The term "guys" may seem like a casual, friendly greeting, but it's male-specific and excludes those who don't identify as male. Phrases like "ladies and gents" or "dudes" also fall into this category.

To be more inclusive, consider using gender-neutral terms such as "y'all," "everyone," "team," "folks," or simply addressing people by their names.

6. The power of language: How self-criticism affects your ideas.

The way you present your ideas can significantly impact how they're received and influence your confidence and credibility in the workplace. For example, prefacing your ideas as "stupid" or inferior undermines your confidence and credibility, signaling doubt in your abilities. This can lead others to dismiss your thoughts before fully considering them.

To avoid this, share your ideas with confidence. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable expressing opinions, especially those that challenge the majority, it could indicate a lack of psychological safety in the workplace.

7. Responding professionally to issues outside your responsibility.

How you respond to challenges at work can influence your reputation and relationships with colleagues. Dismissing an issue as "not your problem" can make you seem disengaged, uninterested, or unwilling to support your team's success, damaging your reputation and workplace relationships.

Instead of using phrases like "that's not my job," consider offering a professional and constructive response. Depending on your workload, you could say: “Let's work together to address this issue and prevent it from becoming a larger problem.”

Effective communication at work is more than just conveying information; it’s about building relationships, fostering trust, and creating a positive, collaborative environment.

By being mindful of how you express yourself, actively listening, and choosing inclusive language, you can make a lasting impression that contributes to both your personal success and the overall success of your team. With these communication strategies in hand, you'll be on your way to making a great impression in any professional setting.