Provisional Blog

As a Seattle staffing firm, we’ve seen how bad communication can exact a toll on a company or business relationship – from miscommunication to missed deadlines to creating a negative atmosphere.

So what are some of the worst communication habits out there to avoid? Here are six:

1. Contacting others only when you need something.
Whether you need a reference, a job, ideas, or help with a project, it’s never a good idea to only connect with someone when you need something. Why? Because you’re leaving the person on the other end feeling used and abused.

2. Failure to say thank you.
If someone did you a favor – such as got you a job interview or gave you some good business advice – make sure to follow up with a thank you call, email, or note.

3. Not returning phone calls or emails.
This is probably one of the most inconsiderate communication habits. If you’re guilty of it, then it’s time to break this bad habit. One way to do it is by creating a policy giving yourself two business days to return all calls and emails.

4. Not listening.
Failure to listen can cause some expensive mistakes in the workplace, including lost opportunities, lower productivity, and unhappy customers.

5. Lying.
The truth may occasionally hurt, but lies tend to be far more destructive.

6. Complaining.
Pointing out flaws for the sake of problem solving is one thing. Chronic complaining and negativity is another – and can have a dampening effect on the whole organization.

Fortunately, these and other nasty communication habits can be averted or changed by cultivating more positive habits. If you’re guilty of one or more of these bad communication habits, then it’s time to commit yourself to speaking honestly and treating others more courteously.