We have all had to deal with high stress situations in our lives and on the job and everyone responds differently. There are so many different forms of communication and personality types that it can be difficult to know how to best approach co-workers with important information. When working through a crisis situation, the atmosphere can become chaotic and unorganized. Try your best to remain the constant within the chaos by making sure the information you are communicating is as clear and accurate as possible. Here are 3 tips for effective workplace communication in a crisis.

Keep It Face-to-Face

For the past decade or longer, email has been the “go-to” style of inner-office communication. It is a great tool, you can reach a large number of people with the same message at the same time. While email is a great option on a regular basis, when facing a crisis, it is better to communicate face-to-face as often as possible. That way you are sure that they got your message in a timely manner and fully understood your message and intentions. You will also be available to answer any questions right there on the spot. In a crisis, face-to-face communication trumps any other form of communication because you are able to walk away knowing that everyone is on the same page with what needs to be done. There is no question on if the message was received, understood or misconstrued. If information is being passed from one person to the next, be sure that you are relaying a clear and accurate message. Double check your facts and prepare what you are going to say ahead of time so there is no confusion.

Use Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Verbal communication is not the only way others pick up and process your message. We also relay nonverbal cues that often accompany our verbal communication. As you are relaying a message, be sure that your verbal and nonverbal cues are aligned to avoid confusion. For example, if you are telling a co-worker to move forward with something then a positive head nod or open posture would help relay that message. Showing negative nonverbal communication that contradicts your positive approval can be confusing to the on receiving the message. Some people do this without realizing it. In a crisis, there is no room for error so it is important to be aware of how your communication is being perceived.

Questions and Feedback

When someone is communicating a message to you, be sure you are fully listening and not just hearing. Asking questions and giving positive feedback will allow you to show that you are listening to what is being said and that you fully understand that is expected of you. You can also ask questions to clarify any part of the message that is unclear. Be sure to only ask questions that pertain specifically to what is being said. Do not change the subject by asking questions about a separate topic. It shows disrespect for the speaker and communicates that you are not listening to them. If you fully understand and have no question, relaying positive feedback will signify that you are both on the same page moving forward.

High stress, crisis situations within the workplace can be tough and can happen to anyone. It is best to be as prepared as possible ahead of time with protocols in place and a solid line of communication among co-workers and management. Using these 3 tips will be sure to help communication within the workplace move smoother.