Diplomacy is the manner we relate with and or way we convey information to our colleagues, superiors, and subordinates.
There are countless people you must work with every day, from Employers to your Line Managers, your colleagues, and everyone in-between. Being diplomatic refers to one’s ability to navigate social situations with grace, so that no hard feelings arise while finding a balance between your needs and those of the people you work with.
Diplomacy also include the ability to understand the feelings, ideas, beliefs and opinions of others. This is a skill that must be mastered by all professionals, regardless of their company ranking or field.
The benefits of being diplomatic at work are many.
- It strengthens relationships within the workplace by decreasing the level of negative emotional impact upon the delivery of unfavorable news or feedback.
- It makes you a better negotiator because of the level of diplomacy and tact you display.
Keys to Being Diplomatic
Timing and Environment is key: you must at all times bide your time, identify the right time by studying the mood of the person you wish to approach. The same strategy applys to environment. It must be conducive before you launch.
Build an image for yourself: Prove that you are dependable, you are creative and truthful and reliable. Integrity is everything.
Master emotional Intelligence: Make people feel important, not you. Use intuition, politeness, empathy and integrity.
Use Smart Vocabulary: you need to learn to use the right words and especially the ones relevant to your industry. It will keep them tuned to you.
Positive Language and pleasant tone of voice, your pitch and your emotion when addressing your colleagues is key.Also, remember the power of body-language and the importance of maintaining composure. Eye-rolling, frowning, or appearing disengaged, for example, will surely chip away at your efforts toward diplomacy.
Don’t be desperate: It will be counterproductive.
Where you have made mistake, apologize sincerely and without delay. Be sure to advise those affected that the error will not reoccur, and take measures to correct any consequences of your mistake.
Don’t play dirty to be diplomatic, package the truth in a persuasive way.
Engaging in “workplace gossip” or other negative behaviors which may promote rifts among your colleagues and coworkers will also work in opposition toward any strides of diplomacy. If you have an issue with a colleague, have a one-on-one meeting with the person.
Attentive Listening: Cultivate the habit of Listening carefully and respectfully to your coworkers, especially those whose ideas differ from your own. Ask questions of these coworkers to ensure that you fully understand, and can also articulate their points of view”,
This practice helps display your own open-mindedness and willingness to obtain knowledge from others.
Keeping unnecessary criticism in check especially If you disagree with a coworker about an idea or decision, don’t tell him you think he’s wrong or question his competence.
Empathy: It’s also important to remain generally supportive of your colleagues. You must demonstrate compassion, support and encouragement to coworkers who disagree with a particular strategy or agenda”.
Assertiveness: Stay alert to circumstances where communication turns negative, and take action to correct the situation. Conversations should remain centered on problem-solving, not finger-pointing.
Employees of all levels should remember that the workplace, in essence, is a community. Relying on this sense and sharing credit for the team’s accomplishments will help others observe you as a diplomatic and tactful worker
Headliner Omolola