#schongenial: What are the most common mistakes in corporate communication?
Wolfgang Stanek: There are various communication difficulties in companies: Unclear or incomplete information, a poor feedback culture and a lack of transparency are common obstacles. Added to this are different communication patterns, insufficient attention and sometimes also language or cultural barriers. All of this can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiency.
#schongenial: What mistakes do managers often make?
Wolfgang Stanek: Managers often make the mistake of not listening carefully and not focussing enough on the good employees. Praise is often neglected and problems in the team are ignored. Another problem is that managers sometimes get too involved in the details and give too little concrete feedback. All of this can significantly impair the team's performance.
#schongenial: How does digitalisation and remote working affect communication within the company?
Wolfgang Stanek: Digitalisation and remote working have both positive and negative effects. Online meetings save time and money, as travelling is no longer necessary, and they increase flexibility. On the other hand, there is often a lack of social interaction and it can be difficult to integrate new employees into the team. It is therefore important to train employees accordingly and ensure that regular meetings are held in person.
#schongenial: Which communication strategies improve team performance?
Wolfgang Stanek: It's often not that difficult: managers should listen more attentively, value their employees more and give specific, constructive feedback. Open and transparent communication promotes trust and significantly improves team performance.
#schongenial: How important is non-verbal communication in the business world?
Wolfgang Stanek: Non-verbal communication is an essential part of every interaction. Trust can be built through eye contact, posture, facial expressions, gestures and tone of voice - provided the signals are authentic. In conflict situations, the right body language can have a de-escalating effect. However, cultural differences should not be underestimated, as they often strongly influence the interpretation of non-verbal signals.
#schongenial: What role does emotional intelligence play in successful communication in a business context?
Wolfgang Stanek: Emotional intelligence plays a decisive role in employee management, employee retention and conflict management. Emotional intelligence is also essential in the areas of motivation, stress management and employee satisfaction. Managers who have a high level of emotional intelligence are better able to respond to their teams and thus significantly improve communication and the working atmosphere.
#schongenial: How do you address intercultural communication differences in your training programmes? How important is this topic from your point of view?
Wolfgang Stanek: The topic of intercultural communication is very industry-specific. In some sectors it plays a major role, in others less so. However, we always emphasise the importance of taking cultural differences into account in our training courses and how they can affect communication.
#schongenial: What measures can companies take to promote an open and effective communication culture in the long term?
Wolfgang Stanek: There are many approaches: Appreciation, recognition and praise are very important components. Leadership by example is also very important. Open communication, a good feedback culture and training in communication skills are also key aspects in establishing a sustainable communication culture.
#schongenial: How do you measure the success of communication training in companies?
Wolfgang Stanek: The success of communication training can be measured through a combination of short-term and long-term feedback from participants, customer feedback and behavioural observations. It is important to me that the participants leave the training or coaching sessions with clear personal goals.
#schongenial: One final question - can you summarise 5 tips for successful communication for us?
Wolfgang Stanek:
- Clear communication: make sure you provide clear, complete information to avoid misunderstandings.
- Show appreciation: Listen actively and give praise and recognition regularly.
- Feedback culture: Establish regular, constructive feedback for continuous improvement.
- Utilise emotional intelligence: Understand emotional needs and promote a positive working environment.
- Non-verbal communication: Pay attention to body language and cultural differences to avoid misunderstandings.
#schongenial: Thank you very much for the interview.
