Empowered Communication: Using Effective Communication to Advance in the Workplace
In honor of the last week of Women’s History Month, I am here to remind you:
💡 Your work matters – both inside and outside the workplace.
💰 You deserve to be paid what you’re worth.
🗣 Keep speaking up for what you want and need out of your career.
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of hosting a workshop for a financial institution here in Chicago in honor of International Women’s Day. I spent time with 100+ women, helping them harness the power of empowered communication to advance their careers.
And the number one piece of advice?
Understand the people you work with, speak their same language, and use that information to get what you want.
Let me break this advice down for you…
1. Understand Their Communication Styles
You may know how you communicate best—but do you know how your boss, your colleagues, or your team members prefer to communicate?
Everyone has a unique communication style, shaped by their personality, work experience, and generational influences. The better you understand these differences, the easier it is to adapt, collaborate, and advocate for yourself effectively.
Here are some great tools to help you learn about communication styles:
📌 PI Index – Helps identify workplace behaviors and motivators.
📌 DISC Assessment – Breaks communication down into four dominant styles.
📌 Meyers-Briggs (MBTI) – Provides insight into personality-driven communication preferences.
2. Get Curious & Listen
The key to effective communication isn’t just talking—it’s listening.
If you want to build influence and credibility at work, you need to genuinely understand the people you’re working with. That means:
👂 Asking thoughtful questions.
👀 Paying attention to how they contribute to the team.
👏 Recognizing their strengths and contributions inside and outside of work.
When you show that you understand and value the people around you, they will be more likely to support you, trust you, and champion your success.
3. Align on Expectations
Miscommunication at work often happens because of misaligned expectations—not because of bad intent.
To build strong working relationships that help you get ahead, make sure you and your colleagues are on the same page about:
✅ The preferred communication channels (Email? Slack? Quick check-ins?)
✅ The roles and responsibilities each person holds.
✅ The shared goals you’re working toward.
When you establish clear expectations, you eliminate unnecessary friction and create a more effective, collaborative work environment—which, in turn, helps you advance your career with confidence.
Take Action: Your Career Growth Starts with Communication
Advancing in the workplace isn’t just about working hard—it’s about making sure your work is seen, understood, and valued.
This month, I challenge you to:
1. Identify one key relationship at work that could be improved.
2. Observe that person’s communication style—how do they prefer to give and receive information?
3. Adjust your approach to better align with their style and expectations.
When you take intentional steps to communicate more effectively, you open doors to new opportunities, stronger relationships, and a career that feels both fulfilling and rewarding.
What’s one communication challenge you’re currently facing at work? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear and help!
