​Organisations develop communication policies and procedures to meet legislative requirements and for effective communication.

​Keys to good verbal communication include:

• speaking effectively (e.g. clearly)

• using appropriate language (e.g. non-discriminatory).

​All business writing should be:

• clear, concise, courteous and correct

• jargon-free

• accurate and complete

• inclusive.

​You might need to adjust your communication methods because the people you work or communicate with may have a variety of cultural backgrounds, language skills, special needs or disabilities.

​•You should adjust the way you communicate depending on your audience.

•For example, to communicate effectively and with respect, you must consider and value cultural differences.

•When communicating with someone with a disability or special needs, it is essential to remember to treat them as an individual.

​ Effective communication encompasses:

1. verbal communication (e.g. the words we use, our tone, or how formal or informal our language is)

2. nonverbal communication (e.g. intentionally or unintentionally sending and receiving messages without the use of words).

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A person’s disability can impact their vision, hearing, speech, cognition or mobility, which can influence their ability to communicate.

​Assisted technologies (e.g. speech-to-text programs and text-to-speech programs) can support communication for people with a disability or special need.

​Active listening involves:

• focusing on the speaker and listening closely

• indicating that you are listening and understanding

• providing verbal responses such as ‘I see’

• paraphrasing what you heard back to the speaker.

​ Workplace communication challenges can be linguistic, cultural, physical, psychological, environmental or a result of inactive listening.

Barriers that can affect good communication may include conflict with clients or team members; unethical or inappropriate communication; and potential risks or safety hazards.