How to celebrate and honor World Communication Week at work

Humans across the world communicate in a variety of ways. Whether speaking with someone on the phone, emailing, or waving at someone across the workplace, you likely use multiple types of verbal and non-verbal communication daily. A vast array of communication styles has developed over time, and people communicate in various ways, so it's helpful to learn more about these styles to form deeper connections with those around us. 

This is the goal of World Communication Week, a celebration in November that honors different styles of communication. Here's some more information about the holiday, including ways to celebrate it at work.

What is World Communication Week?

World Communication Week is a celebration of the various communication styles that people use. Since communication has evolved rapidly over time, different verbal and non-verbal communication styles have become popularized worldwide. With technological developments, such as the internet and social media, communication has become more nuanced. However, World Communication Week aims to explore how we communicate and connect with people and within communities that may interact and interconnect in unique ways.

When is World Communication Week?

World Communication Week takes place during the first week of November each year. This means that from November 1 to November 7, you can participate in activities and celebrations that honor the holiday. While you may have scheduled activities during the work day to celebrate the week, you can observe World Communication Week in smaller ways at home and when you're out in your community. For example, starting a conversation with someone you don't know at the grocery store or another location can be a great way to honor the occasion.

"World Communication Week aims to explore how we communicate and connect with people and within communities that may interact and interconnect in unique ways."

Best practices for World Communication Week

Since one of the most significant aims of World Communication Week is to form deeper connections with the people around you, the best way to participate in the celebration is to communicate as much as possible. Speak with people you don't know at work, greet strangers you see at the grocery store, and take extra time to call your family and friends you don't see often. 

Another best practice for this week is to engage in face-to-face interaction whenever possible, as this gives people the chance to use non-verbal communication in addition to verbal styles. You can also try participating in situations that allow you to communicate in new ways, such as role-playing games or philosophical debates.

How to promote World Communication Week at work

Here are a few activities you can do during the week to promote communication within your workplace: 

Roundtable discussions

A roundtable discussion is an organized conversation about a predetermined topic. These usually have a single person acting as the moderator, whose job is to pose the central question or topic and then ensure that everyone in the discussion has a chance to share their insights. Roundtable discussions can be a great way to get everyone in the workplace talking, as you can choose topics that can produce different answers from various employees and departments. For example, if you hold a roundtable discussion about goal-setting strategies, you'll likely get varying answers from people in sales, production, HR, and other departments.

Handwritten letters

A huge part of World Communication Week is paying respect to all communication styles, even those that have become less popular. Due to this, spending some time writing handwritten letters can be a great way to celebrate the week. Aside from facilitating communication through the letters, this activity also encourages team members to communicate with each other, as they can discuss topics like their memories of writing letters and the people they plan to send their letters to. 

Consider developing a prompt or brief for the letters and asking everyone in the office to write and send one to invite all employees to participate. You might even designate a portion of the work day for everyone to sit down and write their letters. If you want to add some creative elements, you can encourage people to make greeting cards with decorations that showcase their personalities.

Networking events

Networking is an effective way to communicate with other professionals in your field and build connections with new people— two important aspects of World Communication Week. While you can engage in networking on your own, you might attend networking events during this special week for even more opportunities for communication. If your company sponsors networking events, consider scheduling one during the first week of November to pay tribute to the holiday and invite employees from other companies to interact with your teams.

You can also attend networking events in other places, bringing the whole team or whoever wants to join. This allows you and your co-workers to expand your professional network and interact with different communication styles in one place. Afterward, you can discuss everything you learned for even more communication, perhaps even scheduling a debriefing session after the event where everyone can share their experiences.

Team-building activities

One of the best ways to facilitate communication at work and also have a bit of fun is to engage in team-building activities. Many activities centered on team building focus on encouraging communication and developing a deeper understanding of your co-workers, two key aspects of World Communication Week. For example, you might play a game of "Would You Rather?," which involves asking prompting questions and asking participants to choose between two scenarios. This gives insight into everyone's personal preferences and values while allowing everyone to take the spotlight and share their answers with the group.

You can also play games involving teamwork, as these get everyone talking and working together in a group. For instance, create teams in your workplace and ask each group to build a table out of sheets of paper and tape capable of holding an object. This requires everyone to communicate with each other and work together toward a common goal, which is another ambition of World Communication Week.

Lectures or information sessions

Lectures and information sessions can be outstanding opportunities to learn more about a subject. During World Communication Week, you can honor the holiday spirit by attending a lecture about communication, different styles, or similar topics. You'll likely find these information sessions at universities, colleges, companies, and museums. After the session, you can also hold a discussion at work for anyone who attended to discuss further what you learned.

With World Communication Week just around the corner, it's helpful to learn about how you can participate. These are just a few ideas you can use in your workplace to encourage deeper communication and understanding among you and your fellow employees. Think about how you can better your communication during this time and be open to learning from others about new ways to share information with your co-workers and loved ones. If you're looking for a job that celebrates holidays like these, get email alerts from CareerBuilder.

More tips for engaging in workplace celebrations:

Getting ready for a celebration? Read about party-time etiquette for office celebrations.

For ideas about honoring Black History Month, learn about celebrating Black History Month at work.

If you're getting ready for Pride Month, read about celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month at work.

Curious about one of our oldest federal holidays? Learn about why we celebrate Labor Day.

If you have parents in your workplace, read about celebrating National Working Parents Day.