Improving Communication In The Workplace

Improving Communication In The Workplace
Improving communication in the workplace can be difficult in large companies as there are lots of people to communicate with, potentially on different floors, but is equally as problematic in small businesses. There are many ways to overcome this.

Start Improving Communication In The Workplace

Occasionally, sharing information and having it received and understood accurately can be a problem. Poor communication can mean wasted time and money, wrong assumptions, missed deadlines, and unhappy employees, clients, and customers.

Vision

Make sure everyone knows about the company’s vision and goals for the future. People get excited when they have something to work to, or a challenge to achieve or overcome. On the other side of the coin, if employees don’t know what’s expected of them, then they will become afraid for their jobs and stop communicating with their superiors and colleagues. Create a handbook detailing the company’s policies and make it available for all of the employees. This way everyone will be on the same page and will be able to find out any information they might need.

Training

Train staff on effective communication so they are able to be direct when sharing information and can active listen when receiving it. Hiring people with strong communication skills to begin with can be implemented in the selection process, using recruitment agencies such as corporate communications jobs London can be a practical way to achieve this. Active listening is one of the most important things you can do when communicating, as it isn’t a one way street. Taking the time to actually listen to what someone is saying can really make a difference.

Team Building Exercises

Everyone groans when you mention team building day, but the truth is, if done right they can be very effective. It will improve the camaraderie and encourage those you don’t know each other well to communicate and enhance their relationship.

Keep It Regular

Both formal and informal regular meetings need to be implemented. Formal meetings work best if they are structured, with a little leeway for unanticipated issues. This way, everyone gets a chance to speak, but it doesn’t go on for hours and hours at a time. Informal one-to-one meetings give an opportunity for employees to raise any issues they feel they can’t in front of everyone. This also creates a sense of value for the employees. Regular reports by all employees mean that everyone knows what has been done, and what needs to be done. Regular communication also means that things won’t get forgotten as more and more time passes and more important things happen. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Featured