You’ve probably heard before that communication is an effective key to any relationship. But, that mindset goes far beyond friendships, family members, and romantic endeavors. Communication is also a key component of any successful workplace.
In fact, 57% of employees report that they don’t feel they receive clear directions at work. Not only can that lead to a lot of confusion and stress in the workplace but it can cause a lack of productivity and motivation.
So, what can you do to improve communication within your business? How can you make sure everyone feels connected and on the same page? Let’s cover a few simple tips that you can put into place right away.
Establish a Communication Culture
If your employees don’t feel comfortable speaking up, then you’ve already uncovered your first problem.
It’s important to make sure that everyone in your office understands that their opinions, ideas, and concerns are welcome. Make sure you have a culture of communication and everyone knows that talking freely is encouraged.
Many times, a lack of communication comes from a lack of direction. As a leader in your company, make sure you’ve giving clear directions for how important communication is, and how you want to make it an everyday part of your operations.
Invest in the Right Systems and Tools
Do your Business Phone Solutions need an upgrade? If you’re not taking advantage of Unified Communications (UC), you could be missing out on effective ways to stay connected both in and out of the office.
UC goes far beyond a traditional phone system, allowing employees to use it for email, messaging, video chatting, and so much more. If you’ve had the same phone system for far too long, it could be time to make an upgrade and take advantage of the technologies that could strengthen your communication.
Set Up One-on-Ones
Even if you establish a culture of communication and you feel like everyone is on board, don’t ignore your individual employees.
Weekly group meetings are great. Smaller meetings with teams tackling different projects are also helpful. But, if you really want to make sure everyone is comfortable, motivated, and loyal to what they’re doing, you have to talk to your employees individually.
Does it take time? Absolutely. But, not only does it show that you care about their wellbeing, but it also will give you some insight into what drives your employees and what they are passionate about. You can use that knowledge to put them on projects and in positions where they will flourish. Your business will be more successful as a result.
As you can see, you don’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops in order to boost communication in the workplace. Rather, you have to invest in a couple of very important things: The right technology, and the wellbeing of your employees. By focusing on those two things, you can make sure everyone is always on the same page and no one feels slighted when they have something to say. A communicative business is a successful one and one that people will always love to work for.
