Improve Communication at Work

Nothing good can happen when people stop communicating at work. Effective communication is vital if staff members are to collaborate effectively and if productivity levels are to remain high. A lack of communication, or a situation where communication gradually deteriorates for one reason or another, can lead to employees disconnecting from their roles, working at half-speed and exhibiting poor morale. In this post, the team at C-me examine how to improve communication at work.

Proven Strategies to Improve Communication at Work

By implementing the following strategies you'll help foster open communication in your workplace.

Utilise a variety of communication tools

In some cases, email may be the proper way to communicate with someone. In other cases, you may want to employ Microsoft Teams or set up video calls using Zoom. At the same time, there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. Consider which medium would be most appropriate for each situation.

Learn how to listen

Too many interactions at work consist of one person talking and the other waiting until their mouth stops moving to make their point. Effective communication cannot exist without effective listening. That means giving the speaker your undivided attention, maintaining eye contact and only responding when you have something of value to add.

Make messages clear and concise

Business communication is not like personal communication. It needs to be clear and concise in order to avoid confusion or misinterpretation. Avoid slang and jargon that may leave some people scratching their heads and avoid wordiness in any instructions you include so they can be easily executed.

Schedule regular staff meetings

If you are serious about promoting open communication, schedule regular staff meetings where everyone can get current with what is in process, what has been completed and what is pending. Encourage questions and allow employees to voice concerns without fear of judgment.

Encourage constructive criticism

Constructive criticism focuses on areas where improvement may be necessary, but not in a heavy-handed or judgemental fashion. This type of feedback is essential if your team is to continually improve and meet their targets. If some team members are not familiar with constructive criticism hold a company workshop where you give examples of the difference between constructive criticism and passing judgement.

Conclusion

Effective communication is the lifeblood of the high-performing team. But it doesn't often come about organically. It needs to be consciously cultivated. Take the above tips to heart to create the type of open communication that will take your business to the next level.