Do you know what firm business plans have as one of their main priorities? The answer is internal communications. In any industry, this is an essential discipline. Although it has been important before the pandemic, now more than ever communication has come into the direct spotlight. Remote teams rely on this process to function successfully. Its organizational benefits cannot be stressed enough. Yet, some companies don’t have coherent internal communication strategies in place. Without them, the managers can only expect failure.
If you’re looking for ways to improve the way you and your team communicate, take a look at the seven tips we have prepared for you.
Ask Questions
With so many different communication platforms, no wonder everyone has their preferred method. What method do your employees like the best? Ask them to find out. Without this piece of information, drafting and implementing communication strategy will be in vain. If you try to impose a method that most employees dislike, it’s highly unlikely they’ll use it. Come to a mutual agreement on a method that meets everyone’s needs. You can also use this opportunity to get feedback on necessary improvements regarding workplace communication. Instead of collecting the feedback via survey, reach out to employees in person. This way you’ll show how valuable their input is and how firm your intentions are in improving interaction on an organizational level.
Use Simple Language
Team leaders make the mistake of bombarding employees with extensive information. As a result, some crucial pieces get lost and misunderstandings arise. Using simple language for concise messages is the best way to ensure a smooth and effective communication flow. When possible, make the most important information stick out by pinning it at the top of the used channel. Also, keep in mind the message receivers. Because of all their work, employees rarely have time to read lengthy instructions or updates. For this reason, try to keep it straight to the point. It’s important to remember to message the right team members timely. This way, you can be sure everyone involved got the memo.
Reward Hard Work
One of the simplest ways of boosting internal communications is recognizing and rewarding hard work. Whenever you overlook an employee’s hard efforts, it has a negative impact on their future performance. They start feeling undervalued and lose confidence. As a result, their performance levels decrease. However, when you recognize and reward them for going above and beyond, you’re also motivating others to do the same. Similarly, your team will think of the company as a supportive community in which growth and hard work pay off. If you need more ideas on how to take your workplace interactions to the next level, internal communication examples might be of help.
Be a Role Model
Senior management teams and team leaders are in charge of communication in the workplace. Their roles and behaviors set the organizational tone. Whether employees communicate well or not largely depends on the set example they’re required to follow. If you want them to be great communicators, then you first have to be a role model yourself. Share information in an understandable and prompt way. Encourage two-way dialogues and transparent conversations. Also, make giving and receiving feedback one of the priorities of your communication practices. It’s particularly important to nurture honest interaction across all levels. In case your company faces a rough patch, it’s what will give your staff the reassurance they need.
Define Roles
You may be under the impression your team only focuses on doing their job right. The truth is they like knowing what’s happening outside their job position. How is the business doing? Is it achieving desired results and goals? What can they expect in the future? The answers to these questions are rarely openly discussed with employees. Instead of passing down instructions and orders, try to keep employees in the know on current events at the top. Although they aren’t decision makers in the company, their work does largely contribute to its overall success. Therefore, don’t just give orders, but explain or show how much employee roles matter in corporate achievements. Not only does it make them feel appreciated but it also motivates them to perform even better in the future.
Schedule 1:1s
Not all employees feel empowered to come to your office and ask questions. Most of your employees might feel withdrawn or intimidated by your leading role in the company. If you want to improve communication, then you have to give them a nudge in the right direction. This means scheduling time for communication. Make one-on-ones a part of your schedule and give employees the opportunity to talk to you behind closed doors. It might help them feel more comfortable raising, for them, sensitive issues or concerns that bother them. What you can also do is leverage daily check-ins. Apart from giving the employees the chance to ask questions, they can also get an update on each other’s progress on mutual projects.
Engage Your Team
The main purpose of communication channels is notifying employees, sharing news, and celebrating achievements. At the same time, they support message exchange between everyone involved in the conversation. It’s crucial not just to announce the latest news, but also to give plenty of time and space to your employees to respond to them. They might need clarifications, additional instructions, or could even notice potential problems in the long run. Expecting them to read the messages, understand them, and leave it to that is unrealistic. More importantly, it reflects a one-way communication that isn’t effective. Invite responses and encourage conversation starters thus engaging your team.
Summary
Business plans prioritize internal communications for a reason. They make the organization more effective and ultimately successful in its business ventures. As such, it could always use some improvements because as the industry and business world change, so do our ways of communicating. If you make our tips a part of your strategy, you’ll reap the benefits of strong internal communication.
