Communication is key to the success of teams, and nowhere is this truer than in the workplace. Regular and effective dialogue among co-workers increases workplace satisfaction while boosting productivity. It’s a win-win for everyone, but how do you foster good communication among your employees?
Here are tried suggestions for fostering an environment of positive communication within a professional environment.
Set a Team Mission based on your Business Vision
Teams without a clear mission will fail to realise their full potential. A team mission will focus each member on their individual role and clear up misunderstandings. When employees are confused about what they should be doing, they are prone to argue with each other and communication breaks down.
Good communication motivates employees and increases productivity when everyone works towards a clearly defined goal.
Establish Clear Communication Rules
Having an easy-to-use reporting system that employees can use will resolve many communication problems.
You can’t prevent arguments among your employees. However, if the team can’t agree on an issue and have no way out, the argument will escalate. Clear communication rules prevent these sorts of issues as employees can report the problem to their superiors who can resolve it without further escalation.
Promote Collaboration through Cross-Training and Ongoing Education
Having employees train each other within the same office or across departments will increase communication efficiency while promoting continuous learning.
Cross-training increases workplace satisfaction. It eases new employees into their roles while giving seasoned employees a chance to share their experience.
Establish Performance Reviews and Promote the Exchange of Honest Feedback
Regular performance reviews will help you identify problems within your team early on. During a performance review, each employee has the chance to share their opinion with you, and you can give them constructive criticism and feedback.
You should also promote the exchange of criticism and feedback among employees. Fostering a culture of openness will allow your employees to resolve most minor issues among themselves, without your input.
Participate in the Discussion
You should regularly join in the discussion among employees, especially managers and cross-department collaborators. Knowing what your employees are discussing will show them that you care about their daily challenges.
Moreover, you will be able to identify issues early on, even faster than through performance reviews. Keeping an eye on the social dynamics within your company will also help you decide when it’s time to bring in new talent or restructure an underperforming department before the issue gets too big to fix without financial repercussions.
