– by Ainsley Lawrence

– Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer with an interest in the way business, technology, and education intersect with the personal. She loves traveling to beautiful places and is frequently lost in a good book.

As an employer, it’s essential that you have a strong leadership style where you engage with your employees and build a culture of communication. While you likely already provide their assignments, assessments, and occasional guidance, you should think about how to increase your communication so that your staff can stay informed and truly feel like they’re part of the team. There are many strategies you can implement so you’re more open and honest and there’s a true back and forth between you and your hard workers.

Here is some advice and a few strategies to consider for your company.

Why You Should Have A Culture Of Communication

To truly make a change in your operation and understand why open discussions are so important, you must understand the effects of poor communication in the workplace.

One of the consequences could be a breakdown of employee trust. If the team is in the dark about how well the company is doing and they are uncertain of whether their efforts are paying off, they may lose trust and faith in the organization and fail to do their best work. Instead, try to encourage transparency in the workplace. Keep the team informed of the company’s wins so they can feel like they’ve worked towards something meaningful. Transparency goes both ways. Encourage employees to be transparent with management and allow them to express their needs so you can provide the best possible environment.

Poor communication in the workplace can also negatively impact effective collaboration among co-workers. If you’re the type of manager that keeps every employee in their own silo and they can’t work with their team, then when a time comes when collaboration is a must, your team may literally be at a loss for words. The best ideas often come up with people working together, so encourage engagement between teams and management on a daily basis.

Communication Strategies

There are many effective strategies for improved communication in your office. They begin by realizing what’s most important: face-to-face interactions. In our tech world, it’s common to send emails and instant messages, and while they’re helpful when you need to send a quick note, they typically lack personality. Part of speaking with someone is seeing their body language and expressions so you can truly understand what they’re trying to say. Speak in person, and it will be a more valuable interaction.

Another step of effective communication is having an open, back-and-forth dialogue. Just because you’re the manager doesn’t mean that you need to do all of the talking. Make your points and then encourage the employees to engage in the conversation and provide feedback. While great ideas can come from the top down, it’s often the employees who are doing the work all day long who provide the greatest insights.

One way to communicate and create a solid work environment is to provide positive feedback to employees who do great work. Send out a company-wide email when someone goes above and beyond so they know that management truly appreciates their efforts. When employers are polite and show their appreciation, it’s more likely that the employees will be comfortable approaching them with their thoughts and feelings, and you’ll build that culture of communication.

Communication And Technology

With so many people working remotely these days, it can seem impossible to foster that same personal relationship that you can achieve by speaking over a cubicle wall. However, you can still create a connection by leveraging technology.

Leveraging Technology For Better Communication

One form of helpful tech is video conferencing software. When you’re giving an employee an annual review, do it via video so you can see each other, and both ask questions in real time. It’s also a great idea for the remote team manager to have regular team meetings over a program like Zoom so that everyone can feel like they’re in the same space. It’s a great way to eliminate feelings of isolation and build a stronger team dynamic.

You can also use technology to improve communication and collaboration by using project management tools like Asana and Monday.com. These visual platforms allow everyone on the team to see where they stand and when others may need help. It’s another way to keep everyone in the loop and feel like they’re part of something bigger.

Solid Communication Extends To The Customers

When management creates a culture of communication, the benefits can be passed on to customers. Employees who learn to actively listen to their coworkers will be likelier to listen to and assist their customers. Communication and technology can often go hand in hand when dealing with customers online, which can be especially helpful when it comes to consumer reviews.

It’s not uncommon for customers to express their frustrations, and how your employees react to that negativity can make or break your business. If you have a corporate Facebook or Twitter platform, teach your staff how to address complaints on social media. The first step is to respond publicly and do it quickly, so bystanders can see that your company cares about unhappy customers. Next, consider inviting the upset conversation into a private channel so public commenters don’t interfere. Then, provide a solution. Apologize and offer a coupon or a free return. Make it sincere, and the customer is likely to return to your business again.

Conclusion

A culture of communication is key in every business, whether remote or in-house. Management needs to be transparent and encourage feedback while building a sense of community. Try all of the above, and you’ll have a workplace where people want to be.

Whether you’re an employer or an employee, the staff at American Recruiters know that you likely want to find a company where the employers communicate openly and listen to your ideas, so reach out, and they’ll get you on the right path.