It’s not obvious but poor communication is harming your business in a big way. A staggering $37 billion is lost every year from miscommunication in the workplace. At around $26k/yr a worker… you do the math.
A business without communication lacks direction.
Deadlines get missed, tensions rise, and customers feel alienated. Are you seeing these issues begin to unfold? If so, then improving communication in the workplace should be a top priority.
How can you improve communications in the workplace? Keep reading and everything will become crystal clear.
Improving Communication in the Workplace: How It’s Done via 5 Effective Tips
Communication improvements begin by understanding that your workforce includes introverts and extroverts. Some workers are vocal while others act reserved. Finding the middle ground makes workplace communication possible.
Here are the ways you can make the operations go smooth.
1. Set a Precedence
You may not like hearing this but your ego, as a business owner, could be the root of the communication problems. Your lack of leadership sets a precedence that resonates with your employees.
Do these leadership actions:
- Hold regular conversations with all employees
- Convey what is and isn’t appropriate
- Stop using industry jargon, keep it simple
2. Create a Feedback Loop
Why do business meetings suck? Because everyone complains and nobody ever seems to offer solutions. Change this by making it a requirement they share a solution if they introduce a problem.
You can also add feedback loops through:
- Anonymous feedback tools
- Reviews and self-evaluations
Honoring a policy of honesty lets employees say what they intend without repercussions. This removes the “dance” around tough topics. And, with this openness, your business will succeed through communication.*
3. Define Roles, Champion Participation
Enriching their roles within the business encourages natural leadership. Praising your employees will .
Do this:
- Divide groups and let employees elect a leader
- Let them create identifying flair (see this website for examples)
- Breakdown projects, letting groups pick what they’d enjoy
- Use project management tools to close the skill gaps
- Reward everyone involved through bonuses, time off, or new roles
Now, employees feel they’re truly contributing to business growth. In the responsibility is pride, commanding better communication to get things done.
4. Offer Soft Skills Training
Those introverts and extroverts in your workforce? They each have different degrees of soft skills. Communication is one with others including problem solving, leadership, and teamwork.
Give employees access to soft skill training materials. Or, introduce workshops or in-house courses to build a talkative, cohesive team. Source training through experts or tap online learning portals like Lynda or Skillshare.
5. Provide a Reason for Everything
It’s difficult reaching goals when employees don’t have a conviction behind their actions. Letting them work aimless gives no incentive to work together. But, and providing incentives can invigorate the workforce.
Create a movement by explaining the reason for their activities. This also happens to clear up any confusion with their tasks. The reasoning lets them reach out to their peers for help, spurring communication.
You’re Not Done: Evaluate and Improve
Improving communication in the workplace doesn’t end with policy updates and introducing resources. Circle back around a month or two later to see how communication has changed.
Remember: You can’t improve what you don’t measure!
What’s next? Refer to our to gauge progress and tweak your efforts. And, explore our blog for more business improvement tips.
