Communication is Key – So Keep Everyone in the Loop!
Internal communication is the bloodline of any organization, and having an effective system in place will help to ensure that all members of the team are working collaboratively towards a common goal. This will lead to a cohesive culture that empowers employees to take action and make decisions in line with the organization’s overall objectives.
So how to do you go about improving the internal communication of your organization? Here are a few actionable steps you can take that can make a real difference:
Encourage Input, Dialogue, and Information Sharing
It is very important to foster an open and trustworthy environment that encourages your employees to speak their mind, share relevant information and readily give feedback. When your employees feel comfortable openly communicating with each other and management, everyone will be able to work more closely in line with the overall goals of the team.
Clearly Define What Needs to be Communicated Regularly and to Whom
Many times companies fail to adequately define their employee’s roles, and what is expected of them. It is very important to identify what needs to be communicated, when it needs to be communicated and to whom they need to communicate it too. Having these clearly defined processes will not only make the employee perform better, it will also help the rest of team by ensuring everyone is equipped with the information they need to preform their role.
Lead by Example
If you expect your employees to communicate and share information openly, make sure you do the same. Leading by example is a great way to open the lines of communication within the team – ask questions, listen to responses, and encourage them to do the same.
Simply Listen
Your employees are a valuable asset, and often provide great ideas to improve processes within the company. If the you don’t know how to listen and take in the new information, you can potentially be missing out on some great feedback right from the source. It’s not enough to ask for input, it is vital to be able to really wait for it and listen to it.
These are just a few simple steps for improvement, however, this project might be a large undertaking depending on the size and industry your company is in. You may want to consider bringing in a professional to see what the best options for YOUR company would be.