Setting up a business is just the tip of the iceberg. Making it successful and maintaining its relevance is a daunting task especially in this era of digital transformations. Communication is like glue. It holds the organization together. Proper communication between the management and the subordinate is the force that makes the company excel amidst competition. Creating an appropriate culture of communication takes effort, time, repetition and thoughtfulness. Below are five effective ways to communicate with employees:
1. Spend time with employees one on one
Taking a glimpse of how things are done in the workplace once in a while is the beginning of creating a good rapport with your employees. In a tense free-environment, workers can share their concerns regarding the work environment without holding back. This way, the management may attain valuable feedback on what is working and what needs improvement.
Taking some of the suggestions given by the employees seriously make them feel appreciated, thereby increasing their productivity levels. Having a one on one time with your staff may be aimed at creating a good rapport. But what most people don’t realize is that it also comes with building a desirable work-space which translates to desirable outcomes for the company.
2. Be comfortable with negative feedback
Spending one on one time with your staff will not be beneficial if you don’t accept criticism. Employees fear getting fired after sharing their honest reviews and concerns. Most organizations want to hear the positives and forget that what they are looking for are the negatives. How else will the company make improvements and progress without the negatives? As an employer, make it okay for your employees to share their genuine concerns. It may come as a shock at first, but it creates effective means of digging and getting better.
3. Be responsive as much as possible
Most times we create work emails but rarely open them to view any unread messages. You may be surprised to know that an email is a powerful communication tool. It is the most preferred tool for subordinates to their managers and supervisors. You may be hard to reach on the telephone. Maybe you don’t show up at the office regularly. So, how do you know what is going on? Check your email frequently and respond to encourage more open communication. You don’t need to pull them out from their workstations, email them.
Majority of Perth based businesses have invested heavily on internal communications. IsaTonic is an excellent example of an organisation which employs responsiveness in its operations. An organisation that is happy to welcome all queries is an organisation that has chosen a path of greatness.
4. Listen more and speak less
Communication is a two-way thing. When you listen carefully, only then can you make appropriate decisions. Speaking less does not mean your participation in a meeting is insignificant. It means that you pay attention to every detail for the betterment of the entire organisation.
5. Be Appreciative
After every meeting session, through whichever means you have used, thank your employees for the participation. It is a simple courtesy which may motivate your staff to give their all to the organization.
