Increase Communication: How to Improve Communications at Work

50% of businesses fail within 5 years of starting up.

That’s a scary statistic for anybody with their own company. Clearly, you can’t afford to rest on your laurels. Do so, and a whole plethora of factors can lead to your premature demise.

It goes without saying that taking steps to avoid that eventuality is all-important. Of course, there are all sorts of ways to do it.

Everything from prioritizing staff wellbeing to streamlining operations can make a difference. However, internal communication is one area in particular that most companies can do better.

Improve communications at work and you’ll enjoy a host of benefits.

There’ll be newfound trust, fewer disputes, higher productivity, greater effectiveness, and so on. Added up, businesses that prioritize quality communications are more likely to succeed.

Wondering how you can do exactly that?

Keep reading for 7 tips on improving communication in the workplace.

1. Cultivate an Open Culture

An open culture is at the heart of encouraging better work communications.

It sets the stage for interaction and conversation. Work on the culture, then, and the rest will follow.

The easiest way to do this is to simply start talking! If the office has been a silent space for some time, then this might feel awkward to begin.

Keep going, though, and the trend will soon catch on.

Be sure to say hello and goodbye at the beginning and end of the day. Be sure to have short team meetings where everyone is invited to speak. Be sure to ask questions, offer your ideas, and invite others to do the same.

In time, you’ll set the foundations for a more communicative environment. It will be the norm for everybody to express themselves and share what they have to say.

2. Have an Open Door Policy

Let’s face it:

Bosses can have a bad reputation.

All too many managers are stern and unapproachable. They lack empathy and compassion, focusing too hard on performance and results.

It’s no surprise that many employees feel unable to talk openly. They fear the wrath of saying something wrong or sounding stupid. They remain quiet and seek to do their job with as little fuss as possible.

If you’re the boss, then that’s the worst state of affairs imaginable.

It stifles creativity and progress. It jeopardizes the working environment and, ultimately, makes people hate their jobs.

Do anything in your power to avoid that eventuality. One effective way to do it is to have an open-door policy. Employees should feel able to approach you at all times with any issue- big or small. They know you’ll take the time to hear them out.

An increase in communication is sure to follow.

3. Be Aware Of Yourself

Resting bitch face is a thing.

Unfortunately, intentional or otherwise, it far from incentivizes cheerful communication!

People who look fierce and unapproachable will find less conversation coming their way. For that reason, it’s vital that you start thinking about how you come across.

You might be scowling without even realizing it. Employees will never voluntarily come over and talk to a boss that already seems peeved.

Work on your non-verbal communication and be aware of yourself at all times.

Smile, unfold your arms, relax in your chair and maintain eye-contact. Making this effort is another way to encourage communication between yourself and the team.

4. Remember to Listen

Ironically, the trick to better communication is more effective listening.

You can’t ask people to talk more openly with you and then fail to listen when they do!

Start listening to people more acutely and you’ll find that they start talking more.

There’s nothing worse than feeling like someone isn’t listening to you. It’s frustrating, rude, and discourages future conversations.

Get into the habit of really listening to anyone who talks to you. Don’t try and juggle two tasks at once! If the work isn’t essential or time-constrained, then turn the screen off and turn your attention to the individual.

5. Set Regular Employee Meetings

Meeting with your employees on a one-to-one basis is another good idea.

It’s helpful in numerous regards.

You get to check in to review their performance. You can hear about any issues they’re having and address concerns on either side.

More to the point, it’s a way of having an open, honest, and fair discussion. It’s another way to facilitate communication between employees and management.

Create ample opportunity to talk with your staff at this informal level. Forget annual reviews and such like! Aim for bi-monthly or monthly ‘chats’ with each staff member. It’ll get the discourse flowing non-stop throughout the year, stopping issues developing unnecessarily.

6. Seek Feedback and Suggestions

Don’t worry if you’re stuck.

Leaders in any field often take it upon themselves to find the answers to problems. Sometimes, though, the best solutions come in a bottom-up fashion.

In other words, ask your employees for their thoughts and ideas on increasing communication.

Heck, ask your employees for feedback and suggestions on anything! For any big decision, make it your goal to get their input.

That in itself will be a major boon in terms of driving communication. It creates an atmosphere of transparency and equality.

Your team will feel included, empowered, and better-respected too.

7. Leverage Technology

Technology isn’t always great at incentivizing human interaction.

It’s ironic. The internet means we’ve never been more connected to other people. However, our focus on the screen can make us lonelier and more isolated than ever before.

All the same, in the workplace, technology, such as the Cloud IVR Solution, can be a major help with communications. Find the right bit of software or application, and your team can communicate more effectively than ever before.

Time to Improve Communications at Work

New businesses only have a 50% chance of success.

With those odds, it pays to do everything possible to put yourself on the right side of the line.

One sure-fire way to do it is to improve communications at work. Good things start to happen when you and your employees start talking.

Hopefully, this article will help you make it happen.

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