Effective internal communication is everything. It’s how we collaborate, share information and move the needle toward effective change.
Having good communication practices in your organization will help you overcome almost any challenge. Companies with excellent practices have higher productivity, profits and morale. Unfortunately, many fall short, resulting in an unengaged team that’s not incentivized to meet their goals.
The good news is, nothing can’t be fixed. The first step is identifying where the problem starts.
Common Mistake #1: No clear lines of communication
Most companies have the “conventional communication” approach. This is where top management communicates with front-line personnel in a trickle-down fashion. The issue with this? It results in inconsistent and misplaced information that becomes a game of telephone.
Having open channels of communication makes it simpler to complete tasks and helps you steer clear of misinterpretations. Everyone will be able to perform their duties effectively if they are aware of their place in the larger system.
It’s better to have a culture that is open and shares bad news than one that withholds information from employees. Fostering a culture of skepticism and mistrust will erode your employees’ trust. It’s not worth the damage it brings.
Common Mistake #2: Not using the right tools
How does your team want to be reached? Which communication method do they prefer? Seems common sense, but using the wrong channel of communication is common and causes delays in communication… frequently.
Here are the facts. Two coworkers may believe they are communicating effectively, all while completely misunderstanding each other because they use different communication methods. Working with different personalities necessitates excellent communication skills in order to keep workplace conflict to a minimum. Different generations (Boomers vs. Gen Z for example) may have different ways of sharing information. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t communicating, but rather that they’re not reaching the intended audience. Uing the appropriate communication tool for the job is the best way to avoid communication issues.
When you need an informal back-and-forth conversation with a coworker about something quick and straightforward, use a simple tool like email or text messaging. Use an app like Slack or Teams instead if you need more info or want to include someone else in the conversation. Every team is different. Know what works best for the company.
Common Mistake #3: Forgetting the balance
Efficiency and overall job quality are both at risk from poor communication. Errors are inevitable when instructions are not given clearly. However, if done right they remove the need for clarification and issue correction.
It’s crucial to pay attention to what’s going on whether you’re speaking to just one person or hundreds of people. The team could become perplexed about roles and responsibilities if you under-communicate. Simultaneously, your team may grow disheartened by needless effort or overburdened by too many meetings and updates if you over-communicate. Communication should be succinct, concise, and direct.