1. Show that you are trustworthy
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, nearly a quarter of employees do not trust their employer. If you manage multiple people, you need to prove to them that you are trustworthy. Your teams will be more likely to share their difficulties with you if they know they can count on you to collaborate and find solutions. This will lead to mutual trust and resolve issues before they get too big.
How do I do? Show genuine interest in each person, sympathize with their difficulties or doubts, and follow through on your promises when you make them.
2. Don’t assume, ask questions
Very easy to suppose. The problem is assuming that it hurts good communication. For example, if your employee is falling behind in an area where you expect him to excel, don’t immediately assume he’s bored or uninterested in the project. On the contrary, asking questions will lead you to better understand obstacles, find solutions and thus improve outcomes.
If in doubt, see if everything is OK or if you can help. By asking your employee how things are going, you may discover that they have personal concerns and find it difficult to focus at work, or that they are not used to juggling multiple projects at once.
Being open and asking questions is a great way to deal with conflict at work.
3. Collect anonymous reviews
Collecting employee feedback is a great way to improve productivity and well-being at work. But most of them will not share their true impressions for fear of judgment, isolation, or even punishment… However, it is necessary to obtain reactions Honest employees in order to make a positive change.
The solution? Allow your teams to share their opinions anonymously. Without it, you are unlikely to know what other people are really thinking. SurveyMonkey and OfficeVibe are among the most popular and easy to use tools.
4. Maintain constant contact
Contrary to what many team leaders believe, communication is not a “to be done” job. It is an ongoing process that helps in the formation of a corporate culture.
Instead of waiting for the annual performance review to communicate with your employees, you can schedule one-to-one meetings monthly (or bi-monthly if you have the time). You can also leave your office door open to indicate that you are always available to talk.
This way, you’ll break down barriers: you’ll know more easily what your employees think of their tasks, what challenges they face (both at work and in their personal lives), if they need support or if they have any suggestions.
5. Use communication tools
In 2021, improving business communication requires that you take advantage of the digital tools at your disposal. Since the COVID-19 health crisis, apps like Slack, Skype or Google Hangouts have revolutionized the way employees communicate.
These new ways of communication aren’t just about teams working from home. Today, colleagues who sit a few meters apart often prefer to send messages to each other rather than exchange face to face. It’s not a problem and can offer better collaboration…so put some of these tools at their disposal.
In general, the means of communication are developing with the new habits and innovations of that time: do not delay and take advantage of their advantages.
6. Create a space for collaboration and relaxation
Team building activities are great for improving communication between team members.
In addition to these activities, you can provide a relaxation space for your employees. Buy board games, sofas, a ping pong table, or a console. This results in several advantages:
- Offer them the opportunity to relax without forcing their hands,
- Your employees will develop friendship relationships, so that they are more comfortable with each other and communicate more easily,
- You develop well-being and a company culture, which your teams will naturally value.
Need help improving communication with your company?
In short, open communication and trusting relationships are key to reducing common problems in the business world. Improving communication in the workplace is no easy task, but the rewards are well worth it. You will see an increase in productivity and well-being, which are key factors in achieving your team’s goals.
If you need personal advice or extensive training to improve your leadership skills, Success Management can help. Since 1995, we have supported entrepreneurs, team leaders and anyone who wants to improve. Contact us now to find out how we can work together.