By Esmée Hardwick-Slack
Effective communication between a company and its employees enables businesses to fully tap into the unique knowledge, insights, and talents of its people. Having an effective internal communication strategy can help to avoid misunderstandings. For example, if your firm is working on multiple, complex projects, a good internal communication strategy will help to avoid confusion and ensure that each team member knows what they need to do, what the deadline is, what the budget is, what is expected of them, etc.
Good communication flows both ways. As important as it is to give feedback to your employees, it’s also crucial to teach your team members to give feedback. The key to this is an open and trustworthy culture that encourages dialogue between teams and individuals. Managers need to be willing to listen to their people and learn from them. They can use this information to help their teams to understand their role and how it fits with the objectives of the firm.
Internal communication should be part of a weekly routine. Employees want regular, real-time updates. They want to understand how their efforts are contributing to the success of the firm. Where employees are based in one location, weekly team meetings may be the best way to manage your communications. However, if your people are working from another location or they are mobile, it may be preferable to use a technology platform such as sharepoint, yammer or even video updates.
Finally, it is important not to overwhelm your team with too much information. People are constantly bombarded with emails, phone calls and social media. Your internal communications shouldn’t add to this. Instead, keep it brief and include the high priority information first. You want your team members to be able to glance at the message, understand what’s being communicated and what action is required (if any). When it comes to internal communication, keep it simple, ensure that your team feel informed and always welcome their feedback.
How do you ensure good communication in your business? Let us know in the comments or via our Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter pages.
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