President Obama once said that people should communicate in ways that heal, not in ways that destroy.
Empathy is just one cornerstone of effective communication.
Clarity, listening, and conciseness are also crucial to communicating effectively.
If your team is struggling with productivity, it’s important to rule out communication issues first. One miscommunication can trigger an avalanche of issues, like missed deadlines or poor product quality.
It’s time to get your team on the same page. Start with this guide to effective team communication.
Contents
1. Use Multiple Communication Methods
Let’s be honest: not everyone reads the company’s bulletin board in the backroom. Plus, most employees skim over these notes in a hurry.
Pin evergreen documents to your bulletin board, like employee manuals, dress codes, and safety rules. You can also pin community flyers, inspirational quotes, and sales leaders.
Leave time-sensitive information to the following:
- Morning meetings
- Emails
- Google calendar
- Virtual conferences
- Business communication platforms (i.e., Slack)
- SMS messages (Text)
In case of emergencies, set up an automated messaging system, alerting employees’ phones.
Ineffective meetings can also worsen communication. Keep teams connected via project management apps, free conference call software, and Gsuite tools.
2. Effective Team Communication Requires Feedback
Feedback is vital for improvement, but are you acquiring enough quality feedback?
Productive feedback goes beyond simple yes or no answers. Craft engaging surveys that inspire employees to elaborate on their experiences.
For example, you could ask employees how they feel about their current tools. Are there other tools that could help them be more effective in their roles? Ask them!
Ask your team about obstacles, workflow, and time management. As you gather more data, you’ll discover trends in feedback. Use this data to build efficient solutions for employees and customers.
Don’t stop collecting data! Feedback should be a continuous process.
Adopt an Agile workflow that generates consistent feedback throughout the development process. Administer periodic happiness surveys to gauge employee satisfaction.
3. Enhance Onboarding and Training Materials
You can avoid a lot of miscommunication mishaps by investing in quality training from the beginning. Effective onboarding and training improves employee performance and reduces turnover rates.
Use various media to create an immersive training experience.
For example, suppose you run a virtual call center. Since agents work from home, you need a robust virtual training program.
Create training videos and incorporate quiz questions throughout the program. You can also combine pre-recorded material with live training. Live sessions also give new employees a chance to meet one another.
Gamification is another engaging design strategy.
Gamified onboarding streamlines new hires through the orientation process. Users are prompted to answer questions or perform activities until the onboarding process is finished. Progress meters show how far along employees are in their onboarding.
Speak Up
Your team has the skills to smash sales goals and deadlines. Improve their performance with effective team communication. Leverage various communication methods, feedback, and onboarding tools.
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