Written by Sarah Tomlin

Good communication is a vital tool in achieving productivity and maintaining strong working relationships across all levels of the organisation. This has been particularly important since Covid-19 forced many people to work from home.

Employers who invest time and energy into delivering clear lines of communication will rapidly build trust among employees, leading to an increase in productivity, output, and team moral in general.

Poor communication in the workplace will inevitably lead to unmotivated staff that may begin to question their own confidence and abilities.

Five key reasons to work on communication:

• Team building – Building effective teams is really all about how those team members communicate and collaborate together. By implementing effective strategies to boost communication you will go a long way toward building a strong effective team.
• Gives everyone a voice – Employee satisfaction can rely a lot on their having a voice and being listened to, whether that be a new idea, a complaint or anything they feel they need to voice.
• Innovation – Where employees are encouraged to openly communicate ideas without fear of ridicule or retribution they are far more likely to bring their ideas to the table.
• Growth - Communication can be viewed both internally and externally. By being joined up internally and having strong lines of communication you are ensuring that the message you are delivering externally is consistent.
• Strong management - When managers are strong communicators, they are better able to manage their teams. The delegation of tasks, motivation and relationship building are all much easier when you are a strong communicator. Strong communication is not just the ability to speak to people but to empower them to speak to each other – facilitating strong communication channels is key.

Below is some of the key areas where organisations can improve and enhance communication between their teams:

• Define goals and expectations
• Clearly deliver your message
• Keep everyone involved
• Listen and show empathy

 

Communication is a two-way process, and no company or individual will survive long if they don’t feel listened to or encouraged to communicate. Employees who communicate effectively with colleagues, managers and customers are always valuable assets to an organisation and it is a skill which can often set people apart from their competition when applying for jobs.