Top Tips for Managing Communication in the Workplace

Did you know that misunderstandings in the workplace cost companies employing 100 people on average $420,000 per year? Think of all the business aspects you can improve with that money. You can finally invest in some new technologies and take your organization to the next level. All you need to do is make a few adjustments in the office and corporate culture to fuel employee communication. Take a look at some effective ideas for managing communication in the workplace to help you get started.

Source: Pexels

Ways to Improve Workplace Communication

Reorganize the Office

Chances are your office setup includes cubicles or partitions. Closed workplaces as such prevent employees from collaborating and bonding. Although they have privacy, they can’t communicate face-to-face with their coworkers. Moreover, cubicles are a thing of the past. Nowadays, modern offices have an open floor plan design. It creates an unobstructed flow and allows employees to mingle. They can also take part in discussions and help each other. So, remove the partitions between employee desks, and watch how workplace communication improves.

Reward Hard Work

When employees know what you expect from them, they work hard to meet those expectations. Rewarding their hard work and continuous effort should be one of your priorities for two reasons. It serves as a motivation and driving force. Employees thrive when their managers recognize and praise their efforts. Especially if they achieve desired aims. Also, it shows other employees where commitment towards reaching common goals can take them. This way you also subtly encourage healthy competition in the workplace. To reward employees on an organizational level, you can use internal newsletters or even a corporate website. Or a simple ‘Well done’ or ‘Good job’ will do the trick.

Strengthen the Bond between Managers and Employees

In most companies, managers and employees rarely get the chance to work closely together. Quick chats in the hallway or before the meetings aren’t enough for them to get to know each other. An efficient workplace rests on the relationships between managers and employees and among employees themselves. That’s why it’s necessary to strengthen the bond between the top and bottom of the organizational hierarchy. You can create more opportunities for you and your team to collaborate. Also, one-on-one meetings are a great way for getting to know each other and building strong relationships. This kind of behavior can boost employee productivity even when working from home

Respect Other Cultures

Now more than ever before, companies are working with foreign investors and partners. The workforce all around the world has become more culturally diverse than it was only a few years ago. Although it all contributed to creating a socially rich business world, it has also made it more sensitive. That’s why it’s imperative to appreciate and respect other cultures. The management should be aware of many interpretations of gestures by different nationalities. The same goes for employees. Try to nurture an understanding and welcoming corporate culture. Every employee should feel comfortable enough to express their religious or cultural beliefs.

Go to Conferences Together

Conferences are a great opportunity for learning skills, networking, and interacting with others. These days almost every industry organizes conventions and conferences all around the world. Why not use this opportunity to attend a conference together with your team? Your employees might feel more comfortable interacting with coworkers outside the office. More informal surroundings might make them open up and establish new connections with other industry experts too. Before you decide to attend a convention, make sure to plan it out. Apart from communicating, your team should also learn a thing or two. Make sure they can put in place the newly gained knowledge and experiences in the workplace.

Make Introverted Employees Feel Comfortable

If you’re looking to improve verbal communication in the workplace, then you should make sure everyone takes part. You can’t expect to make any progress if someone feels left out. For example, shy employees. They probably have a lot to say and share, but they don’t feel comfortable interacting in front of everyone. Like extroverted employees, they too represent a valuable asset of your company. To get them to start opening up, reach out first. Invite them to a more closed meeting to make them feel more comfortable conversing in groups. Be patient with them because the process takes time.

Solve Conflicts

What do you get when you put a group of people with different personalities together eight hours a day five days a week? A recipe for disaster. With pressing deadlines and stress levels increasing, it’s a matter of time when employees conflict. Most employee conflicts blow on their own. If your team isn’t as close as it should be, you might have major disputes to handle. To not let it get that far, nip all conflicts in the bud as soon as they occur. In case it comes to a major dispute, keep your distance, be open-minded, and avoid making assumptions. Listen to both sides of the story and resolve the conflict tactfully.

Final Thoughts

Companies all around the world lose significant amounts of money due to miscommunication. If only they knew how cost-efficient improving employee communication is. With these tips, your business will reap many benefits and turn cost into profit in no time.

Author bio:

Jess Cooper is a part-time journalist and blogger based in Sydney, Australia. She is an energetic, creative highly motivated person with plenty of interests.