In a traditional work environment, communication between managers and employees is a one-way process that is often neglected. However, with the rise of the digital age and the importance of employees, companies started adopting a two-way in-house communication model that improves collaboration and results!
Indeed, communication between managers and employees hasn’t always been ideal. While it provides the entire business with numerous lucrative benefits, one question remains: How do we actually improve communication between them?
Hold regular 1 on 1 meeting
Staff meetings are essential for business, but they usually consist of managers presenting and employees listening. Even if they do get a chance to speak, employees tend to feel unheard! Since group meetings aren’t suitable for everyone, nor do they promote in-house communication, organizing frequent 1 on 1 meeting with your employees boosts communication within the organization.
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1 on 1 meeting provides both employees and managers a chance to get to know more about each other, their preferred communication style, as well as possible issues in the workplace. Managers should create a safe space for employees to freely and honestly express their opinions, ideas, and concerns. These meetings are also ideal for solving any potential issues employees may have in the workplace.
Destigmatize the roles
Miscommunication is often a result of prejudice and ignorance we have of certain groups. Therefore, many employees find their managers frightening and unapproachable. On the other hand, a lot of managers can also have prejudice toward the employees. So, how can you improve communication when both sides tend to discriminate against one another?
Facilitate contact between different levels of hierarchy and continuously remind staff that everyone is human. Just because someone has a certain role in the organization it doesn’t mean that they are much different than the others. Facilitate contact through different bonding and other team activities. Once the barriers are loose, employees and managers will have a much easier time talking to one another.
Implement active listening
For fruitful communication in any setting, active listening is a necessity. With roots in psychology and psychotherapy, active listening plays a vital role in understanding your interlocutors. Clear communication paired with active listening brings employees and managers together. But what does active listening mean in the organizational context?
Active listening helps managers grasp employees’ points of view. This creates better communication between employees and broadens areas of understanding each other. Asking thoughtful and mindful questions can help both employees and managers understand each other and boost communication in the workplace. In addition to that, active listening will help both feel accepted and valued.
Keep employees in the loop
One of the main issues that create disunity in the team is the flow of information. Managers tend to keep important information to themselves which frustrates employees, and leads to higher turnover rates and general dissatisfaction. So, if you want to prevent such issues in trust and communication, you need to keep employees in the loop at all times.
Managers aren’t the only ones accountable for informing employees. It’s also HR’s and team leader’s role. Luckily, with the rise of technologies, you can inform all the employees with just a couple of clicks. Use tools such as the Blink website to improve communication and facilitate interactions between employees and managers. Communication apps and platforms are ideal for remote and office work and don’t consume too much time to keep everyone informed.
Ask for and provide feedback
Since communication is a two-way process, feedback should be a fundamental part of it. Providing and asking for feedback creates a dynamic environment that includes both employees and managers. By asking for feedback from the staff, managers obtain information on how satisfied their team members are and what is bothering them in the workplace. What if employees are reluctant to provide feedback?
Being afraid of the consequences is the main reason why employees are afraid to give feedback. So, create a safe space for all employees by nurturing transparency and honesty. You can also collect their opinion via surveys or during one-on-one meetings. Don’t forget to provide your constructive feedback to them!
Back to you
Disharmonized communication in the workplace can lead to poorer results. Therefore, creating an atmosphere where managers and employees can freely talk to one another is essential for productivity and efficacy. Use these tips to help you facilitate interactions and create a healthier atmosphere for everyone!
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