Whether you are starting a new business, restructuring a large corporation, or just looking to improve your business, internal communication is the core of every strong company. No matter how incredible a product or service is, your company will likely struggle to reach its full potential without strong internal communication.
So while you are likely juggling some critical tasks, it is essential not to let communication fall to the bottom of your list. Continue reading to find out why communication is so important and how you can master it.
Most workers spend most of their day crafting messages, on the phone, in meetings, and writing emails. But if their communication isn’t effective, that is wasted time. While Internal communication is different for every business, one thing is always true: teams that communicate well are more effective.
From a casual chat between co-workers to formal announcements from upper management, there are many different types of communication within a company.
Communication that comes from leadership is called top-down communication. This type of communication is often used to inform employees about company-wide information.
Communication generated by employees and passed higher-up within the company is known as bottom-up or vertical communication. This information comes from suggestions and discussions.
Connecting with co-workers is a huge part of workplace culture, and it also contributes to communication. While you can’t make strong peer-to-peer communication happen overnight, you can facilitate it with team happy hours and icebreaker questions.
Choose a communication platform to help facilitate communication. Every form of communication comes with its challenges, but offering one streamlined way to communicate can create a simple and manageable process. Try applications like Slack and Pesto to get the conversation flowing.
Creating office culture is easier said than done. It takes time and a carefully curated team. Start by focusing on company values, and think about how that fits into your team’s culture.
Even if your team has perfected communication, consider how that may change in the future. As your team grows and employees leave, maintaining a communication strategy for your changing company is essential.
Just because you think something is going well doesn’t mean everyone agrees. Offer chances for your team to contribute their thoughts.
The final and most crucial step to improving internal business communication is working on your communication skills. Trying to improve the communication of an entire organization takes some skills, so be sure to improve your active listening and interpersonal skills and see what Steve Jobs can teach you about communication.
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Main photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash
