How to Improve Organizational Communication
Organizational communication is important to any good business. Poor communication is the source of many problems in the workplace and can seriously stunt a company's growth. Communications problems often strike large companies where lower-level employees feel neglected by upper management and are unsure of whom to contact about their concerns. However, even in a small organization, problems can occur when clear lines of communication are not drawn. By implementing some key changes in the way communications are handled, an organization can greatly improve both its productivity and employee morale.
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Things You'll Need
- Communications survey
- Training in communication skills
- Employee feedback
- Corporate newsletter or other information media
- Contact information
Instructions
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Solicit feedback on the current communication practices within the organization. The issue of communication is unlikely to come up unless the conversation is first initiated by a manager or human resources representative. Poor communication practices, such as vague directions and inaccessible managers, discourage employees from bringing up communication problems because they feel their complaints will not be heard or acted upon.
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Provide training in effective communication skills. Whether this comes in the form of a meeting, webinar, or class, it can be useful to provide all employees with a set of guidelines for effectively communicating with both their superiors and their coworkers. Open lines of communication should be established and guidelines set that let employees know their questions and concerns will be addressed at any time.
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Establish open communication from the bottom up. Employees should be provided with an easy way to share their thoughts and concerns with superiors. This may come in the form of employee surveys, regular one-on-one meetings, or open e-mail communications. The important point is that employees must know they are being heard.
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Implement regular communication from the top down. In large organizations especially, it can be difficult for upper management to communicate its actions, business plans, and goals to other employees. By implementing quarterly meetings, monthly newsletters, or regular updates to an internal company website, the organization can ensure that everyone stays informed.
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Outline clear contact points for various issues. Every employee should know exactly whom to contact with questions or concerns. This may be a single manager who can assist with the problem, or several contacts in each department for various issues. Organizational communication will suffer when employees are unsure where to take their questions.
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Tips & Warnings
Schedule regular meetings to check in with employees even when things seem to be going smoothly. This can help prevent problems before they seriously affect the organization.
