How to Break the Communication Barrier
A communication barrier among company staff can create an obstacle to productive collaboration and innovation in the organization. Departments may keep information to themselves and work in isolated groups. They may start to see other groups as their rivals and resent any staff who dare to invade their turf with new ideas. The most common reasons for a communication barrier are complex messages, a lack of information sharing, poor interdepartmental interaction and a lack of trust among staff members. When these characteristics are identified, companies can break down these obstacles.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Analyze whether there's a company culture of silence contributing to the communication barrier. Determine whether employees feel their ideas and input are being ignored. Recognize contributing factors such as performance anxiety, where an employee fears losing his or her position or is insecure because a family member just suffered a job loss. (reference 3)
-
2
Communicate with staff using messages that are clear, and stick to one point. Be concise so the information is easier to understand. Build trust by sharing communication honestly and openly. The objectives and activities of various staff can be published on the intranet, the internal company computer network.
-
-
3
Ensure that necessary information is easy for staff to access. Management can keep the information up-to-date and encourage staff to provide feedback. Build a sense of community by letting employees know exactly what is going on in the company.
-
4
Increase interaction and communication between departments and eliminate any hierarchical levels that create a barrier. Encourage department managers to ask staff outside their departments to provide ideas and possible solutions. Executives can promote this practice by praising the managers in front of staff. Allow staff to take secondary assignments on a regular basis in other departments.
-
5
Create multifunctioning teams with representatives from all departments for company projects. Encourage these teams to compete in company innovation contests.
-
6
Celebrate staff contributions that have lead to improvements in the company in a fun way, such as handing out a silly trophy from a secondhand store. Invent other imaginative, fun ways to promote staff ideas.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Have one-on-one meetings between staff and management to create closeness and provide staff with a more comfortable environment for sharing than a staff meeting.
Change the office layout on occasion. Switch the arrangement of desks so that staff sit with new groups.
References
- Photo Credit Christopher Robbins/Digital Vision/Getty Images
