Communication at work is essential... But how do you foster it?

Have you ever thought, " Communication at work is no piece of cake! " 🎂

Communication between team members, departments and services is not always easy. Team managers play a central role in this respect, but they in turn depend on various elements and policies.

In short, open communication is not always easy to achieve.  

Good team communication helps to unite and maintain cohesion around a common culture. It links departments and teams within the organization, and ensures that everyone is up to date, on the same wavelength and aware of what's going on in the company. Team members need to feel safe and free to ask questions and make suggestions to ensure authentic, open communication.

Good communication contributes to long-term business success , improves productivity and creates strong working relationships within the organization. Just think of the following signs of poor communication at work:

❌ incomprehensible objectives
❌ little or no feedback
❌ inadequate conflict management
❌ unclear instructions

It all boils down to one thing: a waste of time, effort and capital.

So how can we improve team communication?

First of all...

#1 Start with the basics

First and foremost, make sure there are no problems preventing everyone from communicating honestly.

🤔Do I feelcomfortable having a conversation?
🤔Can Icommunicate sincerely?

One of the most valuable things you can do as a manager is to ensure that your employees feel comfortable showing up to work fully themselves (or as much of themselves as they want).

It can mean:

🚫Express disagreements
🧶Talk about your passions outside of work
💬Be honest about the form of communication that works best for you.

In all cases, make sure you understand the needs of each team member and ensure that these needs are met within the team.

What's next?

#2 Request feedback

If you don't ask for feedback on your communication style, you may never get it.

Although communication in the workplace affects every interaction, team members don't usually see it as something to give feedback on. By asking your staff for their opinion on your communication style, you can continue to improve and develop clear communication strategies for your team.

#3 Understanding the team's communication style

Another effective way to communicate with your team is to ask them how they want to communicate.

Communication preferences don't have to be a secret - or a guessing game. Knowing immediately whether your team members prefer video conferencing or phone calls, morning meetings or afternoon work sessions, can help you create an environment in which they can thrive.

The important questions to ask are the following:

1️⃣Sont are they morning or evening people?
2️⃣Pensent are they better at saying things out loud on the spot or in writing?
3️⃣Quel what type of meeting or task gives them the most energy?
4️⃣À what type of personality do they identify with: introvert, extrovert or ambivert?
5️⃣Aiment do they like structured meetings , or do they prefer free-flowing brainstorming sessions?
6️⃣Ont do they feel they know their team members , or would they prefer more team-building activities ?

#4 Give everyone the opportunity to share information

Setting up an intranet channel is really appropriate. It takes little effort to publish internal news on such a page, and it's also an easy way to keep abreast of important decisions . By regularly publishing new updates, you keep your teams interested .

And what exactly should be communicated? This is what employees find important: first and foremost, that they can openly express their opinions on important issues. Secondly, it's crucial for trust that mistakes are admitted. Finally, it's your duty to set a good example when it comes to corporate values.

#5 Set aside time for team-building

It's essential to get to know your team so you know how to communicate with them. It's especially important to take time away from work. Ice-breaking questions can help make every meeting personal and fun. So remember to start with some light conversation before diving into your meeting agenda.

Here are a few examples:

🙌If you could learn one new skill right now, what would it be?
🙆Do you have your own "colleague" at home (spouses, roommates, siblings, parents, pets)?
❤️QuWhat do you love most about your job?
💼What was your dream job when you were a kid?
🍵What's your favorite drink when telecommuting? Do you prefer tea or coffee?
🧑‍🏫SurWhat subject can you give a 15-minute presentation on without any preparation?

And if you prefer personal questions:

📍What's your favorite place in the world?
💡Who has been your greatest inspiration in life so far?
🔍How do you imagine your life in 10 years?
🎼 If you had a theme song or soundtrack to your life, what would it be?
🪄Describe an experience you've had that made you rethink your values.

And as you can probably guess, Surveco uses questions to break the ice at the start of a teambuilding session!

Now it's up to you to optimize your company's communications!

In short, remember that good team communication is what you get:

➕A higher level of commitment from employees;
➕More motivated employees;
➕More personal development among them;
➕A higher level of team spirit to achieve goals;
➕A more pleasant working atmosphere!

Below you'll find a Free Bonus that can help you break the ice in meetings. 👇

Enjoy!

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