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Even though the last recession began almost 10 years ago, one thing was made abundantly clear in the aftermath; people want their employers to communicate more effectively. This goes well beyond simply scheduling regular staff meetings and sending out generic newsletters. In fact, ineffective and archaic approaches to information sharing can actually yield negative results similar to sending out no information at all.

So, how can members of the leadership team communicate in ways that reach employees in the most meaningful ways? By using the tips below to improve their workplace communication skills.

Be Honest

While this is less about the method and more about the nature of the content, honesty is always going to be the best policy. Trust takes a long time to build and only seconds to lose. So, before sending out communication in any form, make sure all of the information is accurate. Otherwise, it will likely make things more difficult in the future.

Give Details

No one likes half-truths and ambiguity. Instead of leaving employees feeling informed, these approaches can actually lead to more confusion and even distrust. Instead, by providing appropriate details, workers will feel included.

Now, this doesn’t mean it is important to drag things out while delivering the message. It means you should work on combining honesty with brevity. Simply get to the point, share the information and keep things moving.

Think Conversation

Gone are the days when employees would simply file into a room to hear the latest developments and leave without desiring an ounce of input. Today’s employees want to be part of the conversation and not just the recipients of a well-crafted monolog.

Give employees a chance to be heard, especially about important developments that impact the organization. Not only can this help build trust, but it also provides you with a means of finding out what is truly important to those that work for you.

Stop and Listen

Being a good communicator is about more than how you speak; it’s about how you listen. Regardless of the importance of the information, it should never be delivered at the expense of hearing something important from someone else. You can only have an effective conversation if you do more than wait for your chance to speak. Instead, take the time to hear what is being said, consider the points and even ask follow-up questions. You may be surprised what you learn when you give those working around you a chance to share their thoughts.

Read the Room

Sometimes even an important message will be lost if the room isn’t ready to hear it. Everyone in your organizations is focused on different tasks and priorities on a daily basis. That means the information that provides the most value to them might not be the topic you intended to focus on yourself. So, if a dialogue suggests other worries or ideas are clouding them from hearing something else, take the time to address them before handling your message. That way, everyone is functioning on the same page, and all parties feel respected.

If you are looking for more ways to improve your company communications or are looking to hire a new team member, TempStaff has the professional experience to help you achieve your goals. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled staff members today.

 

 


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