5 Ways Of Improvements In Business Communication
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010Communication and improvement are two words that have so many meanings, as they are always used in different contexts. In the context of the workplace, communication has so many roles. Some of these are information sharing, networking, sales talking, and marketing. Improvement, on the other hand, is very vague unless it is put into context. What needs improvement? What kind of improvement is needed? Putting the two words together, “communication improvement” makes the discussion even more interesting. Before an improvement can be achieved, it is important to identify what part of communication needs that improvement, and how an improved communication looks like, eventually.
There are different working environments, which means there are also different communication styles to be explored. What’s important is to make an informed contemplation on how to improve the communication line, and to always document it. Techniques may only go to waste if they are not stored properly. It may lead to a possibility of stumbling into the same problem, again, which has actually been solved in the past. Simply make a list of everything that is effective in improving communication. A sample list is presented below:
1.Put Greater value on personal communication – Yes, technology has already provided better, and easier means to communicate, such as text messaging, emails, and instant messaging. But these communication channels can entail a lot of misunderstandings because of their impersonal nature. The sending and receiving of messages are also subjected to uncertainties because of some technological failures that can really not be avoided. A message sent through different media is also open for so many interpretations. Gaining people’s trust, especially your boss’, would really require some personal connection. Through that, things can be easily discussed and can be clarified when needed. The connection is always stronger through personal conversations. For managers, it’s one way of winning the loyalty of the employees, too.
2.Know the job of others – if improved communication means lesser misunderstandings, then taking time to understand the job of others would be a good way of doing it. Being too focused with your job, limits your perspective about other people’s routine. The more you know about the things that they do, the more you become sensitive to their needs and communication style.
3.Connect with People – amidst everyone’s busy schedule, there should always be a time of recreation and office-wide interactions. A sense of family or friendship should be felt in the work place. In that way, people will be gradually encouraged to express themselves freely. Work and fun is a good combination.
4.Create a Venue for Inter-Department Communication – networking is very important in a workplace. Sharing insights and stories with other departments can give a good view of the improvements that can still be done. More often than not, we need an outsider’s perspective to point out the areas that we still have to work on. There are many things that we can’t see through our own perspective alone. For people to be comfortable with this set-up, each department should be open for inquiries, comments, and suggestions.
5.Find Ways to Appreciate – a simple “thank you” will go a long way, especially in the very competitive atmosphere in a workplace. A simple party for the simple efforts of a certain department will be a good motivation for them to do better. Incentives will also make work more inspiring. Moreover, it will also open up better communication lines for all the people from management to staff. The work satisfaction of people can also dictate the way they communicate with their colleagues.
These five ways presented are not the only effective ways of improving communication in the business realm. The basic idea here is, for people to talk, they should feel that they are actually free to talk, with the assurance that someone will listen.
Want to find out more about business communication then visit Rita Gergi’s site on how to define the 5 ways of improvements of business communication in the workplace.
