Poor communication can damage any relationship. But few people realize just how important effective communication really is for the success of your business. In fact, a study entitled “The Cost of Poor Communications” revealed that 400 companies with 100,000 employees reported an average loss of $62.4 million annually, related to ineffective communications between employees.
But it is not only large businesses who suffer this type of adverse effect. Small to medium sized businesses are equally vulnerable to the negative impact of poor communication.
Technology for Effective Communication
Technology is amazing, but exactly which tools you apply at your organization should be chosen wisely.
Email is prolific, for good reason. This is the most common way people communicate to individuals inside and outside of your company. Smart businesses are opting for a cloud-based email client, which provides access to messages from any device, but all communications are also backed up offsite in the cloud, and your security protocols will stay current.
Collaborative workspace environments utilize instant messaging and video conferencing to connect employees, as they can share and work together on files in real time. By choosing an effective workspace application, your staff and employees can collaborate on projects, discuss initiatives, share documents, and build trust and rapport. These interactive working situations will help to establish the culture you require for success. Collaborative work environments also allow employees to be anywhere and use a full range of devices – allowing you to hire the best people, without worrying about geography.
Workflow & task management solutions help small business to create project plans that guarantee that everyone on your team understands what their job-specific priorities are, which individual tasks need to be completed, allow team members to share files and documents, and provide relevant status updates.
Did You Know? A recent Gallup poll reported that 70% of U.S. employees don’t feel engaged in their workplace, further revealing that the lack of engagement resulted in an apathetic, unproductive, or even negative workplace.
When choosing a workplace communication app, opt for one that permits you to easily schedule employee events and meetings, request needed information from teams and groups, and create and disseminate surveys. Allowing people to respond anonymously will generate honest and insightful feedback as to how well your company communicates and engages all level of employees. These surveys can help everyone to feel connected, valued and heard – without worrying about getting the boss mad.
Re-Establishing Effective Communication Skills
Effective communication skills are taught at all levels of education, which makes it a bit mystifying as to why they seem to disappear in the workplace. The best answers are often the simplest, so try these methods to establish strong communication in your organization.
Fast Fact: In a study conducted by LinkedIn.com, 79% of companies report effective communication as a critical factor for success.
- Keep your messages clear and concise, using plain language free of slang.
- Understand your team. If your staff interacts most effectively with traditional email and face to face meetings, use those. If your team is more adept and comfortable with video conferencing, utilize those.
- For significant company news which affects job descriptions or benefits/salaries, follow a communication plan template. Taking as much care with internal announcements as you do with external messaging will ensure your intentions are clearly communicated.
Use Visuals: According to the Social Science Research Network, “65 percent of us are visual learners,” and a survey from 3M revealed that “we can process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.”
Workplace environments today operate with personnel who are increasingly remote – but with technology which is increasingly adept at handling the new way of operating. If you are looking at ways to utilize technology to create a cohesive team that communicates effectively, give Alliance IT a call. We’ve got the experts and the expertise to get your business up to speed.
