Communication in business is important regardless of whether it’s with your customers, other businesses, or internally. For an organization to function effectively, however, internal communication needs to function effectively and efficiently. In many organizations, employees use a range of different communication devices to have access to the same data. It’s very rare that a business can upgrade a network completely so that everyone is using the same technology. This requires a strategy to be in place for effective communication. Here are some tips that will help your business and its employees stay connected.
Invest in Hybrid Networking
It’s very likely that your budget is not big enough to replace your entire network at once. Using hybrid networks are an affordable option. Masergy is a company that can help introduce new networking technologies while giving you the time to phase out older technologies without affecting company performance. Traffic from different technologies can be routed into the same network, thereby making the process more efficient.
Make Internal Documents Accessible for Everyone
Whatever type of company you’re running there will be a core series of documents that all employees need to access and understand. These could include policies, procedures and protocols, client information, and other types of best practices. While some documents are based on a “need-to-know basis”, all employees should have access to the company’s key standard operating procedures. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and know what steps to take when it comes to business communications.
Strengthen Connections
Communication between employees and managers has to be good between all members of an organization in order for it to be effective. If a manager takes the time to get to know their employees, it will help them understand how each person communicates. Communicating solely through email is impersonal and by getting to know someone it is helpful in giving you overall context of someone’s communications. Training programs can help everyone listen and communicate more effectively. When employees know that the company and the leadership cares about their needs and are always willing to listen, they will feel more connected and subsequently be more productive.
Share Information
There are a wealth of different tools that can be used to facilitate communication. With a hybrid network, everyone can have the ability to take advantage of them. Tools can be used to track the progress of projects, and give an instant snapshot to everyone on what’s left to be done. That doesn’t mean face-to-face communication is redundant however. Communication tools are used to aid the process, save time, allow information to be documented, and share information. Industry news, trends, and best practices can be shared on a regular basis. This can help to people continually improve, creating more energy and enthusiasm in the business. Sharing valuable information is beneficial for long-term growth and success.
One more tip to facilitate better communication in your business is to create opportunities outside of the workplace for employees to meet up and have fun. Planning a team building exercise, holiday party, or happy hour after work will give them something to look forward to while giving an opportunity to get to know one another. It helps improve employee engagement and in turn nurture stronger communication.