There is a demand for people with training in organizational communication due to its complexity and significance. If your company lacks such people, there might be communication problems from time to time. Therefore it is valuable to know how to improve organizational communication.
Learn more in our article on What is organizational communication before reading this article.
However in this article we will discuss the importance of and ways how to improve organizational communication.
1. It’s important to look for competent communicators
Organizations need effective and competent communicators if they are to succeed. Organizations depend on their members’ ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, according to research on organizational communication.
Companies are looking for employees who:
- can follow instructions,
- give clear instructions,
- accurately listen,
- give helpful feedback,
- get along with coworkers and customers,
- network,
- provide useful information,
- work well in teams,
- and creatively and critically solve problems,
- clearly communicate ideas etc.
There is more to good organizational communication than only having know-how or knowledge. Being able to develop and exchange information, collaborate with many groups or individuals, communicate in challenging and ever-changing situations, and have the ability or willingness to speak appropriately are all necessary for effective organizational communication.
2. Provide the right communication tools
First and foremost, you need to give your employees the right communication tools. People today want to communicate at work in the same way they do at home. This includes instant messaging services, which facilitate communication within the company.
According to recent studies on instant messaging, 82% of workers desire to streamline their communication using a single app. Additionally, 45% of respondents think it’s challenging to get prompt responses via email.
In other words, simplification is one of the best methods for improving organizational communication.
3. Keep your team informed
Informing employees about company changes is one of the duties of the human resources department. When changes are made to the work groups or the values that make up the company’s culture, this department is also responsible for informing the team.
You can build a blog to share with your team each time a new talent is hired or a new department is established to speed up this process. When you change the work areas or budgets, you may also utilize this channel to communicate with your team. You can be certain that everyone who is a collaborator is managing the same data as a result.
4. Encourage feedback
By providing your employees with several channels for sharing feedback, you can ensure that they feel heard. An excellent place to begin is by periodically sending out an employee engagement survey, but don’t stop there. To find out why employees have stayed with your company, what is beneficial to them, and what they would like to change, think about holding regular stay interviews.
It could be advantageous to provide a means for anonymous feedback. It’s okay that not all communication is positive, let’s face it. Many employees are reluctant to voice concerns to their supervisor, whether they are about management, a coworker, or any other change they would like to see in the office. Your staff needs a mechanism to offer helpful criticism so that the business can develop and learn.
5. Respect cultural differences
The world is getting smaller due to globalization, and your job probably includes people from many different cultures and points of view. Management needs to be culturally aware in order to foster an environment where everyone feels free to express themselves.
Although hiring a third party to teach a sensitivity training course may be a smart place to start, keep in mind that fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace requires ongoing effort. It’s something that needs to be ingrained in the culture of your workplace.
All employees should have the chance to voice their opinions on initiatives, and leadership should be open and honest about attempts to improve inclusivity.
In conclusion
It’s important to evaluate your company and its organizational communication once in a while. When an error has been made, there are check marks that serve as improvement opportunities.
Effective internal communication procedures help to ensure that all of your staff are collaborating to accomplish shared goals.
