How to Improve Communication with Employees

Communicating in the workplace can be tricky—especially when teams are working remotely or are geographically dispersed. A recent article from Achievers highlighted six tips to make communication in the workplace more effective.

1. Stay up to date. Email communication can be tricky, especially when employees are all over the country or world. It can be difficult to keep up with emails given the different time zones. Instead of relying on communication alone, try using a good chat program to get your team in real time. This can ensure everyone is on the same page and that any issues can be addressed immediately.
2. Use emoji. Using emoji in the workplace may sound unprofessional. However, it can help to improve communication with your colleagues. Written word cannot always convey emotion and tone. Emoji can be used alongside text to convey such things while avoiding miscommunication or misinterpretation.
3. Know when to step back. Facilitate a culture that values both “doing” and “brainstorming”. Allow team members to assess their personal involvement with the larger group. Allow them to step back from meetings and work on tangible deliverables.
4. Use online meetings. Using online conferencing tools can greatly improve communication. The entire team can be in a virtual room. Because teams members can see one another, body language can be interpreted.
5. Use the right form of communication. One form of communication is not always appropriate for all situations. Consider what form of communication is best based on each situation. If you are having a kick-off of a major initiative, an all-hands meeting is probably best. To check in with an employee about an overdue deliverable, a private instant message may be best.
6. Set clear expectations. When you set clear expectations, it makes everyone’s job easier. Do you prefer employees to only check email during work hours? Let them know this. Do you prefer employees to upload their work to the network instead of sending it as an email attachment? Make this clear to employees.