When you think of communication in the workplace, you probably think about email, memos, phone conversations and video calls.
But what if we told you there are so many more ways for people to communicate with each other at work? There are so many different types of communication that add up to make a company’s culture.
Whether your company is small and collaborative or large and hierarchical, there are many different ways employees can communicate with one another.
The way people communicate in an office can have a big impact on employee happiness, productivity and retention.
How do you know whether your company’s communication is effective or not? Keep reading to find out!
What is effective workplace communication?
Above all else, effective communication is two-way. Communication that is one-sided, where one person is speaking at the other, is not effective.
Effective communication is a dialogue, where both parties are actively listening to each other. Effective workplace communication is responsive.
People communicate back to one another when they’re supposed to. They also respond in a timely manner, if not earlier.
There is an open exchange of information. There are no secrets or people keeping information to themselves. When someone needs information to do their job, they can get it.
If people aren’t sharing information, it can be a sign that they don’t trust one another.
Video Calls
Video calls are a great way for teams to stay in contact with each other, especially when they’re in different cities or countries.
Even if you work remotely, video calls are a great way to stay connected with the team. If your company uses Zoom or Google Meet, there are plenty of ways for you to do video calls with other employees.
You can do a video call with one person or a group of people. You can also use video calls as a way to conduct meetings.
Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, more and more companies are using video calls for their workplace communication.
Emails
We love sending emails at work, don’t we?
Whether they be work-related or personal emails, they’re a great way to communicate quickly with a coworker.
You can also easily Cc or Bcc multiple people on an email, so it’s easy to communicate with a group.
If you have a manager who likes to send company-wide emails, those can be a great way for an entire team to stay on the same page.
If you’re a manager, it’s important to remember not to over-rely on emails. They’re not a great way to solve problems or give feedback.
Emails can also be a great way to follow up with a coworker about something you discussed in person, such as setting up a meeting or sharing a file.
You may like to read – How to write professional emails in English.
Face-to-face Meetings
If you work at a company that holds face-to-face meetings, you probably know how important they are. They’re a great way for the entire team to come together and talk about what they’re working on.
Not all companies hold face-to-face meetings. But if yours does, you know how important they are.
Face-to-face meetings are a great way to get everyone on the same page, get updates on projects and have a team come together.
If you have a face-to-face meetings, it’s important that you show up, contribute and participate. This is a great way to show your manager that you care about the company, you care about your team and you care about your role.
Company-wide Emails
Company-wide emails are sent out to everyone in the company. They’re often sent out by the CEO or C-level executives to share a message with the entire company.
Company-wide emails can be great for things like announcing new hires, changes in company benefits or updates on company initiatives.
If your company holds weekly all-hands meetings, it’s common for those updates to be discussed there. But if not, company-wide emails can be a great place for updates to land.
Don’t let company-wide emails become your boss’s way of communicating everything. Instead, use them for important company updates.
Employee Lunches
Employee lunches can be a great way to build relationships with your coworkers.
While you’re all working at your desks all day, you’re in a work bubble. It’s easy to forget that you’re not just working with people you see every day but also with other departments.
Lunches are a great way to break out of that bubble and get to know your coworkers better. You can go solo or invite a few people to join you.
You can also use lunches to get to know people in other departments that you may not be as familiar with. Lunches are a great way to build relationships with your coworkers and make the company feel more like a family.
Conclusion
Communication is one of the most important things in the workplace. It can also be one of the most challenging things to implement and keep flowing smoothly.
If your company has communication issues, it may be time to look at how employees are communicating within their teams.
When you examine what type of communication different teams are using, you may notice a few trends in your business. You may see that different teams are using different types of communication.
Or you may notice that one type of communication is being overused while another type is underused. Either way, it’s important to keep an eye on how your employees are communicating with each other.
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