Your Role in Improving Workplace Communication

Studies show that strong workplace communication produces higher productivity and morale because employees sense a work environment that is more honest, reliable, and trusting. This leads to more employee engagement along with its benefits. Everyone wants better workplace communication, but spotting communication roadblocks and intervening in them is key. Most businesses experience trouble with internal communication periodically, often in similar ways. Knowing what these are can help you act to intervene and prevent you from becoming part of the problem. This is how you play a vital role in helping promote a healthy and productive workplace. Here are some of the most common workplace communication challenges: 1) Slow movement of information. Solution: Don’t hold on to information or delay its dissemination as a tool for maintaining control or demonstrating authority. 2) Not thinking before you communicate. Solution: Know what your communication goals are so you communicate completely. 3) Fear of feedback. Solution: Ask for it. Better a bruised ego than be on the wrong track. 4) Not speaking up. Solution: Pay attention to that gnawing feeling that you should say something. 5) Silence. Solution: Be proactive and keep others up to date. Don’t wait for others to ask, “How’s the project going?” 6) Sitting on bad news. Solution: If others have to know, then they have to know. Similar to #6, be proactive. Delay tends to increase the shock value of bad news and it feeds on itself, making it even more difficult when it is ultimately shared.

10/13/2022