In case you don’t already know, lack of communication from management is usually the greatest cause for employee dissatisfaction and premature departure. The best managers LISTEN to and frequently talk to all their employees. They adopt an Open Door Policy to make it easy for employees to tell them about problems and concerns. Communication should include training, group and individual meetings and most of all, daily discussions between you and your employees.
The larger your organization becomes, the more difficult it is to keep in touch with all of your employees, especially if you have multiple offices. Yet, as the manager, you must make the time to regularly talk with everyone. Email is a good communication vehicle, but the phone is more personal, and neither can replace face-to-face meetings.
Publishing employee newsletters is a good way for larger organizations to enhance communication. An intranet can also be an effective internal communication tool. Keep your messages simple, provide adequate information and provide examples for clarity.
Show your trust in people and make them feel included by sharing with them financial and other company inside information. Management can make much better decisions by getting input from front-line employees. If your people know that their voices are heard and they feel like they are part of the decision-making process, they will be much happier, loyal and more likely to support new ideas and programs. Open communication with your staff is a critical factor to building a culture of cooperation and productivity.
Communication Tips by Donna Galatas
