Print This Page

Improving Employee Communications

When an employer improves employee communication he is improving production, lowering costs, and increasing return on investment. Good employee communications is good internal public relations. Employees communication can be done through business communicators or internal social media.

Keep in mind that employees communications is a two-way street. Both employer and employee must become good internal communicators. An organization needs to create a culture where employees feel free to ask questions. The employee may need help such as a fill-in form to get the flow of information started. Employers may want to get tips from the international association of business communicators.

Some employees may have good writing capabilities and can explain themselves. Others may not. Some may be good verbal communicators. Not all communication has to be about a complaint. Employees may be an organization's best source of new merchandising or advertising ideas. It is the employee who is at the front line with the customer. It is the employee who feels the pulse of the customer.

Personal contact may be essential. In contrast to an impersonal email, face to face contact reads the body language of the other person. Everyone can read each other's energy. This type of solutions reduce misunderstandings and disagreements. Internal public relations can go a long way.

Getting to know employees when things are normal makes it easier to work things out to later when there's a problem. Show genuine care. A level of trust begins to develop.

Managers and supervisors can begin to measure each employee's potential. Then they can raise the bar as needed for each person.

Special attention to each employee makes them feel special. A simple 'good job' offered occasionally is good employee communications.

Consult with employees before making a decision. If the outcome is already clear to management, the employees can be guided toward the solution. Then everyone feels they have contributed.

All employee communications begin with courtesy. Asking for cooperation rather than demanding that a job be done raises volunteers. When others see how volunteers are rewarded, they too will step up to the plate.

Managers need to be consistent with words and body language. Then employees understand them correctly. A compliment offered with a smile and excitement goes a long way. When shaking hands a turned head or speaking to someone else shows disrespect.

Learning the art of compromise is a reward in itself. Simply because someone is an employee and needs to do the work does not mean the employee's heart is where it should be. In employee communication that lasts over a period of time, there is usually room for compromise. Learning to give in may not be retreat but a step toward victory. There may also be ways to compromise on the little things if one is only willing to learn the art of compromise.

Managers who display confidence engender confidence in the people who work for them. Be sure of your information before acting on it. A manager known to make mistakes is not promoting leadership. Learn to gage employees who show insight. They bring assets to the job from life experience and other work experience. These people are fathers and mothers who have to show leadership in their own families.

Conclusion On Employee Communications

Find out what are the expectations for each employee. Some employees have absolute expectations of what they expect to receive for hard and loyal labor. Ask and find out what these expectations are.

With a measure of discipline a system of employee communications can be established. The result is less negative feedback, improved productivity and a blossoming bottom line.

The previous article is about the basics of Employee Communiation.

Other wiki resources: communication skills; team building; employee communications; corporate communications; conflict resolution