With culture and employee retention being at the forefront for many companies, employers around the world are increasingly aiming to implement practices that better serve their people. At the heart of every prosperous workplace is strong and effective communication among all individuals of an organization. Communication is demonstrated in many forms – from the way leaders deliver verbal messages to the internal opportunities employees have to express themselves. Organizations that proactively create an environment built on effective communication practices fare better in engaging every member of their team, and ultimately, improving their entire company from the ground up. Here are just a few of the many communication elements that are key to a successful workplace:
Empathy
A sense of empathy from employers will always be crucial in fostering positive, productive employer-employee relationships. Employees who know their time, talents, and contributions are valued will achieve a greater level of job satisfaction while enjoying a greater sense of fulfillment in their roles. Empathic employers exhibit trust in their employees by giving them autonomy and independence in meeting the demands of their jobs and making decisions in a way that’s consistent with high ethical standards and practices. Rather than constantly questioning employees’ motives (such as questioning their eligibility for medical leave or why they are requesting a day off), empathic employers give their employees the benefit of the doubt and empower them to follow the best practices established by the organization.
Feedback
A work environment in which nobody is given regular feedback is a recipe for a stagnant and poorly functioning workplace. Encouraging every member of the team – from upper leadership to entry-level workers – to regularly voice themselves in a respectful way is key to building a motivating and inspiring culture. Without a regular flow of feedback, a workplace of toxicity can gradually occur, causing individuals to resent one another and ultimately affecting your organization’s productivity and bottom line. To combat this, establishing a system in which feedback is exchanged in the form of meetings, two-way performance reviews, and other initiatives gives every person the opportunity to have their opinions heard.
Emotional Intelligence
Perhaps one of the most critical communication skills for the workplace is emotional intelligence, or the ability of one to understand their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others around them. When it comes to navigating conflict and resolving issues, managers and employees who exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence are best suited for fostering healthy, successful relationships at work. While emotional intelligence for many is often innate, it can be developed through training and development in which employees learn about the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and regulating their emotions when communicating with others.
Trust and Transparency
In terms of creating a workplace in which every person feels comfortable and confident in their day-to-day surroundings, creating an atmosphere founded on trust and transparency is essential. From the perspective of effective leadership, the top leaders of an organization must communicate messages with clarity and openness to ensure employees fully understand the decisions being made at the top. Providing context around messaging and being willing to answer employees’ questions is integral to building transparency that transcends the entire organization and sparks a culture of trust. Additionally, transparency is best reflected when employers show their staff that they fully believe in their abilities. Offering employees opportunities to take on new projects or assignments or spearhead initiatives is a powerful way to demonstrate confidence in their talents and abilities. The more clear and transparent organizational communication is across the board, the better interpersonal relationships among your workforce will become.
Teamwork and Collaboration
For achieving a high-performing workplace, teamwork truly does make the dream work. Workplaces that promote collaboration are generally more innovative, dynamic, and better at engaging every member of their team in a way that drives inspiration and motivation. Employees who are given ample opportunities to work closely with co-workers will experience better at-work relationships, as well as more learning and development on the job. Furthermore, managers who are skilled at effectively leading teams in accomplishing common goals will empower employees to come together to overcome obstacles and work as a cohesive team.
With the proper communication practices in place, interactions among all employees can bring value to a company, rather than adversity, resentment, or confusion. Making communication a top priority with all organizational initiatives not only provides a better experience for everyone but elevates the workplace in a way that’s beneficial on all levels – operationally, culturally, and financially.
If your organization is ready to build a team committed to excellence, we’re here to help. Get in touch with HH Staffing, a trusted Florida staffing agency, and learn how we can recruit the best talent on the market for your workforce.
Until Next Time,
Your Staffing Partner, Darrin Rohr- President, CEO, and Chief Servant
Current owner of HH Staffing and Former Chief HR Officer for several successful Multinational Fortune 500 Companies. Brings a fresh perspective from decades of experiences creating Great Workplace Cultures by building high-performance teams while leading and managing people from all different backgrounds. HH Staffing is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, and is uniquely positioned to serve both local and national clients.