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Most firms have some type of dedicated IT management. According to workforce surveyThe average ratio of IT to non-technical employees is around 4% of the total workforce.
These individuals and IT departments often need to speak with other employees across the company. From basic day-to-day tasks to long-term collaboration, meeting deadlines and maintaining security, it’s essential that the relationship between IT and non-technical employees not only exists but is effective.
If you’ve noticed a lack of quality cross-departmental collaboration in IT, here are 4 ways to enhance communication and build higher working relationships between technical and non-technical teams.
1. Establish and promote healthy communication
Communication can’t be neglected in any business environment. As the workforce becomes more geographically diverse in terms of distance and time zones, it is essential to keep up communication, not only with teams but also across departments. This is ground zero, especially in an isolated area like IT.
One strategy to improve communication is through regular team meetings. Many firms have regular meetings where everyone comes together to listen to company-wide updates and generally reorganize. If the considered a full company meeting seems like a giant, intimidating, time-consuming drain on resources, fear not. There are many ways to implement this idea effectively.
For example, (*4*)Zappos holds its well-known all-hands meetings three times a 12 months. Spreading out these larger shared moments over time helps make them special.
If the meeting is a problem in any way, you may go a different route: pre-recorded messages. However, if you select this selection, remember that easy video messages can turn out to be as confusing and lengthy as the meeting. Instead, look for tools that assist you send purposeful, value-focused messages.
Marketing platform Drift, for example, used the Zight communication tool to enhance its internal communication. The company used screen recording technology to send its employees annotated, knowledge-based videos. This streamlined and refined the purpose of each message, making it easier to seek advice from later without having to re-watch the whole thing.
The bottom line? Invest in some type of healthy interdepartmental communication that matches your workflow.
2. Use jargon-free language
Removing jargon and technical terms from basic interdepartmental communication starts at the top. IT leaders must exhibit the way to remove dense language when talking, recording, writing, and otherwise engaging with colleagues.
It’s not only that leading by example is effective. It’s also that workplace jargon often finds its biggest supporters at the upper echelons of business. One study by MyPerfectCV found that 33% of respondents consider that senior management is almost certainly to overuse skilled jargon.
Worse yet? A third of those asked also used jargon they didn’t even understand. Use jargon-free language. This keeps communication clear and avoids peer pressure and embarrassment that may undermine effective communication between IT and other teams.
3. Fill knowledge gaps with cross-functional training
Expertise and expertise are the defining aspects of IT teams. The value of technical employees comes from their ability to attach people and machines. However, this expertise is not as effective if the communication gap between IT staff and other employees widens too much.
One strategy to keep all employees on the same playing field is to have interaction in cross-functional training. This is the strategy of educating employees from different departments in disciplines that complement their very own interests. It emphasizes shared knowledge and helps teams each respect and understand their responsibilities in the broader context of business operations.
Google has mastered the art of cross-departmental training. On the one hand, the company is known for using whisper courses—a series of micro-lessons in the type of emails—to show bite-sized lessons in teamwork. The search engine giant also encourages employee-to-employee training. In this manner, knowledge is shared in a peer-to-peer manner, and a culture of learning is maintained.
Again, the takeaway is that you simply don’t have to make use of a formula for cross-departmental training. Find something that works for your setup, then invest in it.
4. Cultivate a culture of inclusiveness
Inclusion is a common goal of workplace culture. It emphasizes making all members of the workforce feel welcome. It seeks to take into account gender, age, and other demographic differences and to include the strengths of each individual and team into the company’s operations.
It’s a powerful strategy to keep IT and non-technical staff connected and respectful of each other’s contributions. As a central a part of how the company operates, an emphasis on empathy and respect helps keep these critical channels of communication open and healthy.
No other company has demonstrated true and effective inclusiveness in business operations in addition to PixarThe media company is known for its ability to develop high-quality ideas while making everyone feel welcome and a part of the conversation.
The company’s “Notes Days” are a telling example of this. They’re days when the entire company locks down and meets to brainstorm ideas. The result is some of the best cross-department collaboration in modern history.
If you would like to connect technical and non-technical teams, make them feel included.
Breaking down the barriers between IT and the remainder of the skilled world of labor
IT has turn out to be an integral a part of most up-to-date businesses. However, it cannot operate in a vacuum. Miscommunication can result in unclear expectations, missed deadlines, and even compromised security.
It’s essential for leaders to make an effort to align their IT and non-technical teams. This will keep everyone informed and up thus far as you’re employed together to attain the same goal as a company.