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As the owner of a media production and communications consulting company, I see terrible communication firsthand. I would like to share some real stories that illustrate three common communication problems, after which share some ways to enhance communication in your organization.
Incompatibility
Many individuals are jumping on the bandwagon of worker storytelling to make people feel a part of the organization. A big furniture manufacturer decided to showcase the great work of its employees in a monthly video communication that my company produced. The producer asked employees to send their story or the story of a friend. The senior vice chairman thought it will be fun to interview chosen people in a chat show format. We produced just a few but stopped since the leader couldn’t find time to make the show.
Communication programs that start after which end leave employees frustrated and skeptical. (Note: I warned the corporate against using this format. It’s great if the leader has the time and commitment to this program. I didn’t feel it will work here. It didn’t.)
Another client decided to conduct webinars for clients. They began with two monthly, but quickly discovered that collecting content was time-consuming and quickly fell behind. After making an enormous fuss in regards to the effort, they suspended it. Then they began over with a once-a-month offer on a limited basis. While this did not have a disastrous effect on their popularity, it will have been higher to begin slowly, construct an audience, after which grow it.
Poor content and message
Getting the message right is crucial to successful communication. This means getting information from the precise people at the precise time. For example, one in all my clients needed to delay a product launch. The product was ready. However, the team working on the varied communications assets didn’t initially include key experts. When the marketing tools were submitted for approval, they found that the message wasn’t on track. Print and movies needed to be reworked, which increased costs and caused launch delays.
Communication that does not excite
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine worked for a big accounting firm. He lobbied me to are available in and work with a few of their teams to enhance their presentations. He failed until this happened:
The audit team got here to present to the client and extend the contract for one more 12 months. After the meeting, they were informed that the corporate would move to a competitor. When pressed to grasp what happened, the client commented that the audit team’s presentation was boring. Correct, boring.
I do know what you are considering: “Audits, while necessary, aren’t exciting for most people.” That’s not the purpose. The client wanted to interact and possibly even delight. The team did not communicate their excitement and desire to work with this client, and consequently, they lost the business.
Communication barriers
Organizations are highly disciplined in areas similar to production and finance, but not in communication. Some people don’t recognize or prioritize the necessity for communication programs. They assume it’ll occur naturally. Unfortunately, this will not be the case. Over the years, many organizations have turn out to be isolated. Everyone has the initiative, but departments wouldn’t have the tools to collaborate and share information.
Reliance on voicemail, email and social media increases miscommunication because people will not be talking to one another. Instead of helping us, technology becomes a reason not to speak. While virtual meetings have grown in popularity, few know the right way to be effective, whether or not they are leading or participating. People began to neglect preparation and presentation.
As my examples show, these barriers can sideline communication and have a negative impact on business results. Most answers to overcoming communication barriers start with senior executives and others in positions of influence who make it a priority.
Three steps to make sure proper communication
The first step to improving communication is implementing a purposeful communication plan. One that is obvious, consistent and achievable. Remember my storytelling example above? The plan doesn’t should be complicated. The entire organization should be considered – from those on the shop floor or on the front lines to those in the sector and behind the scenes. What should people know? What are the most effective ways to speak information so that everybody has access to it? What is the frequency of communication?
The second step is to construct a corporation of excellent communicators. Numerous Research report that 86% of employees and managers cite ineffective communication and cooperation because the primary reason for failure within the workplace. Communication will not be only the duty of human resources, communications or the marketing department. Everyone should be involved. Some individuals are naturally good at it, but most individuals need assistance. There are learning opportunities that might be accessed from quite a lot of sources, but be sure the extent and content is suitable for the team.
The third step is to make use of the suitable tools to share your communication. This could possibly be an internal portal, an e-blast system, live meetings or live streamed events. There are so many tools on the market that it could possibly be overwhelming. A communications consultant can show you how to navigate these, but the most effective advice is to make use of the only technology to get the job done. Finally, it is best to monitor the outcomes of your communication plan. It could possibly be something so simple as a communication survey.