Communication at work - how to improve it?

Effective internal communication should be a pillar of the functioning of every company. Good communication at work not only creates a friendly atmosphere, conducive to productivity and creativity, but also facilitates effective cooperation and thus enables the achievement of set business goals. How to take care of communication between employees and on the employer-employee line? 

Horizontal and vertical communication at work 

Communication at work can be divided into horizontal and vertical. Horizontal communication concerns contacts between employees in equivalent positions. It is an informal type of communication most often used in teamwork. The team shares tasks, chooses ways to accomplish these tasks, and together looks for solutions to specific problems. In horizontal communication, expressing your needs and opinions in a precise, clear way, active listening and assertiveness are of great importance.  

Vertical communication is formal and is usually used where there is a hierarchy, e.g. contact between the supervisor and lower-level employees. In vertical communication, feedback is important, which confirms that the messages sent are important to the other party. 

Why is it important to care about communication at work? 

Problems can arise in any company. And although many employers and employees are not aware of it, one of the main causes of crisis situations is ineffective internal communication. Surely you associate playing the deaf phone. The person starting the game comes up with a sentence and whispers it into the ear of the next person. The sentence is passed on and on until it finally transforms into something completely different and reaches the last person completely altered. Communication at work is often similar. Employees cannot send consistent, appropriate messages and do not understand each other.

The way employees communicate with each other affects not only their relationships and the atmosphere in the company, but also the quality of their work. Bad group communication it is one of the main causes of problems in the company - which, unfortunately, many employees and employers are not aware of. In a disjointed group that cannot get along, misunderstandings often occur. The team's work is not fully efficient, and therefore the company does not achieve maximum results. Problems with internal communication concern both the relationship between employees and between the employer/management staff and employees.  

Effective communication at work - what are the benefits? 

The dynamic and effective transfer of information within the company and activities based on cooperation are an opportunity to find innovative solutions that allow you to operate more efficiently. Communication facilitates solving smaller and larger problems, as well as streamlines all decision-making processes. The integrative role of communication at work cannot be forgotten. Employees who can get along have good, friendly relations - and this has a huge impact on the atmosphere in the company.

Employees feel good at work and are motivated to act. They put maximum involvement in the performance of their professional duties, and are more willing to engage in new projects. Thanks to this, they develop their competences and significantly contribute to the development of the company. In a nutshell – effective communication at work is the key to efficient cooperation and success on the market.

How to take care of communication between employees? 

When the first problems in the area of communication appear in the team of employees, appropriate corrective actions must be implemented as soon as possible. It is an effective tool for working on internal communication team building. The goal of team building is to build a harmonious, well-functioning team of employees. Team building tasks are to equip employees with valuable skills that will teach them cooperation and efficient communication. Team building can be part of an integration trip.  

An interesting team building game that will teach employees efficient communication is "Knot with hands". Participants stand in a small circle. Everyone reaches out and grabs the hand of the person on the opposite side. He gives his other hand to someone else. The task of the team is to untangle the knot without releasing their hands. The key to success is efficient information exchange and proper organization. 

Another game that teaches effective communication at work is building a Goldberg machine. Goldberg machine it's a kind of advanced dominoes. The device consists of various mechanisms operating on the principle of cause and effect - one mechanism drives another, etc. What is the fun about? The employees are divided into several teams.

Each team must build a different part of the machine from available blocks, pendulums, levers and other components. The combined parts should create a single, efficient device. For the operation to be successful, the participants of the game must focus on good and logical communication and 100% cooperation.

4 steps to better employer-employee communication 

Just as important as employee relationsthere is communication between the employer and employees. How to improve it? 

Set rules and communication tools 

Communication at work is an area that should be taken care of, e.g. employer. First of all, it should establish rules and communication tools that will determine what, when, to whom and how to communicate. Employees should also know where and when they can expect answers to questions put to their manager or employer.  

What tools to use in vertical communication? In the era of highly developed technology, electronic tools work best - e.g. e-mail or special internal contact systems. Face-to-face meetings are always a good option. In some cases, information boards or company bulletins can also be used. 

Avoid understatements 

Understatements are one of the most common causes of conflicts in the company. The employer should clearly, specifically, and at the same time fully exhaustively provide employees with information about all areas of the company's operation. Incomplete messages can be misunderstood.  

The same principle applies to upward communication, i.e. messages sent by lower-level employees to management or the employer. 

Give feedback and allow feedback 

Employees, directing questions to their supervisor, count on quick feedback. Feedback is to show the employee that he is important to the employer. It is a form of respect for the employee.  

An employer who only gives orders and does not take into account the opinion of others creates a bad atmosphere in the company. It's worth letting employees talk! Give them a chance to express their opinions and suggest solutions. Two-way communication is not only a way to build a positive image of the employer, but also an opportunity to acquire new ideas that can contribute to the development of the company. 

Appreciate 

Employees want to feel needed. He should appreciate successes and motivate him to continue. 

Effective communication at work is not only beneficial for the employees themselves, but also for the entire company. This is an opportunity to easily achieve all goals, climb up the market hierarchy and achieve spectacular successes. It is definitely worth taking care of!