Small Business Tips
One of the many crucial business skills needed to thrive in an office environment, or any workplace that involves interacting with people, is good communication. We'll look at the most-effective forms of internal business communication. But first things first.
Why is effective communication important in business?
It might sound obvious, but effective communication is vital in business. According to research by Willis Towers Watson, organisations with excellent communication policies are 350 percent more likely to do better than their competitors. Here are some reasons why good communication rocks.
1. Communication builds strong teams
When leaders communicate well, they inspire their people to strive for a shared goal. Because communication is clear, employees know their responsibilities precisely and how to carry them out. When the dialogue is open, people are more willing to help others, and they're more ready to ask for help if needed.
2. Communication prevents misunderstandings
Rumours, half-truths and lies. They can bring down your company. But when you have an open and up-front discussion, everyone is in agreement, and you get a more harmonious atmosphere. And differences of opinion are less liable to become issues when they're discussed openly, without recrimination.
3. Communication is the lifeblood of customer service
Giving your customers what they want relies on knowing what that something is. So listen to their needs and answer their questions in a way they can understand. And when they use a medium that demands an immediate response, such as Twitter, make sure they get one.
4. Communication skills can boost your career
Develop finely honed communications skills, and you'll do your organisation some good, and yourself, too. If you can communicate succinctly, both in speech and writing, you'll have a clear, unique selling proposition, or USP, over your peers. You'll get a leg up at work, be rewarded for your achievements, and have an advantage when it comes to job-hunting.So, what are the skills, tips and tricks we should be looking at to improve communication in the workplace?
What are some effective communication business tips?
Let's look internally first.It's a changing world. Technology is ever-more prevalent and business is becoming more global. Organisations are developing new ways of communicating. Research indicates that one-to-one discussions and interactive media are the best ways to stay connected with teams.Here are some ideas to improve business communications.
1. Use visualisation
People can talk about what needs to be done until they're blue in the face, but experience shows that it's far more effective for them to show you what they want. Visual learning is a very effective method of business communication.To create information that sticks, consider infographics, a simple and attractive way of presenting information visually. You can create infographics quickly with tools such as Visually and Infogram.
2. Get feedback
Feedback in the workplace needn't be negative. Constructive feedback can develop trust and cooperation. Being open to feedback gives your company an image of enlightenment and progressiveness.Surveys can give you feedback on everything from office culture to recruitment. You should consider some survey tools such as SurveyMonkey and People Insight. Keep the responses anonymous, and you'll get much more honest feedback.
3. Pay attention
There's a difference between listening and paying attention. The latter is a lost art. Next time you're having a conversation at work, don't just listen – make mental notes as you go along.And don't take emails at face value. There's usually a more profound meaning written between the lines. Read the email carefully and then act on the information.
