Communication is key to your business. It helps sales teams land clients and customer service representatives keep them. But creating a work environment that encompasses open dialogue between you and your employees can help your company attract, hire and retain top talent. Without it, employee morale and productivity will drop and corporate culture will suffer.
How can the simple act of speaking plainly and sharing information improve your organization and the employees that work within it?
Company Culture and Communication
Open dialogue in the workplace is an attribute most employees like. Employers must understand that simple communication is one of the most effective tools for employee retention. It increases employee satisfaction and engagement.
A lack of communication is likely at the forefront of why many employees walk away to find new jobs. That’s why establishing clear communication between employees and management is a crucial part of creating a positive workplace culture.
Employers that work hard to listen to suggestions and answer questions, while addressing any concerns that exist will go further in retaining the best talent. Instigating open communication will help motivate employees to be more productive, and that has a direct impact on your bottom line.
Some tips for owners and managers include:
- Creating an open-door policy for managers.
- Encourage discussion during meetings and be careful not to shut down the dialogue within the parameters of the agenda at hand.
- Talk with employees one-on-one.
- Praise employees frequently.
- Teach your managers to speak less and listen more during meetings.
- Consider offering training on the importance of corporate culture and open communication.
- Create a culture of transparency.
- Establish brainstorming sessions where people can share their ideas.
- Create a 360-review system that engages peers in the evaluation process.
- Never discipline employees in front of their co-workers.
- Praise the wins and encourage a culture of congratulatory celebration for your employee and managers’ achievements.
- Empower your employees to collaborate.
- Set policies and procedures to protect open, respectful dialogue.
You can reinforce employee and corporate communications by sending out memos that outline what is happening, or newsletters to share information between departments. The feeling of transparency that happens when employees know what everyone else is working on will create a stronger sense of teamwork and camaraderie.
Open communication is an important principle for any company seeking to improve its culture. If an employee feels like they have access to management, they’ll grow more comfortable contributing to the overall success of the firm.
Benefits of Open Communication
In addition to connecting management with employee teams, open communication helps employees take more ownership in their projects and feel a sense of pride when the organization succeeds.
Opening up the dialogue can improve the organization from management on down. This attitude can permeate an entire office culture, and provide needed support and a morale booster for employees who are pushing hard to do the job.
Find the Most-Talented Candidates With Select Resources
For organizations struggling to reach these goals, talk with the talent team at Select Resources. We offer our clients advice and support so they can seek, hire and retain the best talent. Talk to our team today!
