Collaboration is an instrumental part of the workplace, but how can you ensure that it is effective? Collaboration for collaboration's sake might translate to unnecessary meetings or a decrease in productivity.
On the other hand, successful internal communication can lead to meaningful collaboration. If your company drives internal collaboration with a thoughtful strategy, it will have a positive impact on your workforce.
The best internal communication has a purpose and achieves results. Let's take a look at some strategies that can engage all levels of your company.
In an increasingly remote and on-the-go workforce, accessibility is critical. You want communication to be accessible across devices and time zones. Nothing will make employees feel more "out of the loop" than communication that is more available to some employees over others.
An enormous source of frustration is a lack of transparency. If guidelines or expectations are not clear, the path to success is impeded.
Employees should have easy ways to connect with managers. Consider an open door policy, and encourage productive conversations between managers and team members. You could also start a forum to share ideas and suggestions.
The water cooler used to be the place where information was exchanged. It is still critical in the modern workplace that domain knowledge be shared, but the proverbial "water cooler" needs to be reimagined.
Give employees opportunities to learn from each other. Knowledge management needs to have a dedicated effort. Putting off or de-emphasizing knowledge sharing could lead to disastrous consequences in relying too much on too few employees.
An internal Wiki can also be a place to share knowledge. Relatively easy to set up, employees can contribute to the Wiki over time and turn it into an excellent source for information.
Across the company, there should be a clear understanding of the leadership's direction and goals. By communicating the overall company strategy, employees can see how their individual roles contribute to the company's success.
Offer employees a chance to ask questions. It will make them feel invested and also be an opportunity to address concerns. All levels of the company should feel that they are working together for a common purpose.
Everyone should be aware of the company's success stories! Whether it is meeting quarterly goals, news recognition, or positive reviews from customers, ensure that all employees can share in the good news. It fosters good company culture and aligns the work with the end result.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, bad news should also be shared. You want the environment to be supportive and trusting, so if there are struggles or other changes, it is better to be transparent. The thought that goes into the message will significantly impact how the information is received.
In addition to celebrating the wins of the company, highlight the achievements of employees or teams. Give employees the opportunity to congratulate each other for their hard work.
Here are some examples of things to recognize company-wide:
A customer service employee that goes above and beyond
A team's project completed ahead of schedule
Deployment of a new product or service
Promotions earned
The top-performing sales reps of the month
Assistants who are excelling at their work
You can also highlight accomplishments outside of work. Did an employee run a marathon or speak at an event? A lot of pride goes into a job well done.
You may have annual reviews or regular meetings with employees, but how often is the question asked, "How are you doing?"
A one-on-one check-in shows that the thoughts and feelings of the employees' matter. It builds trust and allows the employee to share. It also opens the door for a conversation about what is going well or not going well at work.
Conducting a "stay interview" digs into what the employee likes about his/her job or what the employee wishes could change. In some cases, this may reveal a problem that can be addressed before the employee begins looking for other employment.
Procedure guides in one directory. Policy documents online. Change in a process outlined via email.
It is common for companies to have documents scattered in many locations. This leads to inconsistency and miscommunication. By centralizing everything, you can have a single "source of truth." Employees will be able to locate what they need more quickly.
A content management solution should manage documents and have flexibility. It should be easily accessible so that your employees can find and get what they need, no matter where they are.
No company operates in a vacuum. It will help employees to understand the external factors of the business by sharing industry news.
What is the competitor landscape? What are the new trends in the marketplace? From the sales reps to the customer service department, everyone should have a handle on what is driving the company.
A company-wide intranet can be the driving force behind your internal communication. From driving engagement among employees to social features, it represents the hub for your collaboration.
You want your employees to have the ability to communicate in real-time. It is more than company-wide announcements and occasional updates. Your company's intranet is a reflection of the overall company culture.
Your employees are the driving force of your company. Communication should be easy, straightforward, and useful. Lack of good internal communication can have a negative impact on company results, from mistakes to missed opportunities.
By fostering good internal communication, you can make the company a place where employees are engaged, productive, and satisfied.
But do you have the right tools to put internal communication strategies into practice? Workmates by HR Cloud has the solutions to boost employee engagement and enable effective communication. Request a demo today.
About Author: This article is written by a marketing team member at HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of proven HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee communications & engagement, and rewards & recognition. Our user-friendly software increases employee productivity, delivers time and cost savings, and minimizes compliance risk.