The average person spends about one-third of their life in the workplace. Workplaces can hence be seen as a home away from home. Therefore, a healthy exchange of information must occur between people at various positions in the workplace to avoid stress & dissatisfaction.
Here are some handy tips to improve workplace communication & facilitate greater information exchange:
- Effective communication channel across the workplace hierarchy: Establish upward communication (employees could communicate with superiors) so that every person feels heard and valued.
- Encourage dialogue: Be approachable so that team members, irrespective of position, could contribute valuable insights, provide feedback without hesitation to improve team cohesion.
- Avoid making presumptions: Don't be quick to conclude in case of underperformance. Avoid being confrontational and enquire if you could provide any assistance. This boosts morale & trust among colleagues.
- Offer constructive feedbacks: Avoid being tone-deaf while giving feedbacks. Instead of simply complaining, compliment the effort that went into something & thoughtfully sandwich the negative feedback constructively.
- Appreciate: Acknowledge people's efforts. Motivate them to continue doing so. Be specific with your compliments (e.g., instead of saying 'Good presentation', say 'I love how detailed and easy to understand the presentation was').
Communicate to eliminate feelings of distrust, fear, conflicts; and replace these with a happier workplace.