http://robjoh.searchwarp.com/swa94412.htm
Here is a link that includes 11 tips for effective communication in the workforce. Effective communication is necessary for a business to be successful and to run effectively. We have all witnessed or read about many situations in which communication in the workforce resulted in a disaster. It's important to be able communicate with co-workers, supervisors, upper management, and others in the organization. Some important roles for communication includes delivering messages about job responsibilities, requirements, and feedback on how things can be improved. Communication is an endless process and is a critical component of organizational effectiveness.
While I was working as a park ranger at Knightville Dam and Littleville Lake there was only 5 employees to take care and patrol more than 50 square miles of territory. It was critical that we could communicate effectively via email, telephone, and face to face communication to increase our effectiveness.
A critical component of communication is to deliver information to people. We have seen and witnessed the negativity that results from with holding information about the organization from people as well as the rumors. Keeping employees undated about important information will make them feel important and prevent rumors from spreading. When information is not withheld, people tend to trust each other and that is very important in organizations. If you can not trust the people you are working with then how are you supposed to effectively run an organization?
Mike thanks for the article. Of all the tips provided I think knowing your work place negativity and addressing it is critical to the health of the employees and their commitment to the organization.
ReplyDeleteI like the last one, treat everyone like adults! Some managers I have encountered in my past believe employees should be seen and not heard. Go figure?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the article Mike! I completely agree with what you mentioned at the end of your post, trust is a major key of effective communication. Also, involving employees in problem solving and sharing information with them will certainly increase their productivity.
ReplyDeleteI liked your refernce to the importance of trust in organizations. When co-workers do not trust one another they will not be able to effectively collaborate, thus hurting the organization. It is important to always consider how communication channels can be designed to support trust between co-workers. As you elluded to, without trust between employees, as well as employees and management, the organization will not be able to fulfill its goals.
ReplyDeleteI have to echo Greg's thoughts surrounding your reference to trust within an organization. In my past experience at a public accounting firm, I witnessed several situations where colleagues did not trust each other. The atmosphere of the firm was so competitive that it led to almost a "survival of the fittest mentality". Horizontal information sharing was practically non-existent and trust among colleagues was replaced with skepticism and doubt. Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteTo some extent I almost understand why infromation hording exists. Yes its annoying, inconvenient, and bad for business... but sometimes the environment literally is "survival of the fittest." For instance my job is layoff central. What does management expect to happen when everyone's fending for themselves??
ReplyDeleteManagement can probably expect less productivity and effectiveness if there is a organizational culture that has everyone fending for themselves and withholding information.
ReplyDeleteMike, your article had some useful insight. I echo the importance of trust in an organization and am convinced that solid and constant communication is critical to building trust.
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