Today, as more of the workforce becomes dispersed, poor communication between employees and managers is more apparent and can lead to significant and, at times, disastrous consequences. In fact, research indicates that as much as 86% of employees and corporate executives suggest that lack of collaboration or ineffective communication is the reason for failures in the workplace.
That is why more than ever, it is crucial for companies to look into how their employees communicate and find ways to centralize and streamline their communication experience. Let’s go over how to do just that.
What Does Employee Communication Often Look Like?
Employee communication means sharing ideas, feelings, and information with coworkers in a company, as well as their managers and supervisors. Yet, while communication can be both verbal and electronic, email and other digital forms, such as texts, instant messaging, and superapps, are the most commonly used ways to communicate in the workplace today.
Why Is This Not Enough?
While appropriate communication methods are vital to getting things done in the workplace, if workers cannot communicate clearly or consistently, it can still lead to a lack of connection between teams, coworkers, and supervisors. Worse yet, this ineffective communication can lead to numerous other issues within the organization, including disagreements, mistakes, and incorrectly completed tasks.
That is why even if businesses use multiple apps to communicate, it is not enough to reach other employees effectively. Ideas can slip through the cracks, leaving workers struggling to stay on the same page as others in the organization.
What Does Centralized Employee Communication Look Like?
Centralized employee communication refers to employees, stakeholders, and managers connecting to a central hub to share their ideas, comments, and information. This process allows workers to communicate better with each other about projects and other critical issues in an environment that promotes remote collaboration.
When done right, a centralized employee communication system can also streamline the decision-making process. It helps employees gather and share their ideas, provide more insightful feedback, and offer an area for more proactive discussions, which is more likely to lead to employees taking action. Together everyone works toward a common goal.
How Does This Improve the Employee Experience?
Using a centralized communication hub to communicate with other employees can help remove many challenges workers face when discussing issues and tasks with others. Plus, this centralized employee communication can also improve the employee experience by helping with the following factors.
Provides Transparency Within the Workplace
While working with a team can be great; if teammates do not know what is going on or what the other person is doing, it can lead to confusion and an overabundance of questions. However, by creating transparency within the organization, you will be able to limit opportunities for employees to make mistakes and allow team members to make more intuitive decisions.
This is because centralizing communications stops the back and forth between employees since it streamlines all the information. This transparency also allows them to have better resources they can use to do their jobs. Everyone will be on the same page, and different employees asking the same questions won’t happen as often.
Gives Access to All Employees
A central communication hub can help organize communications between workers and ensure they have access to all the necessary information. In addition, this hub allows managers to verify what information their employees have access to and confirm they have reviewed the latest information and news before implementing any changes.
Improves Efficiency
Employees’ access to information and transparency regarding communications helps increase productivity and efficiency. As a result, employees prioritize projects, work harder to meet their goals, and effectively manage their time to meet their objectives. More importantly, this hub helps minimize the need for unnecessary meetings, allowing employees to have more time to get crucial projects completed.
Improves Effectiveness
Having a central communications hub can lead to countless opportunities and benefits within an organization, including:
- Helping workers understand projects better and their role in them
- Improving employee satisfaction and morale
- Educating employees regarding certain tasks and improving employee engagement strategies
- Allowing employees to have a voice and exchange communication in a meaningful way
- Improving processes and procedures, leading to reduced costs and better project efficiency
- Minimizing the chances of misunderstandings and mishaps
Provides Better Organization
Another great thing about having a central communication hub is it results in better organization. Having one area to store documents and discussions allows workers and team members to come together faster to get jobs done and projects sorted out more quickly.
Plus, if anyone needs details or specific information in the future, they will know precisely where to look to find them without wasting time or checking with multiple sources. As a result, having a central communication hub leads to better internal organization, which ultimately translates to increased productivity.
Increases Employee Engagement
Although technology can provide businesses numerous benefits, it can also lead to employees feeling disengaged or frustrated, causing them to struggle with productivity. This is because excessive technology can overwhelm employees as they try to figure out how to work certain apps and deal with constant notifications.
However, implementing a centralized communication hub can resolve many of these issues. In fact, rather than your employees trying to figure out how to work all these different methods of communication, they can have access to information in one spot.
They will also not have to go through multiple channels to communicate with a coworker or worry that their communication method is not the latest version. Consequently, this can lead to a better work product and also improve employee engagement.
Helps to Promote a Diverse Workplace
Having a central hub provides inclusive communication, allowing employees with different perspectives and backgrounds to come together under one goal. It also allows them to communicate effectively as a unit and ensure their voice is heard and valued.
Encourages Employee Innovation
When employees can communicate and collaborate, innovation becomes a byproduct of this process. By sharing their ideas and listening to others, employees can gain a better perspective of certain tasks and gather new outlooks that can help them create new ideas and plans that improve the company.
How Can Employee Communication Be Further Streamlined?
While a central communication hub can be a game changer when it comes to streamlining communications, there are other things companies can do to simplify these messages further. Consider the following.
Focus on Goal Alignment and Short Meetings
Breaking up large tasks into smaller milestones allows teams to get on the same page regarding important projects. Better yet, creating ten-minute meetings to go over these smaller goals ensures that everyone is on the same page without wasting too much time during the day.
Plus, you won’t lose everyone’s attention as time goes on as you would with long, drawn-out meetings. Employees will feel inspired and empowered to take on the work.
Stay Consistent With Communication
Checking in regularly with employees can lead to a better working environment and prevent issues from escalating. For instance, even a simple daily check-in with employees can help streamline processes and produce better output. You’ll know where they’re at mentally and can assist if they need help.
Offer Regular Updates to All Employees
While having a central communication hub can be an excellent thing for everyone, unless used correctly and consistently, it will mean very little when it comes to streamlining processes. That is why staff must regularly communicate with their employees and provide them with frequent updates. This helps them stay informed, keeps them in the loop, and makes them feel like they are contributing to the organization’s overall success.
A Centralized and Streamlined Employee Experience Makes Everyone Happier and More Productive
Having a centralized and streamlined communication center can leave everyone better off, including employees, supervisors, and the company. This centralized communication hub can improve work products and make employees feel heard. Because they feel valued, they are likelier to be happy in their job, provide feedback that benefits everyone, and work hard to meet their objectives. That is why if you want further information regarding a centralized employee communication system, contact Refresh today for your free demo. Our team can review how our products can improve your company’s communications efforts, help your employees remain connected no matter their location, and provide you with a unique and personalized experience that works best for your organization.