As an organisation grows (and continues to grow), effective communication in the workplace becomes even more vital. It can also (unfortunately), become increasingly difficult to achieve but no matter the challenges, it should be ingrained into every operational part/process of your setup as well as into every member of your team.

Human resource management is focused on the people within an organisation. With regards to people, company culture can be a driving force behind an organisation's survival and success and, when it comes to company culture, you may want to think less Uber and more Netflix.

According to “The State of Workplace Communications” report: today’s workforce is disconnected, widely distributed, and often deskless, creating new challenges for leading organizations who want informed and engaged employees.

Building a backbone of effective communication that holds up a solid company culture in this day and age can be easier said than done. Here are some tips to help you foster effective communication in the workplace.

Two-way dialogue

Effective communication is not just about how you get messages across. Getting senders and recipients immersed/involved in conversations and getting them to actively participate can be essential. What’s the point of having the ability to send a clear/concise message when nobody is really listening to/understanding what the message says/means? Effective communication should foster two-way dialogue. Being able to both listen and speak equally well may not be all that easy but steps should be made in this direction.

Use relevant tools/technology

Face-to-face discussions are probably among the best, if not the best, ways to communicate effectively. However, they may not always be the most convenient method. If, for example, you only require a quick exchange (question and answer) or if the person you are trying to communicate with is not in the office/at the workplace on a particular day, a face-to-face conversation may not be necessary. Put technology to use with chat apps, emails or video-conferencing tools such as Skype...etc. Begin to think of communication as a means to an end instead of a complicated, burdensome task.

Consistently provide constructive feedback

Encouraging constructive feedback while holding back on negativity and aggression can be a great way for your people to get better at what they do. The last thing an employee wants on a workday is an earful of pointless negativity that beats around the bush and doesn't address any real issues or point towards any real resolutions/results. In order to let people within your organisation develop healthily and positively, constructive feedback should be facilitated. Managers can use surveys to find out if there are issues in employees’ working conditions and can then follow up this up with appropriate solutions.

Get to know the members of your team better

What’s the harm in having lunch or coffee with your teammates? Even though boundaries between the professional and personal should be understood/respected, building a personal rapport with the people you work with can help your organisation and can enable you to understand your coworkers on a human level. In doing so, you could identify areas of strength as well as areas in which you could possibly help out a little. Also, with regards to the messages that your coworkers are trying to convey, having some semblance of a relationship outside of work can give you an upper-hand when it comes to listening because you would have a better grasp of how they communicate. Getting to know your coworkers better can also help you better understand their actions.

A smarter HR system for a smarter business: Carbonate helps you keep track of attendance and leaves in your company, and keeps you connected to your staff with its built-in broadcasting and promotion messaging tool. Its employee profiles and HR leave management system meet MOM 2016 Employment Act Amendment requirements.
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