By Saxon Daugherty | Child Development Center, Inc.
Communication is never easy. Organizations and businesses of all sizes struggle to craft perfect messaging. It is a skill that may seem impossible to master.
Throw in a global pandemic and the challenge becomes even more daunting. How do I answer everyone’s questions? What information should be released? What platforms should I use?
The good news is there are answers to those questions, which can help organizations make communication more effective in the workplace.
Be Consistent with Frequency
Establishing an appropriate frequency will go a long way in making your staff feel like they are informed. They will come to expect updates at a certain time or date, alleviating the feeling of being left in the dark or being ignored.
The exact frequency will ultimately depend on the type of business or organization and its structure, but a common strategy I’ve used previously and have seen others implement is touching base with all employees once a week via an official memo/email.
This would be an ideal opportunity to address questions staff members may have on a regular basis and try to put their minds at ease during a time filled with uncertainty. It can also make them feel heard and valued as a team member.
Messages do not have to be lengthy; they simply need to cover the information that is pertinent to your target audience.
Use a Variety of Platforms
Social media is often the best way to reach your customer base and supporters, but it might not be a great fit for communicating with your colleagues in a professional setting. The information you want to share with employees will likely not be for public consumption.
Some organizations are fortunate enough to have web pages that serve as an “Employee Hub” where general updates can be posted daily. Others may utilize physical memos, email blasts or even communication-based apps.
This is a matter of preference and logistics, but there should always be more than one avenue to share information with employees. The key component is to make sure the message doesn’t change across those platforms.
Be Honest
One of the worst things you can do in workplace communication is try to hide information or mislead your workforce.
Especially during a pandemic, the likes of which nobody has seen in their lifetime, everyone wants to feel like there is honest, two-way communication.
If you do not know the answer to employees’ questions, say that. Let them know the “why” and how it pertains to them specifically.
Simply being transparent can help build trust— something you must have for communication to be successful.
This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) March 2021 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.