3 Methods for Making Better Business Communication
When you look at the things you're missing from your business, you might not consider communication to be one of those things that's top of the importance pile, but communication is one of those things that doesn't just ensure you get heard, but it can make your working day a lot easier. It can build better relationships and, therefore, it can boost your business. What are the best ways to ensure that you make communication easier in your business?
Communicate With People in Their Preferred Method
Everybody has their own particular approach to communicating. Some people don't like to speak over the phone because they don't have the opportunity to think straight, but also, there may be people who are just too busy to stop and answer the phone. If you are someone that needs to get a lot across in a very short space of time, and email takes too long to craft, one of the most efficient ways to do this is to send voice messages. An NEC VoIP phone is one approach that can work really well here because you can send voice messages via email. If we all spent more time talking and less time typing, we'd get a lot more done, as long as we can communicate with people in their preferred method. Ultimately, when people are working at home, they would benefit from voice messages rather than a lengthy email!
Be a Better Listener
When we talk about communication, we think more about the things we have to say rather than the recipient. Actively listening is not an easy skill to achieve, especially in a work environment where there are conversations between people that have the subtext of rank. People who are more subordinate may find it tougher to be better listeners because they are trying to come across in a certain way or they are focusing too hard on the wrong points. If we can all learn to be great listeners by removing distractions or being better note-takers, this can help us become far better communicators.
Find Better Ways to Deliver Feedback
Communication in business is not just about the conversation or the email, but it's about providing feedback through enough methods throughout the organization. You need to make important information accessible through an online portal or an internal communication platform, but you can also benefit from finding a process to collect and give feedback in an efficient manner. It's also important for the people in charge to ask for feedback, for example, by having an open-door policy. Employees shouldn't feel like they are unable to speak their minds. Ultimately, if there's something pressing, then being able to voice this will help them to do their jobs better, and if they can approach you, you are going to foster that trust.
Communication is one of those almighty touchstones that businesses forget is the essential notion that underpins it all. But communication is not just about covering one aspect of your business; it's about ensuring that everybody from the top down embodies a far more robust approach to this critical skill.
