Having honest communication at work plays a huge factor in every aspect of your day. It can make your job a wonderful place to work or a place you dread going to. Many people don’t want to speak up in fear that others will think their idea is not a good one. Others stay quiet even when they have questions, feeling that they will look stupid because they should already know the answer. This can really hinder production and growth.
Many individuals feel uncomfortable bringing up questions in a group setting. Make sure to set aside time for individuals to ask questions in a one-on-one setting, and while there, encourage them to bring these ideas to the group.
Here at Foxie, we have come up with five tips that should help alleviate the fear of asking questions and giving your opinions on things. Communication tips we may have forgotten.
Create a friendly and open environment – In a communication-friendly environment, it is very important to encourage the sharing of ideas, emotions and bringing difficult-to-talk-about topics into the light. Make sure your remote employees have the tools they need, like Zoom or Slack, so they do not feel out of the loop and can easily chime in with any concerns, ideas, or questions they may have.
Be authentic – Do not be that person who is ultra-friendly and helpful when in group meetings, but when asked questions one-on-one, you don’t seem to have the time or seem bothered when asked. Emphasize your humility and vulnerability, admit when you do not know something and don’t talk down to someone when they don’t. By doing this, you establish psychological safety and will level the playing field so that others will do the same. Once everyone feels safe with one another, building solid relationships and having difficult conversations becomes much easier.
Ask for employee feedback – Ask your team members for their feedback on you as their manager. Be prepared to hear things you might not want to hear, but take it as constructive criticism and learn from it. Offer the idea of a “skip level” meeting, where if someone is not comfortable talking face-to-face with their manager about their performance, they can speak with their manager’s boss. The idea is to always keep the lines of communication open and get rid of “hierarchal barriers.” You can also offer an “Anonymous Feedback Box” where employees can leave suggestions or complaints anonymously if they are not comfortable making them in person.
Be aware of what your body language is saying – Your body language speaks volumes and has a significant impact on how people perceive you.
Know when to step away – We all need time away from thinking about our jobs, as there needs to be a healthy work/life balance. It can sometimes seem impossible, especially when working from home, because we are tied to our devices. Who wants to watch football with friends, or at a movie with your kids, when suddenly someone from work is sending out emails or texts? Nobody. But when you see other people responding, you feel obligated and do not want to seem like you aren’t a “team player.” Of course, emergencies happen that require our immediate attention, but not every email or text is something that cannot wait until the next day when you are working. Lead by example and help set clear boundaries.
Excellent communication helps lead to employees who stay engaged. It keeps everyone informed of what is happening within the company and ensures that people know what is expected of them.
Effective communication also helps to build relationships, assists with problem-solving and enables us to have tough conversations when necessary. Clear communication will also help remove any ambiguity and alleviate stress and confusion, especially when speaking with those who are working remotely. Communication is the bond that strengthens teams and builds successful companies.
Are you ready to take your communications to the next level? Allow us to introduce FoxieEngage.
Foxie has developed FoxieEngage, which is a single platform that gives you the ability to chat, respond to social media questions, text, talk, and communicate with your staff, customers, and vendors…all on their terms and in the way they choose to communicate with you.
Be engaged with your customers...call us at 866-BE-ENGAGED (866-233-6424), text START to FOXIE (36943) or just shoot me an email at mpurkiss@foxie.com.