How Managers Can Communicate More Effectively

Communication is how we live. We couldn't function in our daily lives without it. Yet too often managers seem to think communication stops at the door to the workplace, effectively cutting off the flow of ideas between departments and thereby slowing down the company as a whole. If you can't communicate effectively with your staff, performance suffers-both yours and that of the business.

The ironic part is that many managers who have the problem of being ineffective at communication don't even realize it, or refute the idea that they might not be communicating as well as they could. The simple reason for them not understanding this is that their employees never bring it to their attention-assuming their concerns wouldn't be heard or taken seriously (and, in all consideration, they're probably right.)

Does this sound like something you yourself may be guilty of? Don't be the manager whose employees resent and go out of their way to avoid. Take a good, hard look at your actions in the workplace to determine where between the extremes you fall.

In general, there are three things you need to keep in mind to bring about effective communication in the workplace:

First, everyone involved in the process must have the ability to communicate without resorting to anger when misunderstandings take place. It's useless to have a manager and employee screaming at each other when the problem lies in something unrelated to the issue at hand. There are training programs available for both parties to help open the lines of communication that you may want to invest some time researching.

Next, you need to create an environment conducive for facilitating effective communication; this requires showing your employees that you're open to their concerns and are trustworthy, being respectful of their time and their words. This is the biggest contribution you can make as an individual, and when you show others you're making a conscious effort to grease the wheels of communication, a positive response from the workforce is guaranteed.

Lastly, "attention needs to be paid". Both management and the paid staff need to pay attention to what they're saying and the manner in which they're speaking. Otherwise misunderstandings can quickly arise, destroying the bridges you're trying to build. Tying in with the second point, once others see you making an effort, you'll soon see them trying equally hard to do their part in facilitating communication. Don't forget that their effort will be in direct proportion with their perception of your own effort.