Good employee communication is really important for a group to do well. Workers who can talk, listen, and know what the company wants to work better and feel happier. If you’re a boss, talking well with your team is super important.

Here are some best practices for boosting employee communication:

Tip 1: Set Clear Expectations

Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Provide clear guidelines on delivering work and meeting deadlines. Giving employees a solid framework prevents confusion and ensures alignment. Create job descriptions, project plans, and statements of work so people know exactly what’s expected.

Set objectives and key results (OKRs) collaboratively, so employees have input and buy-in. Document processes thoroughly. Leave no room for guessing.

Tips 2: Listen Actively

Don’t just hear what people say – really listen. Pay full attention, ask clarifying questions, and acknowledge their perspective. Active listening builds trust and gives employees confidence to speak up. 

Maintain eye contact and focus. Paraphrase back what you heard to confirm your understanding. Allow the other person to finish speaking before responding. Avoid distractions and multitasking.

Tips 3: Give Regular Feedback

Don’t wait for annual reviews to provide feedback. Give regular, timely input so employees can course correct them quickly. Praise good work often and suggest constructive ways to improve. 

Schedule monthly or quarterly check-ins. Provide feedback close to when projects happen, not months later. Be specific with praise and criticism. Offer training and coaching to help them develop.

Tip 4: Communicate Company Goals

Explain how each employee’s work ladders up to higher business objectives. People want their work to have a purpose. Connecting tasks to company goals gives meaning. 

Repeat your mission statement often. Share dashboards tracking key metrics. Show how individual roles impact the metrics. Celebrate wins when goals are achieved.

Tip 5: Use Multiple Channels

Email alone doesn’t cut it. Use a mix of methods – Higher Hire, chat, video calls, intranet, etc. – and communicate important messages across channels. 

Different formats suit different preferences. Not everyone checks email constantly. Variety increases the chance of messages being received and recalled.

Tip 6: Be Transparent

Don’t keep people in the dark, especially during changes. Explain the why behind major decisions. The more context employees have, the less uncertainty they feel. 

Admit when you’ve made a mistake. Discuss challenges and plans openly, not just successes. Share business metrics and financial information. Overcommunicate during reorgs and mergers.

Tip 7: Listen to Ideas and Input

Communication can’t flow one way. Encourage employees to share thoughts and give suggestions. Listening to frontline perspectives leads to better solutions. 

Set up anonymous feedback channels. Host town halls, AMAs, and brainstorms. Solicit ideas from different levels and teams. Remove hierarchy barriers to foster two-way communication.

Tips 8: Customize for Each Person

People have different communication styles. Observe how each employee best absorbs information and tailor your approach. Being adaptable improves understanding. 

Note how people prefer to receive feedback – privately or publicly, blunt or diplomatic. Pay attention to body language and engagement levels during discussions. Ask about preferences directly. Adjust based on each person.

Tips 9: Meet Regularly

Don’t just email back and forth. Hold consistent 1-on-1s and team meetings to discuss projects, solve problems, and align. Regular face-time builds stronger connections. 

Schedule weekly or bi-weekly 1-on-1s. Set a cadence for team standups, planning meetings, and retrospectives. Make time for informal social events and team-building activities. Bonding together improves communication.

Tip 10: Be Positive and Encouraging

Focus on building people up, not tearing them down. Frame critiques constructively and offer praise generously. Positivity motivates people to communicate openly. Ask questions instead of criticizing. Sandwich negative feedback between positive comments. Thank people for sharing ideas even if you don’t agree. Avoid harsh language. Uplift and inspire others.

Tip 11: Choose the Right Medium

Pick the best communication channel for each message. Sensitive matters warrant private chats. Major news calls for company-wide emails. 

Choose media that aligns with the message type, urgency, and audience size. Overuse of any single channel dilutes its impact. Match communication style to message and recipient.

Tip 12: Listen to Nonverbal Cues

Watch for nonverbal signals that reveal how your message is being received. Facial expressions, tone, posture, and reactions tell the real story. 

If you sense confusion or disengagement, check for understanding. Nonverbal cues provide instant feedback to refine your approach. Stay observant.

Wrapping Up

Good communication at work means making sure everyone knows what is expected, listening well, giving feedback often, sharing company goals, using different ways to talk, being honest, talking with each other, meeting regularly, and keeping things positive. Doing these things will help everyone work well together and do a good job.

Guest writer.