Are you expressing yourself incorrectly? Communicate correctly with these 7 tips!
51% of employees feel burdened by digital communication
According to a common definition, communication is the sharing and distribution of information. But if you look at the current discussion, this seems to be lacking everywhere in the office. And yet we have introduced all these new information and communication technologies into the workplace. Plus transparent structures and flat hierarchies. So what's going wrong?
Scientific studies also suggest that something is going wrong. Professor Daniel Markgraf from the AKAD University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart, for example, found that 51% of employees now feel that emails are more of a burden than a relief at work - 5 years ago it was only 42%. The respondents also stated that around 10% of their working time is wasted due to the flood of e-mails. The waste of working time due to inefficient meetings is almost as high ...
New "tools" alone are therefore not enough to optimize communication. They need to be used correctly and their use coordinated intelligently. And, of course, they need to be tailored to the people in the office. Our seven practical tips are designed to give you ideas on how you can steer internal communication in the right direction. Towards more efficiency, less wasted time and more fun at work.
7 TIPS FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION
1. good communication needs rules
Rules should not be an end in themselves. Good rules make communication within the team more efficient and transparent. For example, it must be clear to all employees whether private communication - for example on social networks - is permitted in the company or not. And if so, on what occasions and at what times. In the case of internal emails, everyone needs to know the time frame in which a response or reply is expected, even if the message does not contain a deadline. Determine which messages are shared with whom and who should be placed in the CC (short for "carbon copy") in emails. This prevents important emails from getting stuck in a lonely inbox or drowning in the flood of incoming messages.
2. strike the right note
Communication requires competence, and not just in terms of content. If you don't strike the right note with your counterpart, this will almost inevitably lead to irritation and misunderstandings - poison for any good communication. Try to communicate appropriately . Appropriate to the subject matter and the employees. Excessive formality in a Slack chat can be just as alienating as three emojis in an email with work instructions from your line manager.
3. the tasks determine the medium
The popular Slack chat is a practical communication tool that is well suited as software for coordination within a project team. However, it is not for messages that you and others will need in writing later. Distinguish between situations in which quick reactions and feedback are required and those in which complex content needs to be processed within the team. Chat software can be the right communication tool for the former, while project management software, for example, would be a suitable tool for the latter.
4. use images for your messages
Communication is not just about language. Make personal use of this insight and get your message across to your colleagues better and more memorably in future. Let pictures do the talking! A survey of millennials by TechSmith and OnePoll found that many of these younger employees think the traditional office communication style is outdated. 64% of respondents say they understand content better and faster when it is presented visually . Remember: screenshots and short videos often say more than many words, are directly understandable and impressive.
5. use your personality
Never forget how effective a personal conversation can be. Studies show that a personal approach is generally far more effective than an email - but also more time-consuming. So use this form of communication in a targeted manner. And remember that such a conversation can be stressful for some team members. Especially when it comes to appraisals or performance reviews.
6. repeat yourself calmly
In the flood of information, some important details get lost or misunderstood. If you want your message to reach all recipients, then repeat it. After meetings, for example, explicitly summarize all important points and results once again. Such repetition increases understanding of what has been said.
7. not afraid of new ideas!
Your style of employee communication can stimulate or extinguish creativity. If you only discuss suggestions in order to push through your own ideas afterwards, you are wasting time and destroying your team's motivation. Be happy about new ideas and impulses. They show that your employees are thinking about what they are doing and believe that improvements are possible and worthwhile.
Wherever people work together and communicate, there are misunderstandings and misconceptions, especially in the office. With our tips, you can actively shape communication within the team. The result: less frustration for employees thanks to more efficient cooperation.
