Workplace communication can be many things. It can be friendly, effective communication that leads to a fruitful outcome of business success.
Or it can be poor communication that leaves the potential for better relationships in the workplace at home. It’s obviously clear to see which option is the more favorable one.
But good communication isn’t just about perfecting the communication skills of the office. In fact, there’s a lot more that effective communication can offer your workplace.
See Related: Why Is Communication Important In The Workplace?
Benefits of effective communication
Effective workplace communication is something every business should strive for. Because it sets off a chain reaction of other benefits to come.
#1. Increased job satisfaction
Employees who are able to communicate effectively with their managers are typically happier than employees who don’t. Simply because they’re able to get a better understanding of the project at hand.
Or feel that senior staff trusts them. This kind of engagement that comes from management can deeply satisfy employees who are seeking a professional life of rich and fulfilling relationships.
#2. A boost in employee engagement
When workplace communication is effective and straightforward, employees are far more likely to be engaged with the work at hand. With the same understanding of the project as managers, engaged employees can forge ahead, knowing that they can positively contribute.
Besides, we’ve all experienced an office where workplace communications were at an all time low. That doesn’t do much for engagement or motivation now, does it?
After all, positive communication can also encourage employees to speak up when they have new ideas to bring to the table. And that just benefits everyone in the company.
#3. Company culture focused on team building
Placing value on communication skills isn’t just about getting the correct information out there. It’s about building up employees’ self-esteem and getting them to focus on team building.
Once employees take on the responsibility of effective communication, they submit to the fact that they are all contributing to a team effort to accomplish tasks. It’s not just one team member trying to get the job done, but rather all team members coming together to create a communication pattern that benefits all of them.
#4. Better client relationships
Communicating effectively in the office doesn’t just benefit employees and managers. It benefits your client relationships too!
With communication at the forefront of all co-workers’ minds, they’ll have a greater sense of how to welcome customers into the fold. Because they’ve developed a rapport with other employees and feel at home in the workplace.
Customers are able to sense that kind of great communication amongst a team. So good communication isn’t just important for employees to experience increased job satisfaction. But for your customers to experience satisfaction as well.
#5. Greater innovation amongst employees
Employee satisfaction can lead to many things. It can lead to increased employee engagement which then leads to greater innovation throughout the office.
When the workplace encourages team members to share their ideas, the workplace becomes a creative hub of brainstorming. Now, this isn’t to say that nothing else gets done in the workplace.
But by opening employees up to the opportunity to communicate their feelings and thoughts, you open up a world of possibilities for what your company and business could be. There are always new ideas around just waiting to be discovered – or invited to come forward.
Like hiring a comedian for a day. Could make the office a whole lot brighter!
#6. Improves productivity
Productivity is an integral element of any business. And you know what happens to increase productivity in the workplace?
You guessed it – effective communication! When communication in the workplace is constructive, team members are able to understand their role within the team and take on their responsibilities accordingly.
When each employee understands that they are an essential part of the business, they realize just how much is at stake. And while some may crumble under pressure, most often it’s the very thing that spurs employees to cultivate their skills and communicate their ideas and needs.
Bonus: What Does An Emcee Do?
#7. Builds on employees’ talents
Instituting clear communication in the workplace can teach you many things. One of which is the kind of talent pool you have in the office.
Maybe Becky is particularly good at graphic design. Or maybe Roger knows how to launch a successful social media campaign.
You wouldn’t know that if you didn’t have better communication in the office. But now that you do, you know exactly what assignments to give Becky and Roger – or any other employee for that matter!
#8. Sets clear expectations for the office
You may not think so, but having a foggy idea of what the workplace expectations are of employees is what often leads to conflict. Because nobody really knows what is expected of them.
But effective communication skills nip this in the bud and openly declare who is in charge of what part of the business. And this way of communicating builds not only an important aspect of trust, but of integrity amongst the team.
#9. Mitigates conflict among team members
And sometimes, conflict happens because a personality or two just don’t get along. But good communication can help to resolve those conflicts in no time.
Because each employee knows that they can state their feelings while searching for a solution together. Of course, this makes handling employee conflict sound easy. But with good communication, conflict among employees really doesn’t have to be that hard.
#10. Fosters an environment of shared responsibilities
Earlier we mentioned that effective communication in the workplace can set clear guidelines for how the business is to operate. But what we didn’t share was that this can also teach employees to share their responsibilities with one another.
And this isn’t to say that one employee bears the responsibilities of everyone else. Rather, that productivity can be advanced when everyone takes ownership of what they are in charge of.
Over time, this kind of communication can set a precedent for workplace culture. And then you’re left with a group of employees who are willing to take on one another’s challenges and find the best solutions together.
Cultivating good communication skills
By now, you know that communication is an integral part of any business’s success. But how can you go about cultivating these kinds of communication skills?
Open communication
First, keep everything transparent. Well, as much as you can.
Being transparent with employees cultivates a layer of trust. And it teaches employees that the managers above them find them fit to handle all types of information.
Set protocols in place for workplace issues
Having specific procedures for when issues arise is another great way to establish communication and expectations. Issues and conflict will always arise. But when you have a plan to resolve said issues, it feels a little bit more proactive than just waiting for arguments to occur.
Brighten the work environment with a Clean Comedian
If communication in the workplace feels a little dull, consider hiring a Clean Comedian to kick start conversations! Nothing gets people talking like a comedic set.
And with our lineup of performers, you’ll never have to worry about prejudice, profanity, or politics taking up your employees’ time. Instead, it’s just some good ol’ fashioned fun to get employees to communicate with one another.
Make communicating a core value of the company
As a company, you get to take a stand on the issues and morals that are of value to you. So why not make communication a trait and practice that your company prides itself on?
This tells employees just how much you value communication. And it can attract new hires to the space when they share those similar values.
Employ active listening
To communicate isn’t just to talk. It’s just as much about listening.
Getting employees and managers to see that is integral to fostering useful communication skills in the office. Because if everyone’s talking and nobody’s listening, well then nothing gets done.
Set clear guidelines on mutual respect
Yet another value you can place in your company’s mission is that of respect. Good communication fosters that kind of respect amongst employees and between superiors.
But doubling down on respect can set its own chain reaction while getting workers to communicate better. And if all else fails, just blast some Aretha Franklin and get everybody spelling it out!
Develop proactive managers
Management shouldn’t be waiting for issues to occur. Instead, they should be actively trying to mitigate them.
Communication in the office can do just that. Because when everyone’s on the same page, there’s less of a chance for things to go haywire.
Ensure that management is approachable
Lastly, you want to make sure that management is approachable. After all, employees shouldn’t feel like it takes guts to talk to their boss.
They should feel like that’s a normal part of their everyday life. So as much as you want to imbue good communication amongst employees, it’s also about communicating to employees that they are worthy of being listened to.
Final thoughts
There are plenty of different ways to try and implement good communication skills in the office. But our favorite has to be going with the corporate entertainer.
That way, everyone gets to have some fun. And your business may be forever changed from a little comedy infused into the workplace.
Keep Reading: How Can Public Speaking Help You?
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Adam Christing is a professional comedy magician, virtual MC, and the founder of CleanComedians.com. He is a member of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and a popular corporate entertainer, magician, and virtual speaker.
