Are You Getting Through to Your Employees?

Are You Getting Through to Your Employees?

While communication is critical, in many companies it is also troublesome. It seems that no matter how hard you try, your employees may still say that you don't "communicate" or "connect" with them.

Successful communication can be looked at in three parts - volume, content and meaning. The message that incorporates these elements - is the message that truly connects.

These three parts of communication are not mutually exclusive and all three are needed to connect with your workforce. For example, companies often focus on volume when asked how well they communicate. "We publish a newsletter every month," or "We have team meetings once a week." These activities are important, but only if they truly connect with an employee's desire to know at a personal interest level.

Similarly, good communication requires the right content, but management's definition of content may not have meaning for employees. Knowing how many units the company produces or what broad-based decisions are being considered is a start. More important to communication, though, is making sure employees understand this question: "So, what does that have to do with me - personally?"

Here's an example. A company announces that it is adding a new product. A new division will be formed. Management is excited and wants everyone else to be, as well. Yet, each employee is considering this change in light of the personal issues the change may affect.

"Will my workload increase?" "Will the company ignore my department's needs while this new division is being developed?" "Why didn't they ask me to help - they probably don't even realize I have a background in this area." Often these questions will not be asked directly of management, making the job even tougher.

Volume and content are relatively easy; connecting with employees' issues is not. Connecting is an individual issue. What "connects" for one employee may have no meaning for another. It takes time and commitment from management to help employees understand the information and what it means to them specifically.

Learn how to "connect" and determine, Are You Getting Through to Your Employees?

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