How to Encourage Communication Among Managers

Joe Weinlick
Posted by


Running a successful business demands harmony among the members of the company's teams. Whether you find that your managers butt heads continually, or you notice tension among them, it is essential to improve communication to keep your company on track. Not only does communication help keep morale high, but it also ensures the entire team is involved in making important choices. Use the following keys to encourage your workers to converse openly with one another.

Firstly, manager communication only takes place when all parties commit to sharing with one another. If your managers frequently ignore their colleagues and subordinates, try to pinpoint the cause of the problem to improve communication. Management roles require a very specific set of skills, and some workers simply are not capable of filling such a position effectively. In other instances, you simply need to let your staff know that you expect them to collaborate with one another to avoid serious consequences.

Silence is only one of the many problems you may observe among your management staff. In other instances, the interactions themselves cause greater difficulties. For example, some managers cause fights when discussing conflict. Others take arguments very personally and feel hesitant to share their personal opinions. If you notice problems of this nature, you need to take a proactive approach to improve communication in your business. Consider investing in a business coach or team-building activities to teach your staff how to interact positively at the workplace.

Cultivating healthy manager communication techniques also means helping your managers to express themselves more effectively. Many managers face a large workload and have little time to chit-chat about problems as they arise. Your team members need to express themselves clearly and concisely. Take the time to work with your staff and teach each worker how to improve communication methods by addressing individual problems.

Finally, do not overlook the importance of your role within the organization. While your managers have a part to play to improve communication throughout the business, you must act as a leader to encourage your team to move in the right direction. Ultimately, you shoulder the responsibility for your business and need to act when problems arise. Ignoring serious communication obstacles only compounds the problem, and in some cases, refusing to act results in long-term damage to the company.

A healthy workplace should cultivate and encourage conversations among executives, managers and workers. Placing an emphasis on productive communication allows your staff to focus on their work and simultaneously equip themselves with the resources necessary for success on the job. While you need to invest a considerable amount of time and resources to improve communication among your employees, the end results are bound to prove vital to your company's future.

 

(Photo courtesy of Ambro / freedigitalphotos.net)

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

Jobs to Watch