Good communication in business is essential, because it is the basis for successful collaboration. However, we note that it is often complex to set up, because to be effective, it must meet a certain number of essential rules. In this article, we will first define corporate communication and its scope, highlighting its pivotal role in organizational success. We will then give you our practical advice to improve this essential skill, both individually and collectively.
What is business communication?
Corporate communication refers to all the actions carried out by an organization to communicate with its environment, both within the company itself, but also externally.
There are three types of business communication:
- External communication. It targets customers and prospects, so it includes marketing and advertising.
- Institutional or corporate communication. It is intended for company stakeholders, such as partners, investors, suppliers or the media.
- Internal communication. It is aimed at company employees, with the aim of developing a sense of belonging for employees, engaging them and generating a positive image. It includes team meetings, feedback, communications regarding the progress of projects, etc.
In particular, we will focus on internal communication, to better understand how to interact with your employees.
Why is good communication so important?
Regardless of the size of your company and the number of employees, it is essential to conduct your internal communications well, for various reasons:
- It puts everyone on an equal footing. This allows employees to have a similar degree of knowledge about the strategies or projects put in place.
- This limits the occurrence of conflicts and tensions. Most of the time, the unsaid, the interpretations or the misunderstandings are the cause of disagreements between employees.
- This creates a relationship of trust between employees and management.
- This favors team cohesion.
Having healthy and effective communication therefore has many advantages, both for managers and for employees.
What can you do to communicate well in business?
Here are some tips for setting up transparent, healthy and effective communication with your employees.
Practice active listening
It is essential to listen carefully to your interlocutors in order to interact effectively with them. To do this, it is important to listen to them actively.
Active listening consists in listening to the other person and engaging in a process of understanding their message. Attention must therefore be total, and involves, for example, not interrupting the person, asking questions to clarify certain points, and responding appropriately.
Give and receive feedback regularly
Giving regular feedback with your employees allows them to progress step by step and not to let situations that you don't like drag on. It's important to always include positive feedback because it's all too often forgotten.
Also consider asking your teams to give you constructive feedback, both on how you work or manage, but also on your communication. It's a great way to make progress.
Exchange in person as soon as possible
With the generalization of teleworking, more and more exchanges are taking place digitally, either through instant messaging or by email. However, face-to-face exchanges promote richer and more nuanced communications. They make it possible to better discern facial expressions and body language. Use this mode of communication as much as possible, especially when it comes to discussing a delicate subject.
If some members of your team are working remotely or if it is not possible to bring everyone together, give preference to video conferences, remembering to invite remote workers if the information to be communicated concerns them.
Training in conflict management
In all companies, even when everything is in place to promote good communication, conflicts can occur, either between employees at the same level, or between management and employees.
To best manage these types of situations, it is very useful to train yourself on the subject. Conflict resolution is a real challenge for managers, for which it is possible to prepare.
Organize team building activities
Setting up activities for team cohesion on a regular basis (teambuilding for example) makes it easier to communicate with each other.
Getting to know your colleagues better allows you to less apprehend certain discussions and to feel more free to share certain information. In the long run, this has a positive influence on communication.
Communication in business is essential to ensure fruitful collaborations. When done well internally, it promotes equal treatment, prevents conflicts, builds trust and strengthens team cohesion. Active listening, regular feedback, and face-to-face exchanges are concrete ways to improve communication both individually and collectively. By cultivating transparent and effective communication within their teams, companies benefit from a work environment conducive to well-being and performance.
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