Establishing an open line of communication with employees is one factor that can lead to business success. Good leaders acknowledge the fact that communicating with their workers effectively plays an important role on building trust between them and the employees, which can eventually boost their engagement and overall performance.
As a leader, what should you do to make sure your communication with your people is helping and not hurting engagement? Here are some guidelines to follow:
1. Don’t be afraid to get more personal.
It’s always good for leaders to know and interact with their employees on a more personal level. When having a conversation with them, try to focus on them as the topic of your communication. You can easily get their attention if you can make them feel that you are interested to know them more.
2. Demonstrate to them your passion.
When employees feel and see how dedicated their leader is to the organization, they will be inspired to be the same, too. Communicate with them in a way that you can share your passion about the services or the products your company is offering. By showing them commitment to your customers, you can expect them to have the same commitment for quality customer service as well.
3. Ask for feedback and listen.
People who are gifted with great leadership skills are aware that effective communication is a two-way street. It’s important that you show how willing you are to listen to what your employees have to say by asking for employee feedback. You can start by conducting an employee engagement survey by which you can gather and analyze information from your employees. This will make them feel that their opinions matter. And of course, don’t forget to act on whatever feedback you receive. There is no point in asking for their feedback if you’re not going to do anything about it.
4. Recognize good work and performance.
There’s no doubt that recognition, or lack of it, has a great impact on employees’ level of engagement. As a matter of fact, studies show that being unrecognized or unappreciated is one of the main reasons employees leave their employers. Thus, you have to find ways to communicate the value of your employees by praising them or giving out rewards.
5. Have a positive presence in the workplace.
Always think about how your communication affects your employees’ feelings. Does it make them inspired or confident or perhaps disheartened? If you want to avoid radiating negativity in the workplace, always have a positive attitude towards all your interactions with your employees.
Communication is an important tool for creating a trusting and productive relationship between employers and employees. Good leadership is also judged by how this type of communication affects employee engagement, workplace productivity, and business success.