Business success is fueled in part by effective internal communication tool and collaboration in the workplace. Without these elements, overall efficiency will be affected and the business will not thrive.
Apart from organisational success as its main benefit, effective communication can also promote a positive working environment and enhance motivation among employees. These factors are increasingly important as workers are more engaged in working from home and only communicate virtually.
Avoiding business communication problems is imperative in any organisation. Making sure that employees get a clear understanding of his and her responsibilities to the organisation, either when working individually or with colleagues, promotes collaboration.
Defined as the act of working together to achieve a common objective, collaboration is an essential key to smooth business operations and increased productivity. Here are the main reasons organisations and businesses should promote effective communication and collaboration whether in-office, virtually, or at any job site.
Two heads (or more) are better than one. This couldn’t be truer when speaking about collaborations. By gathering a pool of skilled and knowledgeable human resources and allowing them to work as one, operations become faster and more seamless.
When on employee struggles for days to finish a task, it may take the help of another colleague to get the job done for a shorter period. Effective communication makes this possible. Technology has allowed workers to communicate and collaborate faster no matter where they may be, using various digital devices and project management or team collaboration applications or software.
Gone are the days when employees suffer from miscommunication and lack of access to documents when working remotely. With cloud-based applications easily accessible to the staff and with real-time information updates, out-of-office or field positions no longer feel left out and isolated. With all departments having access to information, teams can better work on their specific tasks in a timely manner.
As the construction industry moves to become more advanced, various processes from the design and construction of buildings have become automated, including building specification writing. Being accessible to all employees and consultants working on a specific project, various methods of automation and sharing of business files enhances communication and collaboration, as well as cut business costs and project completion time.
Effective interaction is one of the essential elements to learning. Learners cannot absorb new information without their mentors communicating with them properly. In the workplace or job site, employees all learn from one another by communicating and sharing important information between and among themselves, including hands-on training. This helps promote the culture of continuous learning which is vital for employees who seek professional and personal growth. For instance, an intern who accompanies a seasoned employee for pool fence inspections in Melbourne will have the opportunity to apply and learn additional skills helpful to his or her future career. Knowledge sharing and mentoring likewise allows businesses to enhance their staff’s capacities to perform their tasks better.
Armed with specific tools, devices, and software that promote better communication and collaboration, managers can perform their work better. With these resources, a manager can either delegate tasks more effectively, resolve conflicts faster, be informed of project updates in real-time, and encourage the formation of better relationships among the employees.
These things, however, are largely dependent on the manager’s understanding of the importance of business communications beyond taking control of employees. It also hinges on how he or she uses these tools to promote productivity, collaboration, and an overall positive working environment.
There are many reasons that influence an employee’s decision to stick to his or her job, beyond reasons related to salary and other benefits. These may be one of the top considerations, but there are other equally important things such as job fulfilment or satisfaction and room for growth.
Job satisfaction may be fueled by a sense of belongingness, appreciation, and giving value to staff contributions, as well recognition for a job well done. When an employee feels he or she is a part of an awesome organisation, it may encourage job retention.
Collaboration allows business owners or the management to have a clearer picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the current team. As an organisation will have individuals from various backgrounds and with different personalities, leaders will have the opportunity to leverage these skills and behaviour in completing projects more efficiently.
At the same time, it also encourages the organisation’s top-level officers to plug the gaps or call for external assistance in completing a project, when necessary.
If you want your business to scale and turn your teams into highly productive and efficient workplace rock stars, provide them with the right tools and promote collaborative communication in all aspects of your business, or within all stages of your project-- whether you have a traditional or virtual set up.
