Effective Communication Practices when a Quick and Reliable Response is Needed

Regardless of what is going on in the world and within our community, company leaders must be able to effectively communicate when a quick response is needed. Here are three methods for communicating with your workforce in a timely and reliable manner:

1. Provide ongoing feedback

During this time, workers may be doing assignments remotely. In some cases, employees might even be considered “essential” and must work onsite to support community needs. Regardless of where your workforce is, leaders must keep productivity levels high by continuing to practice timely, balanced, and specific feedback (Development Dimensions International, 2019). Below, are tips and tricks to do just that.

• Timely positive feedback strongly reinforces positive actions and results
• Timely developmental feedback provides suggestions soon enough for people to adjust and enhance their performance
• Create balanced feedback that focuses on both what the person can improve upon as well as how the person is being successful
• Be specific when providing feedback by informing the person what they accomplished, describe how people achieved results, and explain why people’s actions were effective

Workers who feel they are being heard by others are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best which ultimately increases quality productivity levels (Salesforce, 2017). Consider the following points to have more meaningful conversations:

• Perform check-ins to allow for people to feel heard. When you have a workforce that is heard, they feel motivated. They feel like can make an impact
• When checking in, show empathy for others. 96% of workers have indicated when empathy is shown, employee retention is advanced (Forbes, 2018)
• Invite various people to the table to ensure diversity and inclusion

3. Be Honest and Transparent

Transparency within a company must start at the top. Leaders must have working relationships that are based on the foundation of trust. In fact, a total of 35% of workers would leave their company if they didn’t trust their managers (Forbes, 2018). Furthermore, when leaders are honest, they need to tell the whole truth. Doing so allows for relevant information to be shared and relationships to grow stronger. The following are steps to have a clear and transparent conversation.

• Be open to ensure that discussion has a clear purpose and that everyone understands the importance of accomplishing a given topic
• Continuously seek and share information about the situation or task that is occurring, explore the scope, and clarify expectations
• Involve others by asking for additional ideas
• Develop an action plan to address the situation at hand
• Close the conversation by providing a high-level overview of the plan. Do this while being a confident and positive leader

With incorporating these three components, communication with your workforce is able to be clear and timely. You and your entire team will be able to thrive and be successful during both stable and possibly unstable times.