Improving your communications
Communication in the workplace can be improved significantly by attending to two core areas;
- Improving interpersonal communication skills of managers and team members
- Building clear messages and communications channels
Improving interpersonal communication skills
Interpersonal communication skills are those skills needed to communicate effectively with, and understand, other people.
Why are they important?
Good interpersonal communication skills help to build greater awareness of the other person, understand them and be able to converse with them in a confident way. They help minimise misunderstanding caused through poor personal communications and create good lasting relationships. They improve the ability to hold difficult conversations and deal with workplace communications issues that might arise.
How can we help?
We offer advice, training and coaching in interpersonal communication skills at all levels.
Areas covered include:
- How interpersonal communication works
- Understanding personality type
- Observation and body language
- Active listening
- Asking questions
- Giving feedback
- Making decisions and solving problems
- Influencing skills
- Group working
- Making conversation
- ‘Small talk’
- Handling difficult or aggressive people
- Receptions, trade fairs and conferences – working the room
Our coaching and training concentrates on practical skills development with the theory weaved into exercises, case studies and role play.
What are the benefits?
The individual will become more aware of what is happening in the workplace. As a result they will be able to respond more effectively, deal with problems before they get out of hand and build relationships through a good understanding of work colleagues.
Your organisation will find that the improved communications between colleagues leads to greater efficiencies, fewer arguments caused by misunderstanding, improved interpersonal relationships, improved team working and greater performance.
What now?
You will find papers covering the theory behind some of the subject areas in our Resource Centre.
If you want to get started now or wish to discuss our services further then email us to arrange a free and confidential discussion.
Building clear messages and communications channels
Good internal communications result in a free flow of information between senior executives, managers and employees. Developing the right messages, methodologies and channels is the key to success.
Why is it important?
Companies that take time to improve their internal communications gain greater trust and support from employees; because they are better informed, the company will gain greater employee engagement which in turn leads to improved morale, greatly improved productivity, customer service and its people adopting an ambassadorial role when talking about the company.
How can we help?
We advise or assist you in developing your internal communications. That may be through a review of existing internal communications or through a specific internal communications project such as a change communications programme.
If you want to develop a completely new internal communications package then we can help you to research, construct and deliver your workplace communications programme. This might involve any or all of the following:
• Single site or multiple site solutions
• Cross cultural communications
• Developing a communications protocol (procedures, etiquette, code of practice) & strategy
• Creating internal communications ambassadors/teams/leaders
• Building a ‘core messages’ strategy
• Identifying and developing relevant communications methodologies (email, intranet, cascade, notice boards, team briefings, newsletters, wikis, podcasts, conferences, seminars etc)
• Identifying and eliminating potential communications barriers
• Establishing employee communications audits/surveys
• Creating feedback channels and initiatives
• Internal communications skills training.
If you want help to improve your current internal communications processes or work on a specific project, then we can assist you with:
• An internal communications audit
• Audience analysis
• Employee communications survey
• Messages review (content, frequency, relevance, audience penetration, audience perception)
• Redesign of published internal communications materials.
What are the benefits?
You will discover what is important to communicate and what isn’t. Your employees will hear and act upon a smaller number of timely, relevant messages. Your communications will flow in every direction and not just top down, leading to greater trust and employee performance. Your internal communications will avoid disruption by gatekeepers and communications barriers.
What now?
You will find papers covering the theory behind some of the subject areas in our Resource Centre/Internal Communications.
If you want to get started now or wish to discuss our services further then email us to arrange a free and confidential discussion.
