COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES

10 Things They Wish You Knew

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.

- PETER DRUCKER

Businesses invest significant time and resources into communicating with consumers.

Can you say the same about communicating with your employees?

If not, we have news for you...

“…nearly 75%...” of U.S. employees are not fully engaged in their work.

What does engagement matter?

• Productive

• Loyal

• Creative

• Willing to recommend their company to others

• Eager to inspire others

Employees with “engagement traits” are:

Need more proof? Try this:

Disengaged workers cost the country as much as $550 billion every year in lost productivity.

This begs the question:

What drives employee engagement?

COMMUNICATION

The average ratio of communication team members to employees in the workplace?

1 : 500-1000

(That’s not very many)

With limited resources and so much at stake, what can you do?

The answer is simpler than you think.

LISTEN.

Even if your employees aren’t talking directly to you, trust us: They Are Talking.

Here are the top 10 things they wish you knew about communicating with then. Ready?

10. Be Concise.

Employees don’t want to wonder what you mean or how it fits into their job description. Tell them exactly what you expect and what they can expect in return.

9. Understand Them.

Just like customers, different staff members have different communication needs. By targeting your messages, you position yourself for more positive responses.

And besides: who doesn’t want to be understood?

8. Be Timely.

Do you delay responses to important customers? Of course not. Employees deserve and expect the same prompt responses.

7. Be Consistent.

Just because your mood changes doesn’t mean your message should. Optimize consistency and minimize frustration by standardizing your communication processes.

6. Identify Value.

Employees want to understand how they fit into the "big picture." Identify the value in each phase of multi-step projects to foster this critical sense of connection.

5. Stay The Course.

Vision without execution is meaningless. When employees buy into an idea, they expect you to follow through. Don't disappoint.

4. Be Courteous.

Words to live by: “It's nice to be important, but it's also important to be nice.” Treat your employees with the same respect you reserve for your customers.

3. Be Forthcoming.

Trust depends on transparency. Bad news or good news...your employees expect to hear it from you, not from the rumor mill.

2. Be Objective.

Let’s face it: some employees are more likable than others. While it can be difficult to treat all employees equally in all situations, objectivity promotes a culture of fairness.

1. Share Your Plan, Not Just Your Vision.

The leap from vision to execution is a big one with a lot of creative thinking and number crunching in between. Don’t just share your vision; also share the tactics and strategies you’ll use along the way.

And don’t forget: employees have ideas and input, too.

Implementing these 10 tips not only shows your employees that you’re listening, but also that you’re learning.

The result?

A rich corporate culture that pays off in everything from productivity to profitability.

HOW WOULD EMPLOYEES GRADE YOUR WORK-PLACE COMMUNICATION?

ARTICLE

Did you enjoy this Slideshare? Would you like other tips to improve your employee communications? Read our article, "6 Ways to Improve Organizational Communication".

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