As the head of human resources, you’re on a mission to boost team productivity. You want to engage and motivate your team to improve productivity.
But one challenge looms large – weak internal team communication.
If you fix this, most of your goals and plans will fall into place.
In this blog, we equip you with 5 essential insights to empower your HR endeavours to strengthen internal team communication.
We’ll also share five actionable tips from communication experts to help you improve your internal communication.
Let’s begin.
What should a head of human resources know about internal communication?
Your job as an HR isn’t just to hire people.
It’s upon you to manage the workforce, all while keeping your employees engaged.
As an HR professional, experts say you must know five important things about internal communication.
Understanding these will enable you to boost your team’s productivity levels.
First is addressing and preventing conflicts within your team.
1. How to avoid conflicts in your team communication?
Collaboration among your employees indicates teamwork and a positive work culture.
But with collaboration comes a big challenge – conflicts.
Communication expert and best-selling book author Diana Booher, shares three tips for avoiding team conflict.
The CEO and Communications Strategist of Booher Research Institute, Diana, suggests establishing protocols and stating expectations.
Diana further recommends recognising and rewarding your team’s achievements.
“Lastly, create a system for your employees to raise questions and deal with conflicts,” Diana adds.
The more projects your employees collaborate on with each other, the more chances of disagreements.
Your team is likely to disagree on one thing or another while collaborating.
These disagreements can lead to arguments and conflicts.
If not stopped soon, this can pollute your work environment.
As the HR, it’s your job to disarm these arguments before they become conflicts.
So, as Diana suggests, reward your employees more.
Also, advocate protocols and create a system so your employees can ask you questions.
To create such a system, you need to ensure a smooth mode of communication for your team.
2. Why mode of communication is as important as the message?
While smooth communication is crucial, the method of communication matters even more.
Writing, for example, is a perfect mode of communication.
But is it always the right one?
Not really.
Renowned executive coach and multiple book author Julian Treasure makes some excellent points.
“Writing has many advantages over speaking. You can edit, revise, and refer it to others,” says Julian.
Julian adds there are times when writing is the best mode of communication, but other times it isn’t.
“So, next time you send an email, pause and think whether a phone call or face-to-face meeting can get the job done better,” Julian suggests.
We agree with Julian on this one.
Your teams must understand the importance of selecting the appropriate communication modes.
The key is to understand the nuances between these communication modes. And it’s your job as an HR leader to teach it to your employees.
For instance, a text message is appropriate to greet a client on special occasions or holidays.
But if you need to discuss business with a client, you should get them on call.
Depending on the importance of the discussion, you can choose a video call.
For this, you must choose a good communication tool like Talk Magnet, which offers many features.
Talk Magnet is a lightweight team collaboration tool with no steep learning curve.
It offers audio-video calls, file sharing, and group chatting for effective team communication.
Talk Magnet is not tech-heavy, complicated, or exhausting.
It gives your team the feeling of chatting with a friend, which means collaboration with fun.
You can learn further about the best tools in our article on the best team communication app for enterprises.
If you head the HR of a startup, check out our article on the best team communication app for SMEs.
3. How listening differentiates from hearing?
Employee training is a key part of your job description.
“Listening is making meaning from sound. You can practice it and master it,” says Julian, who is also a listening coach for CEOs and senior leaders.
“As leaders, we must continue working on this skill to ensure that your team feels heard and seen,” Julian adds.
Julian reminds us not to be that boss who keeps looking at their phone while the employee talks.
Developing employee skills becomes crucial for your organisation’s success.
So, understand the importance of the focus areas for your next training.
It’s not always the consistency of training that drives business forward. It’s the quality.
That’s why you should look for ways to train your employees to practice listening.
Help them understand the importance of eye contact, body language, and video call etiquette.
4. Appropriate questions lead to quality answers
Asking the right questions often goes a long way.
Diana Booher says, “Questions—and their answers from the other person––cause reflection, refocus, and guide in the appropriate direction.”
Do you see her point?
Questions are strong and powerful.
They stop you in your tracks. They force you to think and respond in an adequate manner.
So, to be a better HR, always ask the right questions.
5. How to communicate change in positive ways to your employees?
As is their nature – human beings are creatures of habit.
Your employees are no different.
With every significant business change, your work environment must adapt accordingly.
So, how do you positively communicate the new decision to your team?
As Diana Booher says, “Change usually involves a period of chaos until people struggle through it to success.”
Diana suggests asking empathetic questions that make the decision less painful.
She recommends asking these deep and specific questions:
- What’s the other person’s perception of pain? Is it excessive regulations? Paperwork? Micromanagement? Failure? Embarrassment?
- What’s the other person’s perception of a positive outcome? Is it easy to learn? No stress? Longer lasting? Speed? Fun? Praise? A raise? Dependability? Ease? Time off?
Diana says these questions lead to a persuasive conversation and a positive outcome.
So think of empathetic questions relevant to your team next time your organisation makes a new change.
This makes you a better HR person.
You also make it easy for your employees to understand the new change.
Supercharge your internal team communication with Talk Magnet
So, there you have it. You discovered 5 new things experts say you must know as an HR personnel.
Here’s what you need to do now.
Pick a communication tool to supercharge your team’s productivity.
A structure can’t stand without a pillar. And neither can your internal teams without the right communication tool.
So, use Talk Magnet to give your internal communication a much-needed boost.
Talk Magnet is a simple and powerful tool for internal team communication.
So sign up for free or schedule a free demo to uncover the potential of your teams.
