Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful organization. Whether it’s conveying expectations, providing feedback, or simply keeping team members informed, communication is crucial to achieving business goals. However, research shows that when it comes to communication in the workplace, it’s the manager who is responsible.
According to Gallup’s “It’s the Manager” report, managers are the single most important factor in determining the engagement levels of their team members. One of the most significant areas of responsibility for managers is communication. Managers who prioritize open and honest communication with their team members are more likely to have engaged and productive teams.
But what does effective communication look like in practice? One of the most critical aspects is an ongoing conversation between a team member and their manager. Team members who receive have this with their managers are more engaged and more likely to stay with the company long-term. Managers who focus on a team member’s strengths in this ongoing conversation are more likely to have successful outcomes.
Another essential aspect of effective communication is transparency. Managers who are transparent with their team members about company goals and objectives, as well as the reasoning behind decisions, are more likely to have engaged and committed teams. In fact, a survey conducted by TINYpulse found that transparency was the number one factor contributing to employee happiness.
Communication is not just the responsibility of the manager. It is a two-way street, and team members also have a responsibility to communicate effectively with their managers. Team members who are proactive about communicating their needs, concerns, and ideas are more likely to have successful outcomes in the workplace.
The facets of communication in the workplace are many and fascinating, topics to pursue in my future blog posts. What I really love to see is where companies are doing this excellently. Great communication unleashes great creativity just like it does at Adobe.
Adobe faced a significant challenge of creating a new software product that would appeal to a new market segment. Instead of relying on external consultants, they launched an internal competition called the “Adobe Kickbox Challenge,” inviting all team members to submit their ideas. The winning ideas were given funding and resources to develop fully functional prototypes, resulting in a new product that generated significant revenue for the company.
The Kickbox Challenge not only led to business success but also fostered a culture of collaboration and communication among team members, demonstrating Adobe’s commitment to employee engagement and innovation. This story is a great example of how strong communication practices can lead to innovative solutions and business success.
Do you know that Communication is one of the Gallup CliftonStrengths 34 talent themes? If you have Communication as one of your Top 5 strengths, communicating is like breathing to you, you don’t even have to think about it. For the rest of us, J, we must leverage our own Top 5 strengths to get the job done. For me, I leverage Individualisation, my ability to see you (as in see the individual tree in the forest) and adapt my communication to suit what I learn about you.
What strengths do you lean on to communicate effectively? Would you like to know what your strengths are and what are those of your team members so you can foster this amazing environment where communication gives life? Let me help you, it would bring me great joy to do so.