Business and Financial Needs

Posts Tagged ‘Communication’

Why is it that, when so many businesses commit so many resources to internal communication, people always seem to say that communication in workplaces is a significant problem?

One reason is that too often we take “communication” for granted. After all, we know how to talk to people, don’t we?

In organization surveys (and also in exit interviews) employees frequently say that no one ever tells them anything or listens to them – but managers say in reply that they seem never to stop communicating with employees on important matters.

Poor communication – or perceptions of poor communication – can be directly linked to increased operating costs and reduced efficiency because of:

• lower productivity of people
• employee dissatisfaction
• employee turnover
• absenteeism
• lack of understanding of business strategy
• lack of common direction

In most cases, when people criticism communication in an organization, the concern is expressed in general terms such as “communication is bad” or “we are never given enough information”.

Such criticisms are hard to respond to and do not really identify specifically what the problem is with communication. (So the response is often to change nothing about the way communication is delivered – on the assumption either that there is nothing really wrong or that nothing can be done. The other reaction is to just to do more of what is already being done – thereby worsening the “problem”.)
So what needs to happen?

As a first step, it is important to understand that communication is more than simply talking to people or giving information. There are a number of reasons why communication may not be effective. To apply a “generic fix” or to make changes to address the wrong cause of the breakdown will, in all probability, deliver an outcome that is not greatly improved.

Consider these four areas in which communication may fail to be effective.

Just as people learn in different ways, people absorb communication in a variety of ways. So, it is important to ensure that the “style” of communication is varied to ensure that everyone will understand the message.

At its most basic level, consider presenting important information in pictures, spoken and written.

Make sure that, as often as possible, your communication is “two way”. There must be an opportunity for questions, discussion and clarification of the key issues. Messages, emails or notices are much more able to be misunderstood, misplaced or simply not read.
Content

Be sure that what you are communicating has the right level of detail and is expressed in a way that the audience will understand. Too much detail will cause some people to switch off but too little detail may give the impression that there is something being hidden or avoided.

Using language that people understand, for example, means that any jargon used is understood by everyone and complex language and words are kept to a minimum.
Timing and frequency

Many organizations fall into the trap of communicating too often or too rarely with their employees. Getting the balance right is a matter of having a clear purpose for each communication and keeping to commitments rather than just a schedule.

It is also important not to save important communications with employees until the end of the day or shift or until the end of the week. The chances of a focused and interested audience are, predictably, quite small.
Skills

Make sure that the people who are delivering the communication have the skills to get the message across – that may include good written communication skills, good presentation skills or good group facilitation skills.

You may also need to invest in the skills of those being communicated with. Giving employees basic financial literacy so that they can understand business performance data, for example, will help to ensure that information about profitability, liquidity, financial statements or sales and turnover will not be ignored or misunderstood.

Doing presentations in front of the boss and colleagues is not an easy thing for some people. Not a few people are afraid to do so. A wide range of feelings between  fear of speaking or forget will be subject, are mixed into one.

Therefore, preparations in ripe is the key to success in doing a presentation. As reported by of How To Do Things, there are five tricks to make Your perfect presentation.

1. Prepare materials and equipment

Before you do your presentation, You should prepare materials ahead of time. Then check all the equipment you’re going to take it like a presentation file, laptop and everything. One of the reasons most people are afraid to do a presentation that is because they are afraid of forgetting the material should be presented. For that’s all the preparation is the key to mature in eliminating this problem. Make a small note containing important points that you should tell them the time of the presentation, so you won’t forget with material that should be discussed.

2. presentation Exercise

Exercise presentation is one of the five tricks you have to do before the presentation. You can practice first presentation in front of friends or in front of the glass. This is important because with practice will make you become more familiar in doing the presentation, so you feel better in doing so, relax and not grogi.

3. know who his audience

Identify who your audience is important to know. That way You can arrange for the appropriate sentence was presented with your audience. By knowing who your audience, can be the initial step You get them mesmerized.

4. arrive early

You need to arrive early to see the layout of his room like what. If You do a presentation using slides, You must prepare it in advance. So the next time you are called to do a presentation, slide presentation already exists on the screen. However if you are not placed at the beginning to do presentations, by arriving early, You have the opportunity to hear the other speakers who can motivate You to further relaxes doing presentations.

5. Quiet, simple and sure

You do presentations to inform and convince the audience. Therefore, before you can convince your listener, you also need to cool down first to make it more relaxed state. Then You also must make sure yourself very well that the material presented is important. Use simple and uncomplicated language and explain something with a language that is easy to understand by your listener.