COMMUNICATION to negative feedback if you wish to fix communication issues in the workplace .
If your employees believe you are listening to them and are committed to acting on their feedback , they ’ re much more likely to tell you things you need to know . If they feel like you don ’ t care , they won ’ t care either .
Make feedback from your staff part of your routine . Talk to team leads and find out what their employees ’ greatest concerns are . Set up anonymous surveys to discover areas where management can improve .
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UNDERSTAND BASIC HUMAN NEEDS Take the time to study and understand Maslow ’ s Hierarchy of Needs . People struggle with higher thought and creativity if basic human needs for physical and emotional safety are not met . Talk to people about how life is going for them inside and outside work . Productivity will likely fall if an employee gets evicted and has to scramble to find a place to live . They may not be open to feedback about things they can improve , and reprimanding them could strike such fear in them that they shut down completely .
First , show your team you care about them . When they know you share opportunities for growth from a place of care , you ’ ll improve your working relationship and they ’ ll be more likely to make the changes needed to improve .
Think about a teacher you loathed and one you loved . Difficult people often only teach how not to act . On the other hand , an educator who truly cares about students ’ well-being may inspire them to try harder , learn more , and stretch further .
When you start from a place of common human decency , communication issues are less likely to fester .
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DIVERSIFY YOUR TEAM A team of unique individuals from different backgrounds improves communication by highlighting each person ’ s strengths . Gallup reports that 88 % of employees strongly agreed that understanding their strengths improved coworker relationships . Add employees of different genders , ages , cultures , and experiences . Hiring people with various personality types and learning to navigate cultural differences is crucial if you want your business to thrive and workers to embrace new ideas .
When hiring new employees , be diligent about seeking out people who will add to your culture , versus looking for someone who will “ fit in ” with the team .
LEARN HOW TO FIX COMMUNICATION ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE
As you implement changes to improve communication in your workplace , expect a bit of pushback . Some people take time to embrace new things .
Transparency is a vital component of excellent communication skills . Explain why you ’ re starting new policies , focusing on the benefits and how a more open dialogue helps the company and employees .
Start by caring about the person you ’ re talking to and then develop better skills through feedback , mutual respect , and training . These efforts will make a big difference and improve interactions .
Go to RadicalCandor . com / resources to access information about courses , learning guides , videos , the Radical Candor podcast , and other tools to help you fix workplace communication issues . +
Zachary Amos is constantly preoccupied with the latest technology trends , ranging from the ethics of AI to experimenting with the newest gadgets and playing the latest gaming consoles . As Features Editor at ReHack . com , he specializes in a broad range of trending technology topics such as cybersecurity , artificial intelligence , and smart homes . His tech insights have been featured in various publications , including VentureBeat , TalentCulture , ISAGCA , Unite . AI , HR . com , and many others .
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