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When I ask people to tell me about some of the biggest problems they are having in their workplaces, I always hear, "communication." But what does that mean, exactly?
When you use a general term like "communication problems," you have no chance to really get to the root of the problem and do something about it. I like to call words like these "onion words." Those are words where you need to peel back some layers just like an onion to get at the real problem. "Communication" is definitely one of those.
You must be able to talk about actual behaviors. Think about when you say, "She has a bad attitude." Well, what is she doing or not doing, saying or not saying that makes you feel she has a bad attitude? Only when you describe specific behaviors, will you be able to get to the root of the actual problem and do something about it. The same is true for communication problems in your workplace.
So let's look at your office. What are some examples where you feel communication is breaking down? Does the information seem to get lost in the transition from one department to another? One person doesn't keep someone in the information loop even within the same department? Confusing communication that employees all interpret in different ways? All of those are examples I have heard about from other clients.
Next, determine why this is happening. Is it a person that is not sharing the information? Is it a situation where there is no protocol or system that describes how information is shared? All too often, we blame people for the communication problems when in reality it is the system in which you communicate.
Think about your "communication problems." Try to nail down exactly what is causing the problems and get busy finding a solution!
If your team is having problems like those I just mentioned, contact me for help. I have helped many other companies and teams with similar situations.
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