How to Improve Employee Communication

Supply, demand and market conditions all impact a company’s bottom line and operational health, but an often overlooked — yet equally important — factor to organizational success hinges on company culture and employee happiness. And it all starts with company communication. Is it effective? Is it transparent?

Communication is the backbone of a positive company culture. It’s not just about relaying information; it’s also the catalyst for building trust, fostering a sense of belonging, and encouraging workforce engagement. Here are some key ways today’s leaders can improve communication and better support their employees.

Practice Active Listening

While listening may sound like a passive exercise, done correctly, it’s anything but. Employee listening requires leaders to take an active role in engagement. This means creating a space where employees can share their thoughts comfortably, responding to feedback appropriately, and establishing a communication loop wherein leaders acknowledge what they’ve heard and continually ensure that employees understand that their thoughts are valued.

Some examples of active listening initiatives include workplace surveys, focus groups, town halls, and employee feedback programs. By committing to multiple channels, you can ensure you capture diverse perspectives across the workforce. It’s also important to recognize both the benefits and limitations each of these channels can offer. For example, in town hall meetings, those who are comfortable may raise their hand to speak up, but you must recognize that differences in personalities will inevitably keep some workers quiet. Annual surveys, especially when anonymized, will help encourage sharing from those who might not feel comfortable speaking up in person, but data collection and analysis may prevent leaders from being able to address imminent issues. These limitations don’t mean that these methods are ineffective, but rather that they should be part of a broader strategy for employee listening. It’s crucial to complement these methods with an environment that encourages continuous, open, and honest communication. This way, even those who prefer not to speak in public settings can still have their voices heard, and leaders can take timely action when necessary.

With WorkHound, you can take active employee listening to the next level using real-time, anonymous feedback. This approach allows every employee to share their thoughts and concerns on an ongoing basis, and it gives leaders an opportunity to react and solve problems as they happen. By integrating WorkHound into your feedback strategy, you’re not only capturing a wider range of employee insights but also demonstrating a commitment to genuinely understanding and addressing their needs. This proactive approach to workforce engagement builds trust and inclusivity through communication, creating a culture where every voice is valued.

Create a Communication-Friendly Culture

Open, authentic communication starts with open, authentic leadership. To establish a workplace culture where communication is encouraged and valued, leaders must commit to being transparent, approachable and empathetic. They should lead by example and be willing to engage in candid conversations. This includes admitting mistakes when necessary and sharing their thoughts and feelings. By demonstrating openness from the top down, leaders establish a communication-friendly culture where employees feel safe to express their own ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear of judgment or retaliation. This creates trust and connectivity across the organization, driving healthy collaboration from the newest hire to the C-suite.

Commit to Regular Feedback and Check-ins

While annual reviews can capture diverse workplace perspectives, they offer little to no actionability for leaders. Instead, today’s leaders need the opportunity to check in early and often, keeping a finger on the pulse of the workplace as a whole and being able to intervene for individual issues.

By instituting more frequent feedback sessions, like monthly one-on-ones or weekly team meetings, companies can establish a steady flow of communication that helps leaders recognize achievements, support employee happiness, and prevent small problems from escalating. The WorkHound platform adds even more value, providing a continuous, real-time feedback loop that empowers leaders with unfiltered insights and ongoing workforce sentiment. This immediate feedback complements the more structured, frequent in-person sessions, creating a comprehensive communication ecosystem.

Utilize the Right Tools and Channels

By utilizing the right tools and channels, companies can significantly bolster their communication strategies and build a more engaged and responsive workplace culture. Tools like WorkHound provide a platform for continuous, real-time feedback where workers can express their thoughts and concerns anonymously. Integrating WorkHound with regular feedback sessions ensures a comprehensive approach to communication, where immediate insights and structured conversations can be combined with anonymous, ongoing workforce feedback to help paint a full-picture view of employee sentiment.

This approach empowers employees, making them feel heard and valued. It also equips leaders with the necessary information to make informed decisions, resolve issues proactively, and recognize achievements, all of which contribute to a positive and productive organizational environment.

Leverage the Power of Anonymity

Regular collaboration and in-person meetings provide key opportunities for the workforce to connect on a human level. At WorkHound, we know this firsthand. While our staff is fully remote, we still get together for on-site annual meetings to maintain that human connection. These designated face-to-face opportunities establish a space to strengthen team bonds, foster creativity, and address challenges that are sometimes amplified by distance. There’s no doubt about it: human connection is important.

But when it comes to workforce management, it’s also important to recognize that in-person meetings are not the only opportunities to connect. In fact, as we highlighted in the town hall example, some people will be less comfortable than others sharing in a group environment. That’s why it’s crucial to establish a multi-channel approach to communication. And there is perhaps no bigger ally than anonymity. With anonymous feedback, leaders can uncover hidden issues, gather candid feedback on policies or strategies, and gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of employee morale.

Elevating Company Culture With Improved Employee Communication

Improving employee communication will build a culture where employees feel heard, valued, and engaged. By practicing active listening, leaders can create a space where all employees feel comfortable sharing their insights. Utilizing platforms like WorkHound for real-time, anonymous feedback complements traditional communication channels, providing a comprehensive view of employee sentiment and creating opportunities for timely interventions. To learn more about how WorkHound can transform your communication strategy, contact us today for a free demo.