Ways to Break Communication Barriers Between Employees

by Grace Ferguson

For the workplace to run smoothly, employees must be in sync with one another. They must respect and accept each others' differences and work toward the common good. However, because the workplace has various personalities, things do not always go smoothly. Often, the culprit is a breakdown in communication. As a manager, your job is to find effective ways of solving the problem.

Encourage Open Communication

Sometimes, all a manager has to do is lead by example and his employees will follow. Promote direct and honest communication by having an open-door policy so employees can come to you when they have issues. Engage in active listening with your employees so they know that communication is a two-way street. To reduce miscommunication among your staff, encourage them to share their needs with management and their colleagues. Articulate the company’s vision and explain that the key to realizing that vision is to work together as a unit.

Promote Knowledge Sharing

Some managers know their employees’ job titles but not the intricacies of their work. For example, you give a sales representative her quotas and you are only concerned with whether she meets them. You do not know how she generates her leads or how she secures her sales. So the employee does not feel isolated and to encourage her feedback, ask her to explain her specific job activities and the amount of time spent on each. She may even have suggestions that can improve the company’s bottom line.

Motivate Your Employees

When employees are unmotivated, productivity suffers. Also, communication may come to a standstill. Keep your employees motivated by supporting them in times of uncertainty. Set aside a certain time of the day when they can individually come to you to discuss issues. Or, have group meetings or roundtable discussions that encourage their input on specific assignments. Maintain a positive attitude while overcoming obstacles.

Establish Clear Expectations

Miscommunication is less likely to occur when employees know what is expected of them. This includes their objectives and how to meet them. They should also know how you expect them to interact with, and treat, each other -- for example, whether you will tolerate disrespect between your employees or whether you will penalize them for it should not be a mystery. Treat your workers fairly to avoid discriminating and to convey that you do not tolerate it in others.

Build Team Atmosphere

Effective teamwork allows your employees to look beyond their self-interests and focus on what is best for the team. Team-building helps to break communication barriers and enables employees to find new ways of working together. When placing employees in teams, look at their skills and abilities and assign responsibilities accordingly. Improve communications by planning team activities outside of work, such as group lunches or after-work events. Invite all of your employees instead of only a select few.

Resolve Conflict Effectively

Conflicts are inevitable in the workplace. If a breakdown in communication is the reason for the conflict, strive to diffuse it quickly and effectively. Listen to all sides before arriving at your conclusion. Apply resolutions that are in line with company policy. If necessary, seek intervention from your human resources department or equivalent. If your strategies fail to improve communication between your workers, ask HR to assist or consider hiring a workplace consultant to provide communication training to your employees.

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