Top 5 Communication Issues You Should Avoid

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Running a startup can quickly turn into a one (wo)man show when you can't tell your team members what needs to be done. Here are 5 communication issues to avoid:

Communication is an essential tool to get anything done. It’s always been like this. A poor communication will lead to multiple issues in any context, especially when it comes to business.

The challenge becomes even greater when a company starts growing along with its employees. Combining their personalities in order to increase the team’s productivity, as well as to avoid potential conflicts, can also turn out to be a significantly difficult task for a manager.

What’s even more challenging, however, is maintaining an open line of communication within the business itself. Also known as internal communication. For some reason, it is often overlooked by business managers. Nevertheless, it is a vital element in business management, as it can make the difference between a profitable smooth-running company and a defectuous one.

86% of employees and executives agree that a common cause that leads to business failure is ineffective communication and poor collaboration between the staff. What makes internal communication inefficient? Here are the top 5 communication issues you need to look out for!

#1 Miscommunication Of Vision And Values

When a manager tries to take the business towards a certain direction and fails to bring strong arguments to his team members that will support this decision, the lack of understanding will most likely be reflected on their performance, thus dragging down the business.

So, in order to avoid this, present your ideas to the staff members in a clear straightforward manner. This way it will be easier for them to embrace them and successfully work on their implementation.

#2 Skipping Regular Feedbacks

There is nothing more damaging to a business than failing to provide the employees with a regular feedback of their work. If the manager waits to offer feedback until the performance review sessions, he runs the risk of slowing down the team and not improving their performance. Feedbacks should be specific and aimed to the positive parts, as well as to those in need of improvement.

#3 Ignoring Employee Feedback

As a manager, not only that you need to offer feedback, but you are also the one who should walk in your employees’ shoes, every now and then. What this means is that you should ask them for feedback. What are the areas that can be improved?

They could see things you might overlook. They can bring suggestions and a fresh new perspective on things. Next, you need to make some changes with all the information you get. Ignoring your employees’ opinions will automatically inhibit them the next time you ask for feedback.

#4 Delegating Tasks

A major indicator of an internal communication issue is the point when tasks are formulated and then delegated in an ambiguous manner. For instance, when the manager stumbles upon an employee on his way out to lunch and takes advantage of that particular minute to delegate a task. It’s an inappropriate way to do it. No one writes anything down, so chances are both of them will forget about it. However, the task will come up again and along with it a large amount of frustrations on both sides.

Avoid such unpleasant moments by delegating your tasks to people who know exactly what and when they are supposed to do it. Formulate your message clearly and choose an appropriate time to send it. Make sure that is gets written down.

#5 A Weak Link Between Sales And Operations

Every business has its fragile points, but this is one is by far the most fragile of them all. Miscommunications that might appear at this stage will lead to conflicts, unsatisfied customers and, on the overall, to a significant loss in the company’s revenue.

You want to avoid this at all costs, so give out as many details as possible. Budgets or jobs specs should be written down all the time. Don’t be afraid to use pictures! A concept might be crystal clear for a salesperson, but the person who is actually implementing it might not find it that way. Also, encourage feedback offering from sales to operations every time a job gets done.

Does any of these issues sound familiar to you? If they do, then it’s time to make some changes in your company. Take the bull by the horns and approach them one by one to increase your profit and run your business as smoothly as possible.

 

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Photo credit: Javmorcas via VisualHunt / CC BY