Communication
is the foundation of every single relationship you have in your personal life;
it’s no different in business. Without effective communication, there can be
misunderstandings, problems and conflicts among your staff, your clients and
everyone else you come into contact.

Communication
is the glue that binds an organization together but do not assume that several
announcements and a note on the notice board is sufficient to get the story
out. Some say to communicate seven times and seven ways but that does not mean
seven months apart. Develop and implement a robust communication plan and check
to see if the total target audience has received the unfiltered message. If you
want to know if your message is getting out clearly why not ask the most
obscure person on the night shift if he or she heard the message? The day shift
is easy but how about the rest of the folks?

Open
communication is at the center of Lean and Respect for People. Employees need
to know what is expected of them and how they’re performing. Visual displays
such as scoreboards, scheduling charts, team communication boards, and
recognition displays all help to keep information flowing between employees,
departments and upper management.

Communication
is a key ingredient for empowerment. Give every employee equal and direct
access to information. Many companies have developed a trickle-down style of
communication that alienates those employees who may not be “in the
loop.” The more informed employees are and the more communication is open,
honest, direct and complete, the more likely employees are to feel empowered
and connected to the daily operations and overall goals of their company.

Ultimately,
effective communication can be one of the most important skills you use in your
business. If your communication skills can use some fine-tuning, take time to
analyze how you communicate, and the results of your communication. Then focus
on ways you can improve it over time. You may be surprised how much that
changes your relationships with staff, clients and colleagues for the better.