Building, Leading and Sustaining a High-Performance Team
Effective communication is one of the founding principles of a high-performance team. Without clear, open and direct communication a business is far more likely to encounter problems that could have a negative impact on operations: from a profitability and synergy aspect. Therefore it is paramount that an organisation integrates effective communication by implementing systems that allow every employee to effortlessly connect. Although effective communication should be a priority on the agenda of all CEO’s, it takes a great investment of time for the best results to show. It takes effort, repetition, understanding and thoughtfulness for great communication to flourish.
However, here are 4 really simple strategies you can implement to create an atmosphere of communication and alignment.
1) Send a Weekly Letter to Employees
Every Monday, send a personally written e-mail to all employees explaining the progress of the business and to thank everyone for their hard work. Something just as simple as this can have a profound effect on motivation, productivity and mood. Employees will feel like they are a real part of the company, are accountable for the business performance. Therefore more inclined to work harder. This kind of communication presents a great opportunity to truly connect and communicate with the entire organisation.
2) Communicate Comfort When Tackling Issues Facing the Organisation
Addressing business negatives is equally important as praising the negatives. Some businesses are guilty of putting more emphasis on the positives and avoiding the negatives. The best companies focus on what isn’t going right. They address the problem, learn from the mistakes that have been made, and then take action the next time a similar situation arises. Having a unified organisational approach to dealing with setbacks, creates an atmosphere of solidarity and togetherness. This generates a sense of belonging and illustrates that employees input and perspective are critical to the functioning of the business.
3) Hold Monthly Meetings With the Team
If your organisation has multiple offices spread across a nation or even an international presence, you should plan to travel to have face-to-face meetings with these groups: no matter what the size is. The value of face-to-face conversations far exceeds a Skype call based on the fact that personal interaction and qualitative conversation are much more appreciated. It’s all about effort. Employees will see that you have made considerable contributions to assure that everything is going ok with them.
During these conversations, it’s important to remember not to spend the whole time lecturing or talking about off-topic criteria. You should spend the majority of the time listening to employee’s needs and expectations. You will be able to learn a great deal about what is really happening day-to-day in these meetings. Based on what is brought up, you can make qualified leadership decisions that benefit everyone. Respect and integrity can be earned, something that is extremely difficult to attain over a long period.
4) Answer All Employee Mail Within 24 Hours
When illustrating your commitment and engagement with employees, you should always aim to answer any questions or queries that employees bring forward within 24 hours. Granted, in this ever-growing digital landscape, CEO’s are busy throughout the day tending to the vision of the business. However, perhaps the greatest benefit of this increase in technology is the effortless communication that instant messaging provides. Set aside 1 hour of your day to respond to employees e-mails. At the end of the day, your employees work hard for you every day: communicating value to your customers and growing the business to new heights. Your team wants to feel appreciated and valued above all else, and this can be met by committing to effective communication as a method of increasing engagement and accountability.
