The Road to Better Office Communication
Setting corporate goals and showing each member of the team how their work impacts the overall direction of the company keeps employees motivated and unified. Goal setting is an important part of a successfully run business, and one of the best practices in office communication.
Goal Setting as Unifying Force
Directives can come from the top and trickle down through a company or nonprofit business. But heavy-handed top-down office communication doesn’t unify a team. Merely telling people what they have to achieve prevents them from thinking through the ways they can contribute and may stifle ideas that top management hasn’t considered. That is why laying out the company’s main goals in a group setting is a good starting point to strengthen office communication. Choose a room or create a space that’s well-equipped for interaction with tables that enhance discussion and make it easy to focus. Present the goals and the reasons behind them. Goals can’t be arbitrary. There has to be a reason for them. Ask the team to consider if they think the goals are doable and if changes are necessary. Then later drill down to department and individual levels to add substance and direction. Consulting firm McKinsey states that “employees will be more effective if they can see how their individual goals fit into the big picture.”
Goal Setting as Ownership
Depending on the company’s culture and personality, office communication will either flow well or sharing honest feedback will be awkward. In smaller departmental or team settings, ask the members to identify challenges they might face in reaching their goals. A sales and marketing team may bring up campaigns that the competition is already doing. They may also point to a lack of focused marketing materials. An engineering or production team may reveal the need for specific components or reasons why they’ve been struggling. Working through the challenges and then having people confirm and prioritize what they can do is a way of giving them ownership.
The setting for discussion is important. In an open office layout, have seating arrangements for focused office communication. Separate it from the nearby workstations and ask for honest feedback. In more intimate office settings such as cubicles or private offices, have a lounge area that’s decorated with plants for a relaxed feel. Include a white board for group discussions and notes.
Goal setting also builds trust. Ask team members individually or in a group for what their goals would be if they were the CEO. What do they see and envision that might be missed?
Goal Setting as Trouble-Shooting
Laying out corporate goals and giving departments and individuals ownership of them is a dynamic process. Meeting the goals easily and successfully can mean that everyone’s work is going well and the team is heading in one direction. Or, depending on the nature of the work and the team’s talent, it may mean that the goals weren’t robust enough. If team members are struggling to meet their goals and deadlines, allow them to provide honest feedback and interaction. This prompts effective office communication. Bring different departments together to address problems. Create positive interaction and incentives for getting back on track. This helps keep morale high and buy-in strong.
Your Goal: Better Office Communication
Effective office communication and goal setting is an art. If you are interested in designing an office space that’s conducive to effective office communication and goal setting, please don’t hesitate to ask us for help. Our office furniture experts are here to guide you and help you every step of the way.
Read Also: Leveraging a Professionally Designed Workspace for Long-Term Gain
Main Photo: National Kozmic Collaboration Space
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: National
