Proper flow of communication is significant in any organization. For employers to communicate with their workers, they need to use appropriate channels to enable crucial information to reach all the employees concerned. This applies to all entities, whether a corporation, a public, or a private limited company.
Maximizing communication in the organization has immense benefits. These may include proper workflow, enhanced work relationships, and greater motivation among the workers. In addition to that, no manager can achieve leading, controlling, and organizational, managerial functions successfully if they don’t communicate effectively with employees.
Moreover, communication plays a crucial role in planning the activities that are going to take place in the company. To expound further, the whole process of allocating duties and resources to be used in working requires the managers to communicate well with the staff.
With the advancement in technology, employee communication apps have emerged that enable you to communicate with your employees faster and efficiently. Yet it’s important to use an app free solution like texting to act as a substitute for these apps in case of software failure, security breach, and the like – sometimes the old school saves the day.
Other ways which you can use to communicate with your employees without an employee communication app include:
1. A Physical One-On-One Meeting
Instead of having virtual calls to pass some information to your employees, you’d want to try having a physical one-on-one meeting. The best thing about such a meeting is you can gauge the staff members’ facial expressions, moods, and whether they’re actively listening or not. In addition to that, it helps you bond and connect more with your staff members in a better way. Another important aspect is that it helps build trust and encourages stronger relationships among your team members. This can help boost the organization’s performance.
Employees can easily tell the importance and urgency of the message in such a session than if you’re having a meeting remotely. They can gauge that through your tone, countenance, body movement, and even eye contact. You can also quickly tell whether they have understood the message conveyed during the face-to-face meeting based on what their faces look like. Moreover, such a meeting can be more engaging and interactive than a meeting via an employee communication app.
Plus, it’s believed that it’s safer to discuss crucial and private matters in a physical one-on-one session than having a video conference call for there are instances of hacking among businesses.
2. Printed Magazines
You can use magazines to pass important information to your staff members. Some of the things you can write in the magazine include:
- The targets that you’ve so far achieved as an organization;
- The company’s long-term plans;
- Better methods to market your products;
- Matters to do with bonuses and promotions;
- Introduction of new technology to the firm; and
- The core values, mission, and vision statement of the organization.
Magazines are a communication method that ensures that all your employees have received this physical magazine. Chances are very high that the majority of them will look through to ascertain the information that’s been passed.
Additionally, the employees can store the printed material and use it as a reference in the future. This is extremely helpful in case of email systems failing for some reason.
3. Office Phone Systems
Another common way of communicating with your staff sans an employee communication app is through an office phone system. You can go for an office system that’ll suit your organizational needs. Some of the features that some of these phones have include: caller ID, voice mail, and VoIP services. In addition to that, you can decide to record these phone calls in case you need to refer to them in the future.
Business phone systems are good because of their formality. There are few chances of being tempted to have informal conversations that aren’t related to the organization with your employees. Thus, this can help stimulate organizational growth.
Also, business phone systems are limited to calling the firm’s staff. You can’t reach out to your family members or friends using it. Therefore, it is an excellent organizational communication tool.
4. Company Notice Boards
A noticeboard is another way to communicate with your personnel effectively. It’s totally unrelated to employee communication apps. Some of the things that you can communicate to the employees using this medium include:
- A meeting that’s scheduled to take place, the time, and the venue;
- An upcoming organizational event;
- A call to action for a specific emerging issue in the world like pollution;
- Encouragement to employees to go for a particular vaccine;
- New organizational policies;
- Relevant data;
- The closing of the organization may be due to a public holiday; and
- Any general announcements.
To make this information reach almost every employee, ensure that the noticeboards are placed strategically where all employees can access the information. An example of such a place is a common path that employees use to get to their offices or near the gate entrance. Plus, it can be placed near the main entrance of the organization’s building. When you do that, there’s a very low likelihood that any relevant information will bypass any staff.
5. A Printed Newsletter
A printed company newsletter isn’t an employee communication app. It’s a physical communication piece you can use to convey external and internal communication to your staff. Some of the contents which you can communicate to your team through this piece include:
- The latest trends in business;
- A common mistake that you’ve observed in the organization;
- Any relevant company news;
- The organization’s performance; and
- Reminders of things like company policies.
Just like magazines, it’s essential to make sure that all employees receive this printed piece to be up to date with what’s happening in the firm. That way, they’ll not be left behind.
Conclusion
Despite the modern trends and development of employee communication apps, traditional forms of communication are still relevant. Some of the ways in which you can communicate to your employees without these apps include: using print media like magazines, journals, and newsletters. To boot, you can meet face-to-face to pass a relevant message to your employees. Whichever method you use, ensure that all the staff members have accessed the information.
Also Read: Your Guide to the Best Tools for Employee Engagement
