Effective Communication In The Office: Why it’s So Important

In today’s world, we have so many ways to communicate with each other and this is no different in a business environment. However, what methods you use to communicate in your personal life are less important than in the business world where time is money. By improving office communication, productivity will also drastically improve (for more on improving office productivity, read How to Achieve the Most Workplace Productivity). Use these tips to learn how your office communication can improve by using the right mediums for the right conversations.

Email is for Short Conversations

When longer discussions need to be held, email is not the right platform to use. First, explanations and discussions take far longer when they have to be articulated through written communication. Furthermore, it can be harder to get on the same page through email discussions. This takes up more time in the present and also in the future when you have to reconvene because of misunderstandings. Not to mention that frustrations from these setbacks can also negatively affect productivity. Alternatives to email should be phone conversations and in-person meetings.

In-person Meetings can be Ineffective

Just as email can be destructive to maximum productivity, there is also a time and place for in-person meetings. It is ineffective to use in-person meetings when people may need to travel to be there or when the discussion could take place just as easily over the phone. For these situations, conference calling can be the perfect solution. Why Free Conference Calls Aren’t the Right Call). Bonus tip: Always have an agenda before each meeting, whether it be a conference call or in-person. This way you will be able to cover more ground in a small amount of time.

No one likes for their time to be wasted, and when it comes to running your business or nonprofit, ineffective communication is costly. Make sure to brief your team about how they can use their time wisely and make sure you are providing them with the office solutions they need to succeed.