Business Management

Do you communicate well in business?

Effective communication is a vital tool for any business owner. Your success at getting your point across can be the difference between sealing a deal and missing out on a potential opportunity.

Communication is also important within the business. Effective communication can help to foster a good working relationship between you and your staff, which can in turn improve morale and efficiency.

Here are some suggestions for consideration:

1. Listen
It's one thing to ask good questions - it's another to really take on board the answers. Active listening means paying attention to the speaker – both to verbal and non-verbal cues. It is vital to make sure you don't let your attention wander. Important pieces of information can be missed if you are not alert and engaged. This can lead to misunderstandings later on, or possibly embarrassing situations where you appear to have forgotten something you have been told.

2. Non-verbal Communication
Body language can back up the words you use and how you say those words, but can also betray your true feelings if you are uncomfortable in a conversation. Looking people in the eye when talking to them is a good way to let them know you are listening to them and interested in what they have to say. Eye contact can also convey sincerity and confidence, which is often important in business situations.

3. Respect Cultural differences
The world is shrinking. Companies not only hire foreign employees, but they also work with more colleagues abroad. As a result, management needs to be culturally sensitive and aware of the subtle differences in the way people of different nationalities interpret words and gestures.

4. Trust your staff
When employees feel as though they have control over their job, they feel a sense of purpose and are more invested in the entire process. Autonomy breeds innovation and job satisfaction. Babysitting, on the other hand, makes employees feel as though the company doesn't consider them competent enough to do their job. They feel insecure and unmotivated. Provide your workers with the tools they need to get their job done, and then give them the freedom to do it.
Communication effectiveness can have dramatic effects on employee morale and productivity. Always work towards maintaining high standards and rewards will be there. Please let me know your thoughts. gerry@polarisgroupmc.com

Business Management

How Satisfied Are your Employees?

In most organizations the most important asset is the staff. There are many ways to maintain and improve the level of satisfaction employees feel as part of the organization and many steps can be taken without spending vast sums of money to attain this goal. Here are a few to consider:

1. Inspire
Explain your vision, mission and values. Motivated by their own intrinsic sense of purpose, 1 most people would be willing to help their employer be successful. But to do so, employees must first understand and then believe in what your organization stands for, and know how their individual efforts contribute to the achievement of that mission.

2. Train
Provide the training and tools needed for success. Clearly, employees need to know how to perform their duties, and be equipped with the right tools to get the job done efficiently. In today’s digital world, developing and delivering high-impact training programs (whether in-person or online) has never been easier. Beyond training for today, think about building employee capability for tomorrow.

3. Communicate 
Keep employees informed on company goals, issues, and how individuals can contribute to the overall success of the business. Show trust, accountability and expectations through clear communications. Listening to employees is another key way to show they are part of the team.

4. Encourage initiative
Empower employees to take the lead. It’s easy to fall into the trap of simply telling employees what to do. A more enlightened approach may be to explain what outcomes you’re expecting them to achieve, then encouraging individuals or teams to determine their own way to achieve the desired results. A culture of innovation requires leaders to allow their people to make mistakes, while encouraging and supporting their efforts and celebrating their successes.

This is a short list of some ways to keep employees satisfied and thus helping the organization achieve its goals. None of the suggestions need break the bank but the return can be substantial.