Learn How to Communicate on a Case-by-Case Basis for Better Results

To say that communication is important in the workplace is an understatement. This is true regardless of the type of business you're running or even the industry you're operating in. One study from McKinsey Global Institute found that not only does active communication bring people closer together in the workplace but in these types of situations productivity tends to improve between 20% and 25% on average.

At the same time, there is no "silver bullet" method to communication that will instantly get everyone on the same page. Only by looking to your employees as individuals, and playing to their own individual strengths and preferences, will you finally be able to see the communication gains that you so richly deserve.

Let the Employee Be Your Guide

Perhaps the most important thing for you to understand is that communication no longer means face-to-face conversations, -or at least it doesn't exclusively. This is particularly the case regarding introverted employees, a staple at any organization.

Just because Ryan from Accounting doesn't like to speak up in meetings doesn't mean that he lacks communication skills. It just means that speaking in front of a group isn't necessarily his forte. Instead of trying to force Ryan to adapt to your wishes, consider how Ryan would prefer to communicate.

Emails, memos, texting, one-on-one meetings, phone calls: these are all viable options regarding getting ideas across in the modern era. As a business leader, it's not your job to get everyone to communicate the way you want to just because you prefer looking someone in the eyes when you tell them what they need to do next. It's your job to make a note of the conditions that a person excels under and then do whatever you can to facilitate those needs whenever possible. 

The Larger Implications of Communication

Consider the fact that according to one survey, an incredible 46% of employees said that they "rarely, if ever" leave a meeting knowing exactly what they're supposed to do next. This is the danger of a "one size fits all" approach to communication. You end up becoming something of a "jack of all trades, master of none."

One study revealed that 26% of employees think email is a major productivity killer. But when you reverse that, it means that 74% of employees think email is just fine. But it's important not to create an "either/or" situation where one doesn't have to exist. If you know that Robert is going to get the information he needs from an email, send away. If you know that Brenda is the type of employee who needs to sit down and talk out her next objective in person, be sure you make time for her in your schedule.

It's up to you to find the right communication method that works for the individual so that everyone can be on the same page when it comes to contributing to the whole. 

It's important to remember that according to a recent Gallup poll, 70% of employees in the United States said that they just weren't engaged in work anymore. Creating an environment of open and honest communication is one of the keys to combating this issue head on. But you must also remember that no two employees are created equally.  An approach that works great for getting one employee to open up and become engaged in their work may be woefully inadequate for the next.

Only by making an effort to communicate on a case-by-case basis will you be able to generate a workplace where success is no longer a question of "if" but "when."