{"id":51,"date":"2015-05-29T13:17:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-29T13:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/Blog\/index.php\/2015\/05\/29\/the-case-for-a-culture-of-communication-at-the-workplace\/"},"modified":"2023-01-08T11:08:28","modified_gmt":"2023-01-08T10:08:28","slug":"the-case-for-a-culture-of-communication-at-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/29\/the-case-for-a-culture-of-communication-at-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"The Case For ‘A Culture Of Communication’ At The Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You haven\u2019t been living under a rock for the last decade so you know that often, people take something for granted about communication in this fast-paced era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They sometimes forget that communication has become increasingly relevant to careers and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the workplace, gone is the now \u2018archaic\u2019 top-down communication style from ages passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Archaic\u2019 only because the advent of social media, as well as the prevalence of numerous online platforms, with their impact on the communication styles of\u00a0 professionals and companies, make any method of communication, without true engagement, obsolete.

Not only have new technology, smartphones, tablets, \u2018smart\u2019 watches, (Apple watch\u00a0anyone?), other internet-enabled communication devices and the explosion of mobile apps made the exchange of information instant and reliable, another trend has come to stay:

The rise of the content.

Content, which broadly speaking, encompasses varied communications, has become a fixture in organisations and among professionals.

Today, the use of storytelling to increase \u2018followership\u2019, or to attain \u2018influencer\u2019 status in an industry, or to boost business results, is evident in the various types of content produced and disseminated in cyberspace \u2013 blog posts, articles, images, videos, infographics, podcasts, graphics etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As is explained in this\u00a0post<\/a>, savvy brands now use content to tell powerful stories to improve their results. Others use communications\u00a0\u00a0to boost their reputations<\/a>\u00a0as well as to build trust in their organisations and among external stakeholders.\u00a0

On the professional level, executives perceived to have excellent communication skills,\u00a0influenced by the content they consume<\/a>,\u00a0are considered effective leaders and are rated highly in their careers.\u00a0

Good communication is now indispensable because it influences a wide range of workplace issues such as\u00a0trust<\/a>,\u00a0commitment and performance<\/a>. Today, employees need to be treated as the valuable, indispensable assets that they are in the productivity wheel.\u00a0Therefore communicating in ways that respect their contributions makes them more efficient in their duties and more likely to stay in a company.

There is thus a case for nurturing what I would refer to as \u2018a culture of communication<\/em><\/strong>\u2018 in an organisation. In simple terms, this means infusing systems and daily operations with simple and clear communication, strengthened by feedback channels at every level, that it becomes second nature to all: From the new entrant to the CEO.

Although\u00a0culture changes<\/a>\u00a0 are serious endeavours and differ in degrees of complexity, there are considerations to note when developing this \u2018culture of communication\u2019:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1) Management\u2019s commitment\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Without genuine commitment from top management, a move towards a communicative culture will crumble after the initial \u2018buy-in\u2019.\u00a0

Not only should \u00a0the \u00a0CEO \u00a0approve \u00a0the change, but employees who are passionate\u00a0about the change and understand all aspects of the change programme should be selected as the designated spokespeople. These professionals should consistently answer questions, clarify issues and be prepared to address resistance to change efforts.

The CEO himself should support the change agents publicly when required and regularly inform all employees about the progress made at key periods. This could be done via emails\/newsletters, on notice boards\/the intranet, or in short videos. His participation will underscore the point that the new culture is not simply a fad.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2) Clarity of key initiative<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What new initiative will be launched to usher in the \u2018culture of communication\u2019?\u00a0

Whether it is a new \u2018open door policy\u2019 between levels, or a new software whereby employees could make suggestions or lodge complaints, or a new system of feedback whereby all issues must be acknowledged and addressed in 24 hours, there must be a constant:

The initiative must be penned in simple language, devoid of jargon and easily understood by all levels inside the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3) Flexibility and adaptability<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It is possible nonetheless that the perfectly-penned communications project which showed a lot of promise, may need tweaking as time elapses.\u00a0

For example, a newly-launched internal social media app may initially have been well-received. However, bug issues, the need for frequent updates and a slow network may soon make it an annoyance to handle.

Employees may prefer being involved in the company\u2019s branded social media accounts or the creative types may be interested in crafting content about their experiences that could be posted on the company\u2019s website.\u00a0

Whatever the adjustments that are required, note that adapting to change but remaining committed to the overall goal of an improved transparent workplace is necessary.

Being flexible would also mean letting go of the fear of failure and discarding what doesn\u2019t work over time, to prioritise what does.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4) Patience and consistency in delivery<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Developing a \u2018culture of communication\u2019 would take time.

Because communications programmes involve the \u2018human element\u2019; (the attitudes and behaviours of all involved in the process influence the outcomes); there may a tendency for Management, over time, to label them as impractical causes with intangible benefits.

But patience is needed even when the \u2018return on investment\u2019 is slow to materialise or bottom-line results, difficult to measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Likewise, consistent nurturing of the \u2018culture of communication\u2019 will pay off when new \u2018habits\u2019 become established.

This is how it will work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improved communication at the workplace highlights a perception that the company\u00a0truly<\/em>\u00a0cares about issues impacting its employees\u2019 careers and well-being, (which in organisational behavioural science is termed \u2018perceived organisation support\u2019). These informed professionals, now empowered, become appreciative of the empathetic atmosphere and will become more\u00a0engaged<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>at work. Remember that research has shown that employee engagement leads to\u00a0multiple benefits for the organisation<\/a>, including 51% higher productivity, 9% higher shareholder returns and higher levels of trust in management.

In a nutshell, there is\u00a0always<\/strong>\u00a0a business case for improving communications at the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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While the idea of a \u2018culture of communication\u2019 may not be new, it is nonetheless necessary for companies seeking to improve productivity and to become competitive by wisely managing their human resources.

However, if you are unconvinced about the numerous benefits of good communication to the organisation, then retaining your most talented employees should be the impetus you need to promote this culture at the workplace. Simply put, your staff \u2013 the most informed and talented lot whose engagement you cherish \u2013 would leave you eventually if they don\u2019t believe they truly matter because you don\u2019t communicate in ways they appreciate.

So as communications trends emerge and technology continues to evolve \u2013 with the Internet becoming more powerful and social media blurring the lines between accessibility and privacy \u2013 you must adapt to the dynamics.

In such a chaotic environment, are you ready to cut through the \u2018noise\u2019 and develop a culture of true communication in your company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let me know how you intend to do this by posting your comments below, anonymously if you prefer.<\/strong> <\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Don\u2019t rush off just yet. Please remember to:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0


1) Share this article in your social media networks by clicking on the icons at the top of this post or below.


2) Sign up for updates in the blog\u2019s right sidebar so that you are\u00a0immediately<\/strong> notified via email when a new blog post is published. Never miss an article again!
\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/em><\/strong>Need help in writing?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/em><\/strong>Hire me for a writing assignment, some consulting work and\/or coaching sessions in formal writing and communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Contact me by: 


A) Sending a direct email<\/strong> to: Lucilleossai@gmail.com.  


B) Calling for advice and a  free  <\/em><\/strong>consultation:<\/strong>

<\/strong>Nigeria<\/strong>:             0704 631 0592<\/strong>
<\/strong>International:   +234 704 631 0592<\/strong>    

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N.B \u2013  All images courtesy of Stuart Miles; via freedigitalphotos.net.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You haven\u2019t been living under a rock for the last decade so you know that often, people take something for granted about communication in this fast-paced era. They sometimes forget that communication has become increasingly relevant to careers and businesses. 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