Any silos within a business can cause problems, and typically those issues are within the communications. Where there are issues in communications, things are easily lost – and it doesn’t take long before one team is doing something and another team is doing something else – and there are issues with timing and the end product.
External communications go to stakeholders, clients, investors and suppliers – while internal communications can be emails and meetings between teams. The issues arise when the two messages aren’t saying the same thing.
Closing the gap between internal and external communications is one of the essential parts of moving forward as a business and having a single streamlined vision and goal. Cohesiveness is a must.
So here are some tips to make this work:
Consistency
Everyone should be saying the same thing and one of the ways to make that work is by having templates that make sure people understand what information should be shared and how.
Templates and standards make sure that consistency is experienced by everyone from the newest customer to the oldest member of the board. It’s not just in the delivery either; timing is also something that is consistent too.
Scalable
Starting with two people in an office and growing to multiple floors in an office is a big move. Almost all companies will be focusing on ensuring that they are on a growth track. Scalable technology makes this possible – both hardware and software.
Devices with in-built cameras and microphones, scalable software, a VoIP telephone system, dedicated space for conferencing calls, and any internet packages with scalable possibilities make the process easier.
Open It Up
There is a meme for people who work in the office – could that meeting be a text or email? But emails and texts often leave room for interpretation and miscommunications. A lot can be conveyed through tone of voice and body language.
Building trust and openness means holding space for people to speak, no matter what that looks like. Egos often come into play. However, it is a good idea to put them to the side and remain open so that the goals of the business are put first.
Job Shadowing/Cross-pollination
Sometimes the dev team and the sales team have no idea what the other one is doing. Cross-pollination of the teams can be incredible so that everyone understands what they are doing.
Sharing experiences, sharing skills and insight on internal and external communications can help a phenomenal amount. As management, you can learn a lot when different teams are talking and don’t typically have a lot of communication.
Single Strategy
If you’ve ever been working for a company and the first time you hear about a new product is when you see an advert – this is a prime example of internal and external being separate. Not just for respect but for continuity, the employees should know about new products and services first. An internal first approach is beneficial.
Clarity is important, and communications can be tough, so here are some more tips to help you make the most of this improvement: How To Keep Lines of Communication Open In The Workplace.
