By Adam

Today’s average office environment does not exactly suffer from a lack of communication channels. A nearly constant drip-drip-drip of emails, Slack exchanges, text messages, video calls, and impromptu hallway conversations can easily overwhelm. Not only is bouncing back and forth between communication channels stressful, it can be incredibly inefficient and time-consuming.

Picking the right channel for workplace communication can help ensure that your team keeps running on all cylinders. Is the message you’re sending best delivered via Slack, email, or — gasp — in person? Use these suggestions to untangle communication lines and keep your team focused on the task at hand rather than attempting to decipher your message.

1. Use the Right Tech Tools

Many workplace communication issues can be addressed through the thoughtful implementation of the right tools. If you want to stop answering the same questions over and over, implement a company wiki. This software solution can contain nearly all the information your team will ever need to access, all in one place. Keep it updated, and it will be an invaluable asset.

You should also consider implementing project management software. When employees share a single platform, they needn’t waste time spent sifting through lengthy email chains and direct messages. Instead, communication is project-specific and tracked within the software.

Nearly all platforms allow system administrators to assign roles to each user to help avoid confusion and streamline productivity. Managers can map out project details and assign tasks to specific roles, avoiding email entirely. As soon as assignments are made, the team can get straight to work.

2. Improve Meeting Habits

Research suggests that up to 15% of the time spent in an hour-long meeting is wasted just setting up the equipment. In fact, tens of billions of dollars are squandered each year on ineffective meetings. Lack of preparation, drifting from the agenda, and meeting more frequently than necessary are all virtually guaranteed to waste time and confuse teams.

The first step to addressing this waste is to reconsider how many meetings you hold. Some teams thrive with weekly or even daily meetings. More often than not, though, it’s better — and much less complicated — to replace meetings with effective communication throughout the day. (There’s a reason “This meeting could have been an email” is an increasingly popular catchphrase.)

Schedule meetings somewhat begrudgingly. Is there a better way to communicate? Can meetings be reserved for special events, training, or quarterly recaps?

The next step is to create consistent, clear practices around meetings. Provide an agenda that sets time limits on topics to be discussed and stick to it. Check a few hours in advance to make sure all key participants will be able to attend that day. If not, reschedule the meeting or cancel it.

3. Develop Communication Protocols

In the absence of a plan to direct communication traffic, channels will quickly become cluttered. Anyone who has stopped working to check a message that had absolutely nothing to do with them knows the impact this …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

Author: Aaron