Great communication is ranked among the top most sought after skills by the likes of Deloitte and the Chartered Institute of Personal Development. Yet because the phrase is used so commonly by both employers and job seekers it is easy to lose track of what it actually means. As an employer it is important to be able to recognise this valuable skill when recruiting new staff, and also techniques for enhancing areas within your existing team to promote productivity and innovation.
More than just a buzzword
Communication skills decide how well someone can convey a message in a meaningful way which is suitable and understood by the audience. To understand what this actually consists of, it is useful to look at the different types of communication:
- Vocal - Using voice, listening, tone of voice, information, presenting
- Written - Printed or digital copy such as books, magazines, websites, emails
- Visual - Maps, presentations, graphs, illustrations, charts
- Non-Verbal - Body language, gestures, tone of voice, eye contact
A vital element for team success
The skills and abilities of individual team members are essential. Your staff have strengths in different areas, distinct ideas for achieving goals and often diverse perspectives on situations. It is these differences which create value and the reason why team work is so effective. What can decide whether these contribute to achieving a common goal is their ability to communicate with each other.
To promote great communication you can firstly lead by example. Setting structured meetings will help everyone keep up-to-date with latest news and developments. A great example of this is the initial team meeting for a specific project, you are able to clearly define and allow for the following;
- Goals, aims and objectives
- Management / ownership
- Contribution of ideas from all members
- Areas of responsibility
- Timescales and deadlines
Without this vital first step of structured communication, work can be missed, team members can interpret things differently and even create friction.
Promoting open communication
For day-to-day work, creating an open atmosphere will promote regular and honest communication between both you and your staff, and the team as a whole. One way of supporting this is to offer an open door policy whereby staff can contact you at any point. This will help staff to feel valued, appreciated and help set the tone for the wider team. Staff are more likely to communicate openly if they are more familiar with each other which you can encourage through team building and social events.
Offering the skills you need
At Brook Street we understand that all roles and organisations demand a particular set of skills and attributes. We take the time to gain a full understanding of every candidate’s skill set, so we are able to accurately match the very best talent with your vacancies.
To find out how we can match you with the perfect candidates for your business contact your local branch
