Home Library Translate
A A A
Share »
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on LinkedIn
Connect »

Blog: Supervision

Menu

  • This Blog's Home
  • Guest Writer Submissions
  • Policies
  • To Subscribe to a Blog
  • About
  • Feedback

Employee Communication: Are You Getting the Word Out?

By Marcia Zidle on December 6, 2011

“We thought we were doing a good job in communicating with our employees. However, a recent survey indicated that over 50% felt frustrated because they were not receiving the information they needed to do their job well.”

When there is a communication gap between management and employees, it is usually due to:

1.  Ineffective supervision.
Although communication is the most critically important supervisory skill, many enter the ranks of management due to their technical, not their people skills.
2.  Poor information systems.
Organizations typically do a better job of planning the flow of materials and products than they do of information, which often slips through the cracks.
3. Lack of a cooperative spirit.
Without a strong spirit of teamwork and collaboration, employees are more apt to withhold than to share important information.to avoid communication gaps.

Here’s how to get the word out and prevent communication gaps.

1. Promote supervisors with good communication skills.
The ability to effectively communicate up, across, and downward is the most important supervisory skill. It should also be the most important factor in promotion decisions. Also provide communication skills training to everyone because communication is every one’s job.
2. Conduct an information-needs analysis.
For each position, outline what information is needed, from whom, and by when. Integrate the results of this analysis into the organization’s daily procedures.
3. Provide what employees need to do their jobs well.
From: management: What changes are taking place within and outside the company that will impact my job? How will this changes affect our priorities? What will be different?
From supervisors: What exactly do you want me to do? What resources do I have? When does it need to be complete? How am I doing? What do I need to do differently?
From coworkers: When will the work I need from you be completed? What are your expectations of me?

Management Success Tip:

Communicate, communicate, communicate. Develop a plan to move information quickly up, down and across the organization. Use staff meetings, special events, emails, voice mail, memos, intranets and even bulletin boards to get the word out. Remember, during times of change there is never “too much” communication.

Do you want to develop your Management Smarts?

  • Build your skills with The Effective Manager.
  • Sign up for Quick Wins: 101 Management Tips.
  • Find performance boosters in the Smart Moves Blog.
  • Fast track your leadership. Be part of a Success Team.
  • Need a speaker? Get the Edge keynotes-webinars-workshops.
  • Copyright © 2012 Marcia Zidle business and leadership coach.
    « Previous Next »

    Search Our Site

    Meet the Blog’s Co-Hosts

    Carter McNamara of Authenticity Consulting, LLC, provides organization development and consultant training services, and is developer of the Free Management Library. [Read more ...]


    Marcia Zidle, a certified career strategist and business coach, works with high potential, high impact executives, managers and professionals to advance their careers and grow their leadership capabilities. [Read more ...]

    Categories of Posts

    • Basics and Overviews
    • Coaching
    • Delegating
    • employee communication
    • Employee Motivation
    • Employee Recruitment
    • Employee Staffing
    • Feedback With Employees
    • General Resources
    • Management Effectiveness
    • Organizing Employees
    • Performance Management
    • Roles and Responsibilities
    • Skills Required
    • Team Building
    • Training Employees
    • Uncategorized

    Recent Blog Posts
    Alternate Recent Posts Widget

    • How Good Are Your Management Skills? Part 2
    • How Good Are Your Management Skills? Part 1
    • Wearing the Same Shirt Doesn’t Make a Winning Team
    • Three Strategies to Connect and Engage Employees
    • Do Some Rules Need To be Broken?

    Related Library Topics

    • Coaching
    • Employee Performance
    • Group Skills
    • Human Resources
    • Mentoring
    • Policies (Personnel)

    Library's Blogs

    • Boards of Directors
    • Building a Business
    • Business Communications
    • Business Ethics, Culture and Performance
    • Business Planning
    • Career Management
    • Coaching and Action Learning
    • Consulting and Organizational Development
    • Crisis Management
    • Customer Service
    • Facilitation
    • Free Management Library Blogs
    • Fundraising for Nonprofits
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Marketing and Social Media
    • Nonprofit Capacity Building
    • Project Management
    • Quality Management
    • Social Enterprise
    • Spirituality
    • Strategic Planning
    • Supervision
    • Team Building and Performance
    • Training and Development
    About Feedback Legal Privacy Policy Contact Us
    Free Management Library, © Copyright Authenticity Consulting, LLC ®; All rights reserved.
    • Graphics by Wylde Hare LLC
    • Website maintained by Caitlin Cahill

    By continuing to use this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.X