Face to Face Communication Key to Easing Employee Communication
If you want to dispel the anxiety growing in your workplace, build a foundation of trust built on communication. When times are tough, the workplace rumor mill swings into action act quickly. Therefore, managers need to communicate openly and honestly with employees to stop rumors in their tracks. Here are five tips to help managers ease employee anxiety.
1. Open Door Policy
Senior management should make it a priority to be seen by and accessible to their entire workforce. It is key that, if there are problems or challenges that the company is facing, you do not wait until they have been resolved to let your employees know. Rather, keep them apprised as to the steps the company is taking and the progress it is making as the situation evolves. In challenging times, it is even more critical to be there and available to your employees. It is not only important to communicate and to share with your employees, but to establish confidence in the company in order to keep the rumors and gossip to a minimum.
2. Don’t Hide From Bad News
Your employees know that times are challenging and that the company will need to evolve in order to be successful, so you have no reason to keep bad news from your workforce. It will become even harder to communicate with a distrustful workforce if you try to imply that all is well when it obviously is not. Keeping your employees in the loop and informing them as soon as you know changes are necessary is the best antidote for workplace gossip. When a workforce has faith in their management, they will trust they will heard bad news from the source and stop spreading rumors amongst themselves.
3. Aim to Give Personal Information
Its easy to deliver bad news via memos or e-mail communication. While personal communication takes more time, it is key to the continued productivity of your employees, which is a core priority. Studies have shown that trust is developed through face-to-face communication as well as that your message is more clearly understood via personal delivery methods. While there is always the chance that you are asked a question you don’t have a good answer to, this should not be an area of concern. Your employees are much less concerned with your perfection as they are with your honest effort to communicate directly and keep them in the loop.
4. Listen
Face-to-face communication is two-way, which is a massive advantage. You will often find that your employees have great ideas that can help you, but listening doesn’t have to be about finding answers. Your employees will be motivated by the knowledge that their ideas and feelings are valued, and it can help them engage with the business and with you.
5. Acknowledge the Unknowns
Be honest with your employees about the knowns and the unknowns. They will understand that you don’t know all the answers yet, and will trust you more and understand the situation better by being told where the uncertainties lie. It is not productive to promise things you can’t yet deliver, it is better to discuss the chances and prospects for success.
Communication is the foundation of a good management team, and the only way you will get your employee’s best performance. Above all else, make it a priority to communicate truthfully, candidly, and without hesitation.
Wendy Mack is a professional advisor, consultant, and author with a focus in leading and communicating change. Contact Wendy at, or get her free e-book, Transforming Anxiety into Energy at www.WendyMack.com.