Communicate internally? What's that all about?
This may seem like a no-brainer, of course we should communicate internally, but some people may not know the reason why internal communication is so important. To keep it simply, it keeps everyone in-the-loop and on task. These meetings or chats that happen with coworkers can also help build trust and increase efficiency. (Which in turn can increase enthusiasm at the workplace.) Another benefit of internal communication that gets overlooked, is that it actually helps with communication externally. If everyone knows what is going on, they are better able to answer questions clients may have. It may be surprising to some, but many businesses function without much internal communication between colleagues. With things like Microsoft Teams or Slack/GoToMetting or Zoom, there are great ways to fix this issue, but we will go over that in a bit.
What should be talked about?
Be it meetings or small chats, there are many things that can get talked about. Most would tend to lean towards more serious topics whether they be future plans for the company or how to best serve the clients they have. While these are great topics to talk about it is all too easy to forget that this time can also be used to ask questions no matter how mundane. These meetings can also be used for semi-casual conversations, like what should be for lunch that day. Again, increasing morale and efficiency.
Mannerisms and Etiquette
This one's a bit trickier as it does vary from place to place, however, there are a few tips that can be applied anywhere. While most of us do it out of habit from our school days it is still a good idea to take notes, even if it is not something that directly impacts you. Taking notes shows that you're both listening and invested in the conversation. Another good rule of thumb is to have some material prepared, even if you aren't the one leading the meeting.
What to Use
We know what to talk about and how to go about doing so, now all we need is a platform to use. While office meetings around a conference table or water cooler still work there are many apps out there that make internal and external communication much easier. Many will know the app Skype (or Skype for Business) as the business communication app, but recently Microsoft has been pushing Teams. Teams allows users to have voice and video calls as well as chat channels for both individuals and groups. Slack is another good option for those not in the Microsoft Office platform, as it shares many of the same features. Teams integrates with all office programs though and has features that allows it to integrate with others apps as well.
If you feel that your business could be more efficient or simply just have better communication, then it may be time to implement a better solution than just email.
Wondering how you could set this up or if your network can handle such a change?
Check out this eBook on outsourcing your IT and why it may make sense for your business.