Effective communication - part 4

The most often used method to communicate is email. The challenge with this method of communication is that it doesn't allow others the ability to ask questions and can easily be misinterpreted. The other issue with email is one email can get lost in the sea of other emails we get daily. Which means if you're communicating something important how can you be sure people even read your email never mind understand the implications of the changes you're proposing.  I'd certainly suggest you think careful about use of email for many communications.

Other options include:

• Newsletters - although for them to be read regularly they need to be informative
• Use of intranets - again you need to ensure people want to use them
• Use of social media - many companies are successfully communicating via this method
• Team meetings - escalating important and relevant information
• Attendance at other team's meetings - to share your news and allow them to ask you questions
• Meetings/forums/presentations and conferences - again providing the opportunity to get input and provide clarification
• Informal gatherings or 1:1 meetings
• Away days - a mix of business and pleasure (as per the above picture) 
• Documentation - manuals, policies, procedures
• Video's
• Interactive online communication
• Use of promotional items such as mouse mats, desk jotters
• and so on

Please do share other communication methods you've used successfully. They won't all work for every project nor organisation but choosing the right mix will maximise the opportunity for your success.

What method can you use this week to improve your communication effectiveness? Happy to help if needed.

Alison Smith
Inspiring change inside and out - in procurement and business more widely

Part 1 of the series on effective communication within organisations considered the excuses we give for not communicating effectively. In part 2 I shared the simple need to plan and think about communication and part 3 considered the types of information that need to be communicated. Part 5 shares the benefits of effective communication. 

Blog 19/31 in July as part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.