Quality communication is a key part of every team. It helps ensure that everyone stays on the same page, which ultimately leads to better results. Strong communication also helps eliminate questions, resolve conflicts and boost morale. With remote work becoming the norm, frequent communication is even more important.

Knowing when to communicate is crucial on several levels, according to David Grossman, the founder and CEO of The Grossman Group. He says there are three common events or situations that always trigger a need to communicate. We share his thoughts on when leaders should always communicate to their team in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

1. When your organization experiences changes. It’s always necessary to share organizational updates with your team. Employees need to know what’s going to be different and what they need to do differently as a result of the incoming changes, Grossman says. Some examples may include new company policies, mergers or acquisitions, site closures or openings, or changes due to survey results.

2. When you want to inspire a new behavior or action. Grossman says internal communication is essential when you want to drive different behaviors or culture change. This is because your team members need to know what’s expected of them and what they should do differently. For example, you may need certain members of your sales team to take a different approach with a particular account or you may want to initiate wider behaviors for your entire team.

3. When you want to celebrate an achievement. Any time your sales team as a whole or an individual sales rep accomplishes a milestone or reaches a goal, communicate this achievement to the greater team. This can help keep people interested, motivated and engaged, Grossman says.

Communication Mistakes To Avoid
Even when you know you want to share news or express congratulations to your team, you may not get your message across in the best way. Grossman advises leaders to watch out for common mistakes, including talking at employees instead of with them and spinning messages rather than speaking honestly. You also shouldn’t assume that your team receives and understands the message you want to convey.

Remember that strong communication is an essential tool to help your team stay on track. If you lead a team, you may need to communicate anything from companywide changes to updates on day-to-day activities. If you find yourself experiencing companywide shifts or if you want to drive behavior changes or celebrate accomplishments, plan to communicate these situations or updates clearly to your team.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, CSP is the founder and CEO of The Grossman Group. He helps leaders drive productivity and get the results they want through authentic and courageous leadership and communication.