Communication is a key component to the success of any organization. Without efficient communication, teams tend to become bogged down by confusion and conflicting visions of what “success” actually looks like.
This is especially true during a crisis, when everyone within an organization is scrambling to understand what is happening and to develop a coherent strategy for moving forward. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis provides an illustrative example: Over the past nine months, millions of employees across the United States have been forced to begin working from home full-time. This has created some unprecedented challenges for employers and employees alike. At the same time, it’s become more important than ever for managers to be able to adapt to the rapidly-changing circumstances and to implement effective communication strategies for their remote teams.
Here’s Why Strong Communication is Crucial During an Emergency
Why, exactly, is it so essential for employers to be able to communicate effectively with their employees during a crisis (such as the COVID-19 pandemic)?
Here are three fundamental reasons:
Uncertainty leads to low productivity.
A crisis is, by definition, a time of uncertainty. And during times of significant uncertainty, it becomes much more difficult for employees to feel present and productive when they sit down to work each day.
As managers, we can help alleviate some of this uncertainty by regularly communicating with our team members to answer questions, share news updates, and simply check in on everyone’s health and well-being.
It will boost morale within your company.
Speaking of well–being, it’s important to remember that long-term remote work can have some serious negative side effects on your employees’ mental health. It’s not uncommon, for example, for remote employees to struggle with feelings of acute isolation and loneliness after long periods of working remotely.
However, the good news is that careful communication on the part of an employer can make a major difference in a team’s morale. Through the simple act of organizing your employees for a weekly, team-wide video chat, you can help to remind everyone within your organization that they are, in fact, still part of a team – and that their manager is continuing to look out for them.
Strong communication can attract top talent to your company.
In a year when so many employees are feeling isolated from their managers and colleagues, strong workplace cultures are now being cast in a more favorable light than ever. Contrary to popular belief, it’s still possible to cultivate a thriving workplace culture when your entire team is working from home. As you could probably guess, it all starts with a strong communication strategy. If you’re willing to take the necessary steps to build a well-connected remote workforce, word of your company will quickly spread to talented job candidates far and wide. Strong communication and employee engagement during a crisis, in other words, can increase your chances of acquiring top talent in the future.
Start Empowering Your Workforce Today!
Curious to learn more about the benefits of a strong communication strategy or how working with a professional recruiter can help your team thrive during uncertain times? If so, contact our office today!
