Providing customers with clear communication and straightforward services is a priority of every organization. So when it comes to our employees, shouldn’t this be the same? Engaging and informing employees about business decisions, potential changes, and upcoming events can foster greater trust, commitment, and dedication. Even when it is bad news, employees will still appreciate and respect the open transparency. In this article, we’ll outline just a few of the ways organizations can improve internal communication with transparency in the workplace.
5 Ways To Improve Team Happiness With Transparency:
#1: Establish Honest Communication
Open communication is one of the most influential factors in determining employee happiness and motivation. Employees are expected to provide honest and reliable information. When employers hesitate to do the same, it can contribute to feelings of distrust, resentment, and hesitation. One way to provide quick and honest communication is through an effective internal communication system. Many collaboration programs mirror the successful elements of popular social media networks, incorporating them into the corporate setting. These networks make spreading reliable information fast and easy. With an internal communication system, your organization can decrease the amount of rumors, eliminate miscommunication, and increase transparency in the workplace.
#2: Evaluate Organizational Hierarchy
Flat organizational hierarchies tend to facilitate much better than traditional top-down decision making. While organizations will always need structure and leadership, flat organizational hierarchies focus on engaging with employees at every level, giving them the chance to add input, ideas, and contributions to the organization. This structure empowers employees and helps them know that they are an important part of the overall organization. Flat hierarchies also improve transparency in the workplace by helping employees throughout the company stay up to date on changes, news, and important details from other departments.
#3: Provide The Right Tools
Whether you’re an office worker or a firefighter, it’s difficult to perform your job well without the right equipment. Providing employees with the tools they need to perform their job well shows that you value their work and are committed to their success. But that doesn’t mean employees have to have the newest version of every tool. Part of transparency is being honest with employees about company resources, abilities, and limitations. When employees feel you have their best interest at heart, they are much more understanding of company finances and budget limitations.
#4: Encourage Authentic Recognition
Transparency in the workplace can only be achieved through authentic and genuine recognition. Real recognition helps employees feel valued and encourages them to improve their efforts. For recognition to be honest and transparent, it needs to be specific, thoughtful, unbiased, and inclusive. Employees should know why a person is being recognized, support and encourage their recognized peer, and know that they have an equal opportunity for receiving their own recognition. If employees receive some kind of reward, prize, or incentive for their work, it should be tailored to match the interests of the individual or team as much as possible. When employees know that you understand them on a personal level, transparency and trust is increased all around.
#5: Demonstrate Transparency
Did you know that Facebook shares important company information with its staff every Friday afternoon via a Q&A session hosted by its CEO? From interns to Vice Presidents, everyone in the 15,000 plus global workforce has access to the sessions. These meetings help everyone within the organization feel trusted, respected and understood. While a broad-reaching Q&A might not be the right fit for your organization, happiness with transparency depends on organizations providing employees at every level with the chance to voice their concerns, ask their questions, and know that their input is valued.
MangoApps
Being transparent in the workplace is essential for long-lasting business growth, development, and success. When employees feel respected by their supervisors and organization as a whole, work becomes much more than just a job. It becomes an opportunity to contribute and make a difference. At MangoApps, we know that organizations are the most successful when every voice is heard. That’s why we set out to provide organizations with a solution that encompasses everything they need to communicate with employees, discover opinions, and offer genuine praise.
To learn more about how MangoApps can assist your organization, contact us or schedule a personalized demo today.
