How to Improve Employee Relations and Communication


There’s a lot more to a workplace than the work that goes on in it, the people that work there make a big difference, too. Because of this, it can be important to make sure that you have healthy relationships in the workplace, and that you take employee morale seriously. When morale is good, you will often have happier employees who get along better, and who also work harder, too. Ultimately, good morale isn’t just something that is nice to have, it can have a big impact on productivity levels, and your business’s success overall.

So, how do you improve employee relations and communication? Be an active listener, create opportunities to socialize and connect, show and promote mutual respect, emphasize teamwork, take time to relax and recover, show appreciation, and know that employees follow a leader’s example more than words. 

If you’re looking for some ways to improve employee relations and boost morale, here are some things to try out.

– Work On Communication Skills –

One of the biggest culprits when it comes to poor interpersonal relationships in the workplace, as well as poor morale is a breakdown in communication. Miscommunications can not only lead to work getting done improperly or not at all, but it can also lead to misunderstandings between employees that can sour the mood of the whole company. This can be true whether the misunderstandings are happening primarily between employees, or if they are happening between employees and management. Either way, there can be a lot to gain from working on using good communication skills at your company.

When it comes to communication, even if you are generally a friendly and communicative person, you shouldn’t just assume that you are communicating effectively. In fact, it can be beneficial to take time out to teach all of your staff ways to communicate well, and to get points across without causing undue strain. In addition to working on communicating better, finding ways to help ease good communication, like using a time clock appOpens in a new tab. can be helpful as well.

One of the most important things when it comes to good communicationOpens in a new tab. is learning to be an active listener. While some may think that they know how to listen, the reality is that many listen simply until it is their turn to talk, and don’t truly take in all the things that the other person told them. This can lead to problems later on down the road when it becomes clear that the speaker had not actually been listened to.

To demonstrate active listening, it is important to put all of your attention on the speaker, and to do things that show them you are listening and that you care. One way to do this is through body language, by making frequent eye contact and nodding. Another way to do this is verbally, by repeating things that they say back to them.

– Look For Common Ground –

Another way to help improve employee relations is to seek out common ground. You can do this by helping employees find common ground with each other, and by helping management and employees to find common ground with each other as well. Having small office parties and functions can be a great way to socialize and connect, as can playing games that involve employees taking turns talking about themselves.

This way, everyone can get an opportunity to share something about who they are, and everyone can find new ways to connect. The more focus that you can put on similarities over differences, the more likely employees will be to appreciate the other’s attitudes and opinions, and the more likely they will be to show each other respect and consideration, as well.

– Show Respect –

Another key part of having good morale at your company is making sure that you show others respect. In many cases, arguments and disagreements are not so much about the actual conflict as they are about the fact that one or more parties involved in the conflict did not feel that they were respected. In some cases, when feelings get so overwrought, it may be difficult for employees to learn to see things from the other person’s perspective. To help avoid these kinds of issues, it can be beneficial to place a lot of importance on making sure that everyone communicates with each other in a respectful manner, no matter what the issue is or who believes who is in the wrong.

– Put Emphasis on Teamwork –

Putting an emphasis on teamworkOpens in a new tab. can be a great way to help employees bond, and realize that everyone has some of the same goals. Getting everyone behind the same goals can help create a sense of unity, and can help employees to bond with each other emotionally. When everyone wants to accomplish the same thing, it can make them much more likely to be sympathetic to each other, and to want to help each other more. Besides the positive impact that it can have on employee relations, it can also be great for improving productivity at your business, as well as generating more new and creative ideas.

– Learn To Cut Loose –

Another way to help improve employee relations is to take time to cut loose once in a while. Focusing only on work all of the time can put extra stress on your employees, and cause them to lose some enthusiasm for the job. By taking time out for fun activities, or even just little moments throughout the day where you stop to talk to employees about their lives and the things that are important to them, you can help break up some of the workplace monotony and boost the mood.

– Show Employees You Value Them –

Along with taking time out to cut loose every once in a while, it can also be important to find ways to show employees that they are valued, and that they matter to you. Whether you do this by celebrating important employee milestones company wide, or simply stopping to have a conversation with them about the great work they do, taking the time to make sure your employees know they are valued can make a huge difference.

– Know That They Follow Your Lead –

Ultimately, it is important to keep in mind that whatever steps you take to improve employee relations, you must be following along and participating in them as well, or else they may not be very effective. This is because in workplace situations, employees will often look to those in leadership roles when it comes to how they should model their behavior.

If you spend a lot of time telling employees how to act, but do not display constructive behaviors yourself they may not be very inclined to listen to you or take what you’re saying seriously, no matter how important it is. The more aware you can be of your role and the fact that others will follow what you do, the better you can be at modeling the correct behavior and being a good example for them.

Some Last Thoughts

A workplace is about more than the work that happens there, it is about the people there and the difference they make, too. Because of this, taking time to look after employees and make them feel valued can have a huge impact on the company’s morale, and ultimately its success as well. So, even if you feel that your workplace’s morale could use a boost, that doesn’t mean that you need to feel discouraged. From working on communication skills to learning to set the best example there can be many ways that you can start improving your company’s morale and productivity today.

Steve Todd

Steve Todd, founder of Open Sourced Workplace and is a recognized thought leader in workplace strategy and the future of work. With a passion for work from anywhere, Steve has successfully implemented transformative strategies that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Through Open Sourced Workplace, he fosters collaboration among HR, facilities management, technology, and real estate professionals, providing valuable insights and resources. As a speaker and contributor to various publications, Steve remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of workplace innovation, helping organizations thrive in today's dynamic work environment.

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