The absence of effective communication causes many problems for an organization, its people, and its objectives. Vague, incomplete, and inconsistent communication keeps teams in their small silos and does nothing to achieve camaraderie or a cohesive vision. Since many roles are now remote, the gap between teams is even wider for many organizations.
Taking the time to forge relationships and goodwill within and among teams offers several advantages that contribute to the company’s well-being. Let’s look at some of the effort’s most significant benefits, along with specific ways to improve communication and decrease the distance between teams. These actions will help your company measurably increase on-site, hybrid, and remote team connection & engagement.
Teams that are ill-connected rarely focus on the same company objectives. The result? The company lacks focus, or everyone is “doing their own thing.” Bridging the gap between organizational teams empowers an organization’s success because it:
Lack of communication leads to misunderstanding, which leads to apathy, which breeds conflict. Over time, constant conflicts between departments can cause damage to the company culture, and it can become a toxic place to work. Refocusing everyone on their commonalities instead of their differences turns this problem around. Healing these rifts gets the entire workplace back on track so it functions as a unified force.
Upper management is almost always laser-focused on the overall company goals. Unfortunately, a lack of good communication and distance between teams can dilute the message as it moves through the company. Organizations are more successful when every team member, regardless of their role, understands what the company wants to accomplish. If every department puts more of a priority on independent, smaller goals, this is less likely to happen.
If it’s murky who is responsible for what, tasks will languish, and projects will suffer. These situations can also spur a rousing round of the “blame game” that can cause hard feelings and erode trust. Open channels among departments allow everyone to be informed and accountable, making progress faster. Simply talking to each other in person, via Slack, or on video chat can clear up many of these challenges.
A yawning divide between departments is a dangerous catalyst for huge issues that can grow until they derail a company’s success. By narrowing the gap between departments, team members are more likely to notice and address challenges before they morph into giant roadblocks.
Creating cross-departmental communication that builds valuable employee relationships is key to reaching success. Teams that communicate better and more openly with each other perform better. How to do it is the bigger question, and we can offer some real-world, helpful answers that are proven to assist. Here are some of the most impactful ways to narrow the gap.
Remote work has exploded across industries everywhere. Adding employees who may never physically visit the workplace adds an extra layer to the division and distance between teams. It’s essential for management to find ways of including them in meetings, brainstorming sessions, and other work events just as they would on-site or hybrid team members.
When a group is hiking, they have one ultimate goal. Your workforce should function the same way. Working toward an overarching goal can be powerful glue for employees. Talk openly about core values, the company mission, and short and long-term goals to create an understanding that unites otherwise unrelated team members.
On-site and remote team members benefit significantly from frequent team-building exercises. They can be short games via video call or several hours-long off-site activities. Team building boosts confidence, helps employees establish rapport, and increases company spirit.
Adding some “water cooler” time to the schedule encourages employees to get to know one another and establish positive relationships. Build in an extra few minutes before and after every meeting for small talk, and find other ways to make short visits between colleagues easily accessible.
With employee burnout and retention being real issues in today’s labor market, it’s essential for every employee to feel included and seen. Meetings shouldn’t cater to one group of employees over another, as this can produce friction and cause the “left out” group to feel unappreciated and isolated. Put thought into conducting meetings and events as fairly and equitably as possible.
Don’t overlook technology as a formidable way to bridge large distances among teams. Mobile applications and software systems can pave the way for employees to recognize, learn from, and communicate with one another. Use tools for asynchronous communication, so remote employees in different time zones or on opposite schedules don’t miss out on the news. Live chats are a way to keep the teams talking and connecting daily, sharing work and personal stories and information.
Top-down, one-way feedback is necessary, but it shouldn’t be the only game in town if your company wants to narrow the gap between operational teams. Every employee should have ample chances to share their feelings, what they think is working, and issues they want to be seen and addressed. Collect feedback through meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and by anonymous surveys. Once it’s gathered, share and discuss it with teams to improve the process and embark on high-priority changes.
Cultivating a workplace environment where team members across departments maintain positive relationships and share information takes work. Many personalities are at play, especially when you add the somewhat wild card of remote and hybrid workers. Fortunately, protecting your positive company culture, increasing employee accountability, cutting down on conflict, and increasing employee engagement are all direct benefits that make the endeavor worth tackling. Employ some of the tips we’ve suggested, or get creative and think of your own, and your company will reap the benefits from a better-aligned, higher-performing workforce.
