There are plenty of things that contribute towards creating a successful company, but perhaps the one that’s most underrated is communication. If you have this strength running through all facets of your business, then you’ll find it much easier to work well and to have satisfied customers, too. Alas, this isn’t always as easily implemented as business owners would like, and it certainly won’t happen on its own. There are, fortunately, things you can do that’ll move things in the right direction. We take a look at a few of these things below.
Open Culture
By far the most effective way to improve communication at your company is to make a founding part of your culture. By writing it into your ethos, you’ll be making a commitment that it can run through your company’s veins. There are some companies that actively have a closed-off approach, and it’s just the way it is: they fell into it. And it would be easy for any company to fall into this style, especially once they’ve grown a little. But if it’s effectively part of your company charter, then you’ll have a barrier that prevents it from happening.
The Right Systems
You’ll find it much easier to maintain high levels of communication — between your staff and with your customers — if you have the right systems in place. For instance, do you have a strong internal communication network, with which your employees can communicate with one another? If not, then look at making it happen. It’s also important that you have the right telephony system, so take a look at Lingo Communications’ SIP Trunking system. It reduces costs, which promotes better communication, and also delivers excellent coverage, both domestically and abroad.
Social Media Managers
All businesses in the modern world should make the most of social media channels, not just for their marketing needs, but also to boost communication with their staff. When customers need to speak to you about non-urgent manners, they’ll likely turn to Facebook or Twitter and ask you a question. It doesn’t look good if their messages just sit there unanswered. So be sure to actively monitor your social media channels, so that you can promptly respond to queries from your customers. You can outsource this task, or you can split the role between the social media-savvy members of your team, so that there’s someone monitoring the accounts more or less all day.
Multiple Points of Contact
Yet, while many people will want to call you or shoot you a tweet, there’ll be others who prefer other means. As such, it’s recommended that you list as many contact options as possible. This includes email, a physical address, and incorporating a live chat system onto your website.
Encourage Customer Feedback
Finally, be sure to encourage feedback from your customers and staff. You’ll show that you’re serious about communication if you’re actively reaching out to get their opinions — and their answers might just guide your business towards greater success in the future, too.
