As the ongoing global pandemic spread, your office-based organization may have found itself introducing remote work plans by necessity to stay online and thriving. This new way of working puts a spotlight on the significance of workplace connectivity.
An infrastructure and culture built on connectivity can help keep your organization focused on your strategies and mission, reduce the distance and barriers among your people and practices, and make teamwork faster and more rewarding. Beyond improving the way people work, the approach can improve how we feel about the work we do. Together, these factors combine as the “connected company effect.”
While the importance of connectivity didn’t begin with the pandemic, its benefits are clearer than ever—and so are the challenges faced by organizations who lack them. These challenges appear at three levels: for teams, companies, and company culture.
Teamwork is central to your organization’s success. At its best, collaboration leads to diverse perspectives, new ideas, and better results. But it’s not easy to achieve. Many organizations aren’t sure their internal processes for teamwork are working well, and many business leaders struggle to lead collaboration efforts from the top.
That leads to disconnected companies. The traditional tools for communication—email, meetings, memos, posters—can’t keep up with the demands of business today, especially during a crisis. Companies using old tools and systems tend to move slowly, being siloed and lacking the human-to-human interaction that everyone can feel, from employees to end users.
When your teams and company are disconnected, so is your company culture. Many organizations look forward to a return to normal after the pandemic, but for most employees, normal wasn’t that great to begin with: 53% of U.S. employees in a pre-COVID survey from Gallup said they were “not engaged” at work. Thirteen percent still admitted to being “actively disengaged.”
The Pitfalls of Poor Communication
A lack of connectivity for teams, companies, and company culture can pose several problems for your organization.
Poor communication prevents innovation and engagement. Many modern business communication tools discourage conversation across teams or organizations. (Nobody hits “reply all” to an email from the CEO.)
In that scenario, it’s difficult to start a company-wide conversation or routinely and openly collect feedback or ideas that turn into big new ideas. Business leaders need to hear from their employees to take the pulse of their business, listen to ideas from the front line, and help people engage with their company strategy or values.
Ineffective collaboration slows people down. Ninety-four percent of businesses in a recent survey said agility and collaboration are central to their growth, but only 14% say their collaboration processes are working well.
When employees have trouble collaborating—when information is trapped in silos, hidden, or hard to access—they can’t do their jobs to the best of their ability. Lacking the right tools to collaborate across time zones or language barriers can slow staffers down, frustrate them, and increase stress and employee turnover.
Low connectivity may lead to low morale. While 90% of companies surveyed believe their company culture improved while staffers worked remotely during the pandemic, business leaders are now under greater pressure to maintain that focus.
Staffers have higher expectations now for authentic communication with their business leaders. More than ever, they expect to be heard. And they expect transparent feedback and recognition to build and maintain a sense of belonging during uncertain times.
Three Strategies for Connection
In an era of ongoing uncertainty and stress, your organization can improve company culture and boost the employee experience through three strategies.
Create conversations. Rather than one-way email blasts, your organization’s staff can switch to live video to communicate and collaborate in real time. Mobile and online video apps also invite accessibility through interactive text-based Q&As, live comments and reactions for feedback in the moment, live polling and surveys, and even a language translation functionality for truly global connectivity.
Move faster. Taking away obstacles among people and practices lets teams stay focused and efficient. Implementing an online library lets your organization’s members access the information they need in the scenario and the format they need it. And centralizing project discussions lets teams share files, collaborate on documents, and sign off on work easily and without email chains.
Make your company a community. Putting culture at the forefront of your organization gives your staff the opportunity to experience what your company stands for in every interaction. Online social communities connect like-minded colleagues not just to work but also to bring their whole selves to the job, celebrating their identities, discussing their personal interests, and building relationships that facilitate work in the long run. And a culture of recognition, celebrating exceptional performance and significant milestones, will help your organization’s staff feel your cultural values.
With much of the workforce still operating remotely, connectivity has never been more critical. The right tools can help your organization achieve the “connected company effect” as you stay collaborative, stay focused, stay in high morale—and stay ahead of your competition.
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