Running Head: HOW TO IMPROVE WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION 1

How to Improve Workplace Communication

Eduardo Quintero
University of Arizona
December 8, 2017
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To: Cheryl M Brodersen

From: Eduardo Quintero
Date: 12/08/2017
Re: How to improve Workplace Communication
Per your request, I took the time to do a research about how to improve workplace
communication. This memorandum will assist you about useful techniques that could
upgrade communication within the company. The following document contains information
about the importance of cultural differences, the art of conversations, and the ‘open door’
policy.

Respect cultural differences

Understanding others cultures
First, companies need to build an ecosystem that is capable of understanding and
accommodating to all employees’ needs, regardless of their cultural or religious beliefs. To
be successful as a multicultural company, leaders have to pay attention to small details, for
instance providing vegetarian food at the cafeteria or allowing employees to take time off
for religious holidays (Watson, S, 2010). In addition, actions like this raise productivity,
which means more profit for the company and make the employees happier.
The companies could implement the right training to help staff members get better
knowledge and appreciation for all the workers. Developing cultural self-awareness is a
topic to consider (Watson, S, 2010).If employees understand how important their culture is
then they will appreciate what others believe in. also, it is essential to appreciate different
ways of views. Instead of judging they try to understand them and get a little knowledge of
everyone.

Making international businesses

Our financial advancement will perpetually be characterized as our capacity to succeed
globally. According to statistics, PwC forecasts India’s real annual GDP growth until 2050
at 8.9 percent, Vietnam’s at 8.8 percent, and China at 5.9 percent. The number of growing
markets continues endlessly. The U.S. forecast is a small 2.4 percent, practically identical
with most Western economies (Hummel, D. 2012).
The organizations that are more likely going to see incremental development in the
upcoming decades are those that are executing business internationally. Not only do
international businesses prosper, but also those that are building up the vital skills to do
businesses disregarding culture. For example, companies such as McDonald, Wal-Mart,
and Amazon have to and countries to offer a better service (2012).
A key to being successful in business internationally is to understand the role of culture in
international business. Whatever sector you are operating in, cultural differences will have
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a direct impact on your profitability. Improving your level of knowledge of international

cultural difference in business can aid in building international competencies as well as
enabling you to gain a competitive advantage.

Motivate all to be themselves

Companies such as CultureIQ implement an excellent plan to know each employee. Tony
Hsieh, whom is the CEO of the organization said “Each month we pass the planning of our
culture events to a different member of our team, and each employee has an opportunity to
bring his or her personality to the table. Not only do we get to know each other during the
event itself, but we learn something about each employee through the event they plan”
(Besner, G, 2015).
The next time you find yourself stumped at retaining and engaging employees, just
remember that it comes down to two surprisingly simple concepts: respect and trust.

Revive the Great Lost Art of Conversation

Imagine a boat stuck in the port, four people with four oars are climbed. A fifth, without an
oar, is the one that has the map to direct the route. Once it set sail, each person rows in the
direction they want and the leader do not pay attention to the map. Results? Probably
anything except the most important one, reach the destination.
Something very likely happens when there is absence of communication in the company.
Without a good conversation, it is almost impossible that all the employees head to the
same direction. The strength of the workers will be relegated, and the initial objectives will
end up overshadow. Reviving the great art of conversation can avoid problems and satisfy
the employees of the company.

Consequences of technology
Today at present, technology has become a part of our daily life. It is incredible for
boosting speed, but it does not have a good effect on personal relationships. However, there
is a cure for technology saturation. Use the phone just for necessary calls, better yet, take a
little walk across the office and talk to you employees face to face (Watson, S, 2010).
Employees will appreciate the attention and there is going to be a more familiar
environment within the company.
In addition, technology affect business communication because it facilitate people to
pretend to be who they are not. This can cause a damage in trust. According to
Opposingviews, in a communication processes, this facilities are the main security concerns
in the use of technology. Technology has caused the spread of information to be flexible
and diverse, including the use of audio, text, video, animation and graphics (Morley M,
n.d., para.2). Before you send an important email to partners or your boss, first, try to meet
them in person.
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Don’t pretend to hear, listen!

Leading a successful company or a successful team need personal connections. To do that.
Don’t hear, listen to your people. Each time you have a conversation, pretend there's going
to be a quiz at the end of it. Try to keep a mental checklist of all the important points the
other person makes. When the conversation is over, force yourself to recall at least three
important things the person said. After all, your employees will gain trust in you, even
more important, in your work (Watson, S, 2010).

An “Open Door” Policy

One of the biggest problem in any company is how the employees can communicate
thoughts with their managers and CEO’s. Many of them are scary about approaching the
boss office, and as a result of this mistrust, they do not bring crucial points to the table, thus
stopping the communication channel. However, having an “Open Door” policy can avoid
all this misunderstandings. If the employees feel comfortable about sharing their thoughts
with the boss, then there will be an extremely better internal communication ((Robins,
2017).

Make an anonymous feedback box or platform.

Most of the time, employees will not share feedback with their bosses because they are
afraid of sharing their feeling and opinions openly. Having an anonymous feedback box
would give to the workers the opportunity to contribute for a better environment within the
company. Also, another way of making anonymous feedback is by platforms such:
Officevibe which offers different type of surveys so the employees will share good and bad
opinions with honestly (Robins, 2017).
In Addition, according to Arnaud Grunwals whom is the CEO of Hyphen, a company that
serves installing anonymous feedback systems in any business. Grunwals says: “More and
more companies understand that the future of feedback is employee-driven, anonymous,
mobile-first and real-time. And that done well, anonymous feedback is much superior than
when it is tethered to a profile” (Eisenhauer T, n.d., para.1). Making all the comments
anonymous is the right way to get honest answers and feedbacks.

Summary
To conclude, improving workplace communication is very important for any business. The
main areas that should be develop are reviving the art of conversation, respecting other
cultures, and having an “open door” policy. These three main concepts are designed to
make the companies a healthier and a happier place to work for the employees. I strongly
recommended to apply the ideas mentioned before. If you still have questions about the
report feel free to contact me at 520-358-1745 or at quintero3@email.arizona.edu. Thank
you for your time and attention.
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Work Cited
Besner, G. (2015, July 01). Here Are 4 Ways to Develop a Culture of Respect and Trust.
Retrieved December 07, 2017, from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247932
Cultural differences in business. (n.d.). Retrieved December 07, 2017, from
http://businessculture.org/business-culture/cultural-differences-in-business/
Eisenhauer, T. (n.d.). 30 Smart Tips to Improve Workplace Communication. Retrieved
December 07, 2017, from https://axerosolutions.com/blogs/timeisenhauer/pulse/210/30-
smart-tips-to-improve-workplace-communication
Hummel, D. (2012, May). Understanding the Importance of Culture in Global Business.
Retrieved December 07, 2017, from
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/profit/archives/opinion/050312-dhummel-
1614961.html
Morley , M. (n.d.). Effects of Technology on Business Communications. Retrieved
December 07, 2017, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/effects-technology-business-
communications-23045.html
Robins, A. (2017, September 21). 9 Ways To Improve Communication At Work. Retrieved
December 07, 2017, from https://www.officevibe.com/blog/improve-communication-at-
work
Watson, S. (2010, July 14). 10 Tips for Effective Workplace Communication. Retrieved
December 07, 2017, from https://money.howstuffworks.com/business/starting-a-job/10-
tips-for-effective-workplace-communication3.htm