Do’s & Don’ts Of Good Internal Communications When Starting Your Own Company

If you want to do business well, you need effective internal communication. It’s not enough to be communicating well with customers. Poor internal communication can kill a new business before it has a chance to take off.

So you’re ready to start your own company. Do not overlook internal communications! Internal communications are the lifeblood of your company. So what makes for good internal communications when starting a company? Here are some do’s and don’ts of internal communication practices when starting your own company.

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Do – Invest In The Right Tools

Quick question: what communication tools does your business use? Are they the most effective tools you could be using? If you’re just using email, you need an upgrade!

Instant messaging tools for business have become quite sophisticated. Recent technology has exploded with amazing communication apps like Spike. With Spike, you can streamline clunky emails into easy-to-read chats.

Using too many different apps can cause confusion. Who can remember if an important meeting is held over Zoom or Google Hangouts? Use an all-in-one communication tool to avoid confusion.

Some internal communications tools start off free and then cost a lot when your business scales up. You’ll want to do your research and find a good communications tool that can grow with your business.

Good internal communication is crucial to starting a successful business. If you want to communicate well, invest in the right tools.

Don’t – Disregard Employee Wellness

To be an effective leader, you need to take into consideration the wellness of your employees. Do you want to ensure your team’s mental peak performance? Make sure everyone gets an adequate amount of sleep.

If you’re managing a remote team, this can be easy to forget. Some managers make the mistake of demanding regular video conferences across global teams. This can erode team morale for workers in bad time zones.

Do not expect any of your team to work outside their local 9-5.  If you need to communicate across time zones, use asynchronous communication.

For managers working in a traditional office: make sure your communications have remote options. We live in uncertain times, and sometimes offices need to shut down. Remote options also give greater access to workers with disabilities.

This is why it is so important to invest in a good communication tool. When you communicate well, you can give employees more autonomy. Empowered employees stay healthy and produce great work.

Do – Establish Regular Check-Ins

It is important to establish a regular cadence of communication. This gives your team a chance to check in, exchange information, and give progress reports.

Decide on a method of regular communication that best suits your company. For traditional offices, a Monday morning meeting can be a great start for the week’s projects. If you’re managing a remote team, you may want to opt for an asynchronous check-in.

Regular check-ins are the first step to establishing open lines of communication. Your team should know when to hear from you, and when you will receive their messages.

Don’t – Micromanage

Starting your own company is not an opportunity to act like Big Brother. Professionals often produce their best work when left to their own devices.

Once you’ve set a deadline and regular check-in schedule, do not ask for further updates. One of the biggest killers of workplace motivation is micromanagement. Good internal communication is not about control.

If you are operating a remote business, avoid using an employee monitoring app. It may be tempting, but it’s better to trust your team will meet their deadlines.

You hired these people for a reason. Don’t burn them out with micromanagement, instead try to make good use of task management software that will help to avoid such issues.

Do – Respond To Employee Feedback

Do you know who knows the most about your employees? Your employees! A good manager elicits feedback from their employees. We all know how important it is to give workers feedback. It is equally important to take feedback from your team.

Give your employees a voice. Regularly ask for feedback through private channels of communication. Asking employees for feedback in a public setting can be rather nerve-wracking. Show them you listen by acting on their feedback. When employees feel heard, it boosts company morale.

Don’t – Withhold Positive Feedback

The workers in your new company need to know when they are doing well. Don’t underestimate the power of a pat on the back. Top performers tend to be intrinsically motivated. That means they like doing things for the satisfaction of doing it, rather than an external reward.

You want to reward that intrinsic motivation by noticing it. Find out what makes your employees feel good. Do they like public recognition? If so, praise them in the next meeting.

Don’t forget to budget employee raises for workers who consistently perform well. If you want to retain your top performers, show them they’re worth it.

Bottom Line

When it comes to good internal communications, there’s a lot to understand. That’s why it’s so important to invest in a good communications tool. You don’t want your million-dollar idea to crumble from within. Invest in good internal communications, it’s an investment in your company’s future.

If you are interested in even more business-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels then we have a lot to choose from.

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