Blog: How to enhance communication and soften silos?

An invitation to a web meeting made me think of the now so common webinars and web meetings that connect people not only from different teams and companies of the organization but also from different countries and continents. One might think that by now we all speak the same language and share the same understanding, values and goals on business. Just send the invitation with the agenda and everyone gets their 10 minutes!

But I’ve heard people wonder how very differently from each other even the people from the Nordic countries think and behave, not to mention other countries. I’ve really enjoyed working and having long conversations with my former Nordic, European, American, Asian, Middle East and Indian colleagues. It has been fun and very educational. But not always straight forward. And we all know that the same goes with our colleagues in our own country.

It is wonderful that people have the opportunity to discuss and partner across the silos and continents. But do all feel safe and empowered to speak up in those meetings? Do we really understand what the others are saying and why they are acting in a certain way, often surrounded by conflicting expectations by various stakeholders? Do we see the actual drivers and necessities one may have, perhaps surrounded by a totally different worldview than ours? How can we support people in communicating in a way that is understood? Even in same culture or same office (and even between family members who know each other better than anyone else!) words and behavior are often interpreted in such different ways and wrong assumptions are made. How can we trust that you as the Manager, CEO or Board member hear the actual voice of the company and its people? 

Short answer: Listen. Ask questions. Make sure you have understood, and show appreciation

I am not worried about AI taking over our work. On the contrary. There will be room and need for collaboration between people requiring communication and presence as well as emotional and social intelligence aside of AI as the technology creates new ways to connect. A need for clear communication was seen as a requirement for success also in the recent studies by the Boston Consulting Group. I liked the fact that they emphasised not only communication and its clarity but also the need to communicate the strategy so that it moves the organisation in their environment. Do you know on what level your team’s communication skills are? What about their emotional and social intelligence? What drives their actions?

With the support of business coaching and engaging team development you’ll get there.

Arkisto