How Can I Improve My Small Business's Collaboration and Communication? Tips for Success

Being a successful small business owner requires wearing many hats — and one of the most important is that of effective communicator and collaborator. After all, no business can function without clear and open communication between all parties involved. If you're not already doing so, here are a few key reasons courtesy of the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce why you should start paying closer attention to collaboration and communication in your small business and how to implement effective strategies to maintain them.

Trust Your Team — Don't Micromanage Them

Want to kill the morale of your employees? Micromanage them. Constantly looking over their shoulders and second-guessing their every move will not only make them feel disrespected, but it will also stifle their creativity and prevent them from taking initiative. As the old saying goes, "If you want something done right, sometimes you have to let go and let people do their jobs." Of course, that's not to say that you should never give feedback or offer guidance — but there is a difference between offering helpful suggestions and micromanaging.

Find and Create Opportunities for Cross-Team Collaboration

When everyone on your team is working together towards a common goal, amazing things can happen. However, in many workplaces, employees are sectioned off into their own little departments with very little opportunity for cross-team collaboration. This can lead to feelings of competition instead of cooperation, and a general feeling that everyone is working against each other rather than together. If you want your small business to thrive, it's important to encourage cross-team collaboration whenever possible.

Make Improving Processes a Team Effort

No business is perfect, and there's always room for improvement when it comes to processes and procedures. Rather than simply implementing new changes without any input from your employees, take some time to sit down as a team and brainstorm ways that things could be done more efficiently. Not only will this help you come up with better solutions, it will also foster a sense of ownership and buy-in from your team. They'll be more likely to follow through with the new changes if they had a hand in creating them.

Embrace Online Collaboration Tools

There are plenty of online tools available that can help improve communication and collaboration within your small business. Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, and Trello are all great options for sharing documents, files, and ideas with teammates (both near and far). Even a free file conversion tool can make a big difference. Simply turn your Word to a PDF after you have finished creating and editing by dropping your file into the converter. It’s then ready to send.

If you're not already using one or more of these services, now is the time to get on board — you'll be amazed at how much they can help improve communication within your team. 

Strive for Open Communication

In business, it's essential to have open communication and idea sharing between all parties involved. This includes employees, managers, and owners. Here are a few tips for encouraging this type of communication:

• Make sure everyone feels comfortable communicating openly and honestly. This starts with creating a positive, respectful work environment where employees feel comfortable taking risks and speaking their minds.

• Schedule regular team meetings to discuss progress towards common goals, give and receive feedback, and brainstorm new ideas.

• Encourage employees to take initiative and come up with new ideas. Reward creativity and risk-taking.

Sincerely and Openly Encourage Employee Feedback

In any business, feedback is essential for understanding what is working well and what needs improvement. However, encouraging staff to provide feedback can be a challenge, particularly in small businesses. There are a few key things that you can do to encourage feedback from your staff. First, make it clear that you value their input and that you are open to hearing honest feedback. Second, create an environment where staff feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Finally, make sure to follow up on any feedback that you receive.

Get Your Business Communicating Today

Effective communication and collaboration are essential for any small business if it wants to be successful. By making sure everyone is on the same page (literally and figuratively), you can avoid confusion, disputes, and wasted time and effort. And while it may seem like an overwhelming task at first, there are plenty of collaborative online tools available to make the process easier than ever before. So what are you waiting for? Start communicating!

Membership in the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce offers invaluable benefits to entrepreneurs in our community. Join us today!