When growing your business, it becomes more and more difficult for employees to communicate effectively within the company. To overcome this, business owners should consider:

1. Small is Beautiful. Keeping teams and business units small

2. Online Communication Creating collaborative online work spaces such as discussion boards or wiki´s

3. Space to Relax. Providing areas, such as chat spaces or coffee rooms, where employees can gather, relax and interact

4. Natural Communication. Identifying and using the natural communication mechanisms that emerge in the organisation. For example, the founder of Geek Squad, an IT services provider, discovered that his employees used online computer games to interact and communicate with one another.

5. Duplication of Effort. With business growth comes an increased risk that two or more people will carry out the same tasks. Aim to create an open workplace where people share what they are doing and can see and hear other employees. Open workplaces are enabled with open plan offices, shared coffee breaks, social interactions at work and heightened communication across the board.

6. Top heavy companies. As the business grows, too many chiefs can creep into the system. An oversupply of bosses can slow down decision making and cause confusion among employees. Avoid having too many managers and be clear on each manager´s accountability. Ensure that employees know which chief does what.

7. Office Politics Nip it in the bud whenever you see or hear it and avoid getting drawn in at all costs. Set the example.

8. Isloated Decision Makers. Get decision makers to the front line. In larger companies this often requires a deliberate effort, but it is critical. Managers must interact with customers and front line employees at least weekly.

9. Inertia. An unwillingness to change. Create a burning platform when change is required. Make people uncomfortable with the status quo by highlighting the current reality and how that may lead to a very bleak future. Be visual as well as verbal in drawing people´s attention to the need to change.

To discover how Incisive Edge will help you grow your business email growth@incisive-edge.com or call 0843 289 7884.