“Well, let's see, we have on the bags, Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third.” Have you ever heard this entire comedy exchange between comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in their classic skit for radio entitled, Who’s on First? If not, shame on you. It will have you in stitches. Costello plays a peanut-vendor by the name of Sabastion Dinwiddle and Abbott plays the manager of the mythical St. Louis Wolves baseball team, named Dexter Broadhurt. They have a conversation as to the names of the players on the field. That’s when the lines of communications began to get crossed.

In the workplace communications can become entangled between managers and employees just as they did between Dinwiddle and Broadhurt. Communications can either make or break a business. Good communications does not just happen because you tell your employees that you want them to talk to you. Rather, it is part of a trusting relationship that you develop with them on a daily basis. Whether you realize it or not you are one of the most important people in your employees’ lives. To some you are the greatest boss they have ever had. To others, the greatest teacher, educator or mentor. And to others, possibly the only parent figure they’ve come to know.

How you communicate with your staff reveals the value you place on them. It can encourage or demotivate them. It will have a critical impact on how well they become a team-player.

Each day in the work environment you have an opportunity to show your employees how important they and their ideas are to you by setting the stage for a positive communication relationship. How, study and apply the following suggestions:

  • Always call your employees by first name when speaking to them. It recognizes them as an individual and pays them a personal compliment. The sweetest sound to anyone’s ears is the sound of their own name being spoken.
  • If communicating through a written note, be sure that you spell the employees name correctly. Kelly can be spelled as Kelly, Kelley, Kellie or Kelli. It truly does make a difference.
  • Keep you employees in the loop. Keep them informed on everything that is going on with the business. Whether it is good news or bad news it doesn’t matter, they want to know. As a matter of fact they have a right to know especially if the news will have a direct impact on them. They would rather get the facts from you then from a second source.
  • Listen objectively and without prejudice to your employees’ ideas and concerns. This will encourage them to be open, sincere, earnest candid and honest with you without the fear of retribution. Sincerely thank them for sharing with you what’s on their mind.
  • Create an open-door policy with your employees and honor it at every opportunity. Respect their request for privacy, solitude and confidentially.
  • When bad news is brought to your attention by an employee be careful not too, blow your top, slip off the edge or have a knee jerk reaction. Control your emotions. No need to spend $1thousand dollars of emotions on a 10 cent irritation. Tell them you appreciate them keeping you informed.
  • Be sincerely sensitive to their request. Learn what things make your employees tic. What is important to them and what is not? What are their dreams and expectations?
  • Actively seek feedback from your employees. Let them know that they are your businesses greatest asset. Make them aware that they are valued both personally as well as professionally.
  • Become a true active listener. Stop what you are doing, look your employee directly in the eyes and give them your full undivided attention. Most employees will stop talking if they think that no one is listening.

Seriously consider creating a workplace atmosphere filled with respect, honesty, integrity, trust and common sense. If you do it won’t matter who’s on what base because you’ve just hit a homer.

Have a thought or opinion you would like to share? Please feel to contact me at [email protected] and I’ll be back to you within 24 hours.

Dr. MarcClark, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur | Dr. Clark is a service/hospitality veteran of more than 27 years. He has conducted numerous domestic and international seminars and is the author of SMART Management Workbook and The Manager’s Toolkit.

Dr. Marc Clark, CHA, CHRE, CHE
270-586-7244
SmartBizzOnline.com